They ought to do that with every one caught robbing the mails in
any way."
"I'm afraid if they did the force would be pretty well crippled," said
Foster.
"Then there's the custom house," said Sam. "They must be delighted to
get rid of those Castalian swindlers."
"A merchant here told me," said Foster, "that they have to pay just as
often now, but that they have to pay bigger sums."
"Of course," cried Cleary, "you wouldn't expect our people to bother
with the little bribes the Castalians were after. We live on a larger
scale. It will do these natives good to open their eyes to a real
nation. I'm sorry any of them steal, but if they do, let 'em take a lot
and be done with it."
"We must remember that these people are only civilians," said Sam.
"What can we expect of them?"
"Our commissary and quartermaster departments aren't much better, tho,"
said Foster. "Somebody's getting rich, to judge from the prices we pay
and the stuff we get. The meat stinks, and the boots are made with glue
instead of stitches and nails."
"Then they must have been appointed from civil life," cried Sam.
"Come, Sam," said Cleary, "I'm a civilian now, and I'm not going to
have you crow over us. How about Captain Peters, who was the pet of
Whoppington and cleaned out the Deer Harbor fund?"
Sam walked on in silence.
"See here," said Foster, "I'm tired of going on foot.
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