Abaft The Funnel Chapter 11 - A Fallen Idol

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 12 - New Brooms

In which a seasoned Gunner encounters a troubled, convalescent Private whose recklessness tests the limits of discipline and compassion amid the rugged backdrop of military life. With a quiet authority born of experience, the Gunner wrestles with the boy’s frailties and foibles, revealing the harsh realities concealed beneath the surface of soldiering.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 11 - A Fallen Idol

In which a spirited horse named Tiglath meets a grim but dignified end, revealing the secret depths of his troubled soul, and a scene unfolds on the hillside where a gruff yet kindly gunner restrains a quarrelsome private in a manner both robust and oddly affectionate. The chapter gently portrays the strange blend of loyalty, discipline, and human frailty that colours life among soldiers and their steeds in far-off lands.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 10 - It!

In which a disillusioned Englishman debates with the Government of India over lost authority and the inefficacy of bureaucratic boards, while waiting to see if traditional power or new systems will prevail. Subsequently, he recounts the troublesome saga of Tiglath, a powerful yet wilful horse whose bouts of carriage destruction challenge both patience and repair budgets with a measured tenacity.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 9 - Griffiths The Safe Man

In which a tumultuous voyage reveals the indefatigable spirit of the ship’s company amid tossing seas, and the raconteur's tales of frontier derring-do unravel the fragile fabric of belief once more. Meanwhile, the relentless struggle against disease and decay in a sun-scorched land exposes the stubbornness of nature and man alike, even as the Englishman strives with dogged resolve to impose order upon chaos.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 8 - The History Of A Fall

In which a lively troop of soldiers and an eager multitude of children lend their presence to the curious scene of misplaced passports and the ensuing polite disarray within a bustling hotel, all observed with the quiet amusement befitting a British subject abroad. Later, aboard a steaming vessel bound for Hongkong, the capricious and ever-turbulent China seas test the mettle of passengers and the stoutest stomachs alike, revealing the quiet resolve beneath the bravado of a certain boastful gentleman.