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And it was a saying that our ridgment had the smallest drummer in the army, and the best. Look 'ee, I've a kept the very coat." And she pulled the outer clothes off the sick man's chest, and showed the little coat which Dick had worn, tied by the sleeves about his neck.
He moved slightly and his mother poured a few drops of wine between his lips; but he made no further sign of revival, and she went on with her story. "Well, it was in the year seven, I mind well, that the other battalion of the ridgment was sent to the war in Denmark and then on to Portingale.
But I alway' stood aroun' an kep' things straight, I did; an' sometimes dey'd git my dander up, an' den I'd make 'em clar dat kitchen mine I tell you! "Well, one night it was a Friday night dey comes a whole platoon f'm a nigger ridgment da was on guard at de house de house was head quarters, you know-an' den I was jist a-bilin' mad?
I wish I could go to sleep too." "Well, try," said Frank. "Try, sir? What, to wake up with a bump, and sit in the sand seeing this ridgment of legs and shadows going off in the distance? No, thank you, sir. They tell me there's lions and jackals and hyaenas out here. No, thankye, sir; I'm going to fight it out."
But I alway' stood aroun' an kep' things straight, I did; an' sometimes dey'd git my dander up, an' den I'd make 'em clar dat kitchen, mine I TELL you! "Well, one night it was a Friday night dey comes a whole platoon f'm a NIGGER ridgment da was on guard at de house de house was head quarters, you know-an' den I was jist A-BILIN'! Mad?
I seed mun many times afterward, for he was always a-looking to the rear where our ridgment was, a-helping and encouraging so well as he could. Well, I got a drop of wine for the boy it was the morning of New Year's day I mind which did mun good, and next morning we started again.
Scores of men was discharged, but Jan said we should do better to stay, for there wasn't nowhere for us to go to if we went, and he'd a got fond of the sojer's life, as I had, so long as I was with he; and they was glad to keep so fine a man. But then the war come again, and a terrible way I was in, for they said the ridgment was sure to be sent soon to the Injies or some place.
But it chanced that another ridgment was raising a new battalion in Gloucester, and there was a young chap that was got into trouble and wanted to cross the sea as soon as might be, so wished, if he could, to change with Jan. And by good luck 'twas done, and we was sent to the new battalion. So there we stayed to Gloucester nighly four year.
"Blood alive, masther, but that's great spakin' begar, a judge couldn't come up to you; but in throth, sir, I'd be long sarry to throuble you; only he's away fifteen year, and I wouldn't thrust it to another; and the corplar that commands the ridgment would regard your handwrite and your inditin'." "Don't, ma'am, plade the smallest taste of apology." "Eagh?"
But we waited, for Jan's ridgment was gone farther on, expecting mun all through the night, and in the morning sure enough they came; and out we ran through the snow, for the snow was on the ground, and there was Jan alive and well, but a bit tired. But there wasn't no time for rest; and we had to go on to once.
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