“Goodness!” gasped the sergeant of the guard, sticking his head out of the window, “what is the man playing at?”

Private Murphy, who was on sentry go, was running as hard as he could from end to end of his beat.

“Hi, Mike!” yelled the noncom, “what’s the trouble?”

“Sure, an’ there’s no trouble at all, at all,” replied Murphy, panting as he paused in his scurry.

“Then what are you running for?”

“Well, ain’t I on duty here for two hours? I’m only trying to get me two hours done quick!”