Rejtő, Jenő: The three musketeers in Africa; Q 19045

to be assumed by the soldiery that in the profession the mythical figure of Levin must be on a par with the brilliant Ritz or Duval. On this particular evening, the Russian meat salad is Brigeron'd tour de force of the day. The trio in huddle over it — Pitman, a wily Scotsman; Francis Barre, a dreamy, pale—faced youth; and Thorze

/ a thickset American — are hatching a. plan to run away from this torrid tedium. The Scotsman proposes a scheme that appears to be the only one with a chance of success. It sounds like a legging-it version of Russian roulette. The three of them must flee in different directions: as the low strength of the garrison will permit the CO to dispatch only two detachments in pursuit, one of the three fugitives can hope to make his getaway, though the other two are bound to be caught. As the forbidding Sahara stretches to the north of them, they are left the other three directions. The trio prepare a document in which they leave "all our property, real and personal, to our friend who has been our comrade through the difficult years of our service in Africa". The lucky escapee will be able to claim his due. The hapless losers face a court-martial and, if not the firing squad, at least years of traveaux forces in a field punishment camp. After last post that night, the three men