Page:Suakin, 1885.djvu/24

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Gozo, and at 10 p.m, we sighted Valetta lights. After this we saw no land till we reached Port Said at 4 a.m. on the 2nd of March. Meanwhile our concerts were in full swing. The officers began by giving one to the men, the programme consisting of two piano solos, a comic song or so, two vocal duets, and a reading. The following night the men returned the compliment by giving a concert to the officers, and most amusing it was. A private soldier took command of the piano, and, defying any interference on the part of the singer, continued to bang out an accompaniment sometimes at the top of the piano and sometimes at the bottom, but always alike utterly and hopelessly independent of time and key, However, every one appeared very well satisfied, and the pianist above all. There was one man, a sergeant in the A.H.C., who had a really beautiful voice, a high tenor and well trained. He only knew two songs by heart, but these were both very good, and he took the precaution to have as his accompanist the accordion-player. The refrain of the most effective of his songs was one pointing out the uncertainties of life, and finishing with the words—

"What is coming, who can tell?"