“If you got them from a stable in Manila, they will probably go straight home,” answered Gilbert. “By the way, do you belong in Manila?” he went on, determined to “pump” Polk without making himself known. “Me belong to Manila?” cried the young man. “Not much. You couldn’t hire me to live in such a back-number town. No, I’m from Richmond, Virginia.” “Then you are a good way from home. But I, too, come from Virginia,” continued Gilbert. “I was born in Powhatan Court House,” which was the exact truth. “Is that so? Glad to know you. You’re a lieutenant, I reckon, by the uniform.” “I am, Mr.--” “Nuglich Polk is my handle. Generally called Nuggy by my friends. And you are?--” “My name is Gilbert.” “Proud to know you!” The young man tried to look sober for a second, then burst out into a fit of unreasonable laughter. “Say, but I cut a figure, didn’t I, when I went into the mud?” “I didn’t see very clearly. I was watching your team.” “Oh, don’t smooth it over, lieutenant. It’s all right! So we are both from Virginia? Good enough! Ever been to Richmond?” “Yes, years ago.” “I and my father run the Richmond Importing Company there. Perhaps you’ve heard of the concern. We ship goods all over the world,--China, Japan, South Africa, everywhere. Got a vessel here now, bound for China, the _Columbia_. Had to look after her, and that’s what brought me to the Philippines.” “Then you are going back to the States soon?” went on Gilbert. “You’re lucky. Lots of the boys would like to go, too.” “No, I’m booked straight through to China.” Nuggy Polk gave something closely resembling a hiccough, and then felt in a rear pocket of his trousers. “Have a drink?” he went on, producing a whiskey flask. “Thanks, but I’m not a drinking man,” answered Gilbert. “What! Don’t drink? Well, I never! I’ll drink for you. Here’s your health.” The whiskey flask was elevated to Polk’s lips, and a long low gurgle followed. The action disgusted the young lieutenant; but he felt powerless to remonstrate, even had he felt so inclined. “Ah! now I feel better!” said the young man, more unsteadily than ever; and then, finding the flask empty, he threw it to one side of the road. “Yes, I’m from Richmond; and I don’t care who knows it. We are the people! Ain’t that so?” And he tried to brace up proudly. “We are certainly some of the people,” answered Gilbert; and he felt like adding that Polk was the most disgusting specimen he had yet encountered. “If you and your father run the Richmond Importing Company, you must be doing a large business.” “Large doesn’t express it, lieutenant. It’s growing every day.” “A stock concern, I reckon?” “Humph! It’s our concern,--belongs to father and me. We used to have some outside people in it, but we froze ’em out,--had to do it, it was such a good thing, don’t you see?” “That was rather hard on the other fellows, I should imagine.”