Page:Soldiers Three - Kipling (1890).djvu/90

 Tis all well,' sez wan av thim, 'but who's to do this shootin'?'

Fwhat matther?' sez Vulmea. 'Tis Mulvaney will do that—at the Coort-Martial.'

He will so,' sez the man, 'but who's hand is put to the thrigger—in the room?'

Who'll do ut?' sez Vulmea lookin' round, but divil a man answeared. They began to dishpute till Kiss, that was always playin' Shpoil Five, sez:—'Thry the kyards!' Wid that he opined his jackut an' tuk out the greasy palammers, an' they all fell in wid the notion.

Deal on!' sez Vulmea, wid a big rattlin' oath, 'an' the Black Curse av Shielygh come to the man that will not do his duty as the kyards say. Amin!'

Black Jack is the masther,' sez Kiss, dealin'. Black Jack, Sorr, I shud expaytiate to you, is the Ace av Shpades which from time immimorial has been intimately connect wid battle, murdher an' suddin death.

"Wanst Kiss dealt an' there was no sign, but the men was whoite wid the workin's av their sowls. Twice Kiss dealt, an' there was a grey shine on their cheeks like the mess av an egg. Three times Kiss dealt an' they was blue; 'Have ye not lost him?' sez Vulmea, wiping the sweat on him; 'Let's ha' done quick?' 'Quick ut is,' sez Kiss t'rowin' him the kyard; an' ut fell face up on his knee—Black Jack!

"Thin they all cackled wid laughin.' 'Duty thrippence,' sez one av thim, 'an' damned cheap at that price!' But I cud see they all dhrew a little away from Vulmea an' lef' him sittin' playin' wid the kyard. Vulmea sez no word for a whoile but licked his lips—cat-ways. Thin he threw up his head an' made the men swear by ivry oath known an' unknown to stand by him not alone in the room but at the Coort-Martial that was to set on me! He tould off five av the biggest to stretch me on my cot whin the shot was fired, an' another man he tould off to put out the light, an' yet