Page:Soldiers Three - Kipling (1890).djvu/87

 He'll get tired av findin' our kit foul an' our 'coutrements onproperly kep.'

We will not let him go,' sez they.

Thin take him,' sez I, 'an' a dashed poor yield you will get for your throuble.'

Is he not misconductin' himself wid Slimmy's wife?' sez another.

She's common to the rig'mint,' sez I. 'Fwhat has made ye this partic'lar on a suddint?'

Has he not put his spite on the roomful av us? Can we do anythin' that he will not check us for?' sez another.

That's thrue,' sez I.

Will ye not help us to do aught,' sez another—'a big bould man like you?'

I will break his head upon his shoulthers av he puts hand on me,' sez I. 'I will give him the lie av he says that I'm dhirty, an' I wud not mind duckin' him in the Artillery troughs if ut was not that I'm thryin' for my shtripes.'

Is that all ye will do?' sez another. 'Have ye no more spunk than that, ye blood-dhrawn calf?'

Blood-dhrawn I may be,' sez I, gettin' back to my cot an' makin' my line round ut; 'but ye know that the man who comes acrost this mark will be more blood-dhrawn than me. No man gives me the name in my mouth,' I sez 'Ondersthand, I will have no part wid you in anythin' ye do, nor will I raise my fist to my shuperior. Is any wan comin' on?' sez I.

"They made no move, tho' I gave thim full time, but stud growlin' an' snarlin' together at wan ind av the room. I tuk up my cap and wint out to Canteen, thinkin' no little av mesilf, an' there I grew most ondacintly dhrunk in my legs. My head was all reasonable.

Houligan,' I sez to a man in E Comp'ny that was by way av bein' a frind av mine; 'I'm overtuk from the belt down. Do you give me the touch av your shoulther to presarve my formation an' march me acrost the ground into the