Talks With Tom.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 November 1915, Page 3

Talks With Tom.

No. 3. THE KAISER'S YACHTS- . MEN, (Written for The Chronicle.) "Portsmouth was all alive the day the Kaiscr"*camc across in his yacht tr race down The Solent," said Tom. "Tho yacht was moored at the jetty • one day,, and its crew, all spick and span, and quite six foot nigu to a man. were doing sentry go on dleek and along tho wharf. "Everyone who could get down '« the jetty didi so. 1 went with tho crowd, and saw the big six-footers standing at intervals along tho wharf, i'l pairs, facing each other. By and by a military-looking Englishman came along. , He was a typical bull-Jog breed of man: blunt, honest features, ,a. chest..about three feet across, and a body not more than oft 4in high, bar' splendidly developed in every part. ' His walk was quite military; so much so that ho strutted; but by what happened afterwards i think the strut was due more to muscular development than 'side.' As the broad little man camo up the wharf, the German six-footers ' straightened themselves up and gazed 5 down at him quizzically. He passed two sets without a word being said, but as ho came level with the third pair one of them said to him. in excellent English, "My word, yon 'are' a line little fellow!" The 'little fellow' grew more stiff than ever, and in a fh'.sn 'his hand went out with two fingers oxtended, caught the German somewhere near the throat, and sent him Hying along the wharf till he tell in a heap and lay there. At once the seeonu of the pair sparred up, and the same Buddcn application of two lingers to Ins Adam's apple or ciiest or wherever it was sent him to the planks, alongside of his mate. They lay there for quite a minute, and then they rose simuitaneously and speaking simultaneously Baid "D— vou; you spoil my clothes 1 i "The little man looked at them quietly, and then moved on to the wharf-head. A bystander who iuui watched .the encounter said "You'j. get it rough as you go back I" las little man straightened himself, adjusted his cane under his arm, turned hi i i head so that bo could view a'l parts of the wharf, and then rapped out '1 don't think sol' As he walked back, 1 was handy Hi see the fun; but there was none. The Germans stood, still as statues, and f he little man walked between the rows seeming not so see them. As ho passed safely over the wharf entrance i wanted to cheer him, but 1 "was afraid to ; as he might have given me the same fal' that the Germans got. As I lingered at the spot 1 heard the voice ot an old boatman rising trom the steps. 'I say, young fellow, what does 'no think of 'ee?' i answered that i thought he was game. \l guess lie be one of they 'structors was the boar,jnati's observation." Beltshazzar .Biuks.