Deserted Sailor's Knots, Part 1.

"Deserted" by W. W. Jacobs is a comical narrative set in the early 1900s, centered around a young soldier named Rupert Brown who becomes fed up with his military duties and decides to take matters into his own hands. After a fateful meeting in a local bar, Rupert is convinced to leave his post and take on the outlandish role of a Zulu chief in a theater production. As Rupert navigates his new life in disguise, he finds himself entangled in a series of absurd and uproarious situations; from awkwardly applying traditional face paint to comically navigating the unwanted attention of Kumbo, a Zulu woman who has taken a special liking to him. The story chronicles Rupert's uproarious adventures and desperate attempts to escape the clutches of his newfound identity, comically highlighting the absurdities of personal ambition and the unexpected challenges of freedom.