Wan day, howiver, he tuk me apart very polite, for he cud be
that at the choosin'.
'"You're a good sodger, tho' you're a damned insolint man," sez he.
'"Fair words, Sargint," sez I, "or I may be insolint again."
'"'Tis not like you," sez he, "to lave your rifle in the rack widout
the breech-pin, for widout the breech-pin she was whin Vulmea fired.
I should ha' found the break av ut in the eyes av the holes, else,"
he sez.
'"Sargint," sez I, "fwhat wud your life ha' been worth av the breech-pin
had been in place, for, on my sowl, my life wud be worth just as much
to me av I tould you whether ut was or was not. Be thankful the bullet
was not there," I sez.
'"That's thrue," sez he, pulling his moustache; "but I do not believe
that you, for all your lip, was in that business."
'"Sargint," I sez, "I cud hammer the life out av a man in ten minuts
wid my fistes if that man dishpleased me; for I am a good sodger, an'
I will be threated as such, an' whoile my fistes are my own they're
strong enough for all work I have to do. They do not fly back towards
me!" sez I, lookin' him betune the eyes.
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