Стража! Стража!

           Nobbyabsent-mindedlytookoutagrubbyhandkerchiefandpassedittoadwarfwhowasleaningagainstthewall,shakingwithgrief.

           "Now,then,"saidCarrotkindly."Idon’twanttobehardonanyone,butIshallbecomingpasthereeverynightfromnowonandIshallexpecttoseeproperstandardsofdwarfbehaviour.Iknowwhatit’slikewhenyou’refarfromhome,butthere’snoexcuseforthissortofthing."Hetouchedhishelmet."G’hruk,t’uk."

           Hegavethemallabrightsmileandhalf-walked,half-crouchedoutofthebar.AsheemergedintothestreetNobbytappedhimonthearm.

           "Don’tyoueverdoanythinglikethattomeagain,"hefumed."You’reintheCityWatch!Don’tgivemeanymoreofthislawbusiness!"

           "Butitisveryimportant,"saidCarrotseriously,trottingafterNobbyashesidledintoanarrowerstreet.

           "Notasimportantasstayin’inonepiece,"saidNobby."Dwarfbars!Ifyou’vegotanysense,mylad,you’llcomeinhere.Andshutup."

           Carrotstaredupatthebuildingtheyhadreached.Itwassetbackalittlefromthemudofthestreet.Thesoundsofconsiderabledrinkingwerecomingfrominside.Abatteredsignhungoverthedoor.Itshowedadrum.

           "Atavern,isit?"saidCarrot,thoughtfully."Openatthishour?"

           "Don’tseewhynot,"saidNobby,pushingopenthedoor."Damnusefulidea.TheMendedDrum."

           "Andmoredrinking?"Carrotthumbedhastilythroughthebook.