Part 106 (2/2)
”Well, you have your wish, sir,” said Murray laughingly. ”He'd have done his share if he hadn't been wounded.”
”Ah, yes; how is he?”
”Getting better, sir, certainly.”
”That's good, Murray,” said the lieutenant, with a sigh. ”I want to make as good a show of the men as I can when I have to face the captain again. I'm afraid, though, that it will be a very bad one, eh?”
”Plenty of wounded, sir, but none very bad. The poor fellows have broken down a bit now that the work's done, but they'll soon mend.”
”Then you don't think, Murray, that the captain will find much fault with me and my men?”
”He'd be very unreasonable if he did, sir.”
”Hah! You think so, Murray? But he can be rather unreasonable sometimes, Murray, eh?”
”Terribly, sir.”
”Hah! That's comforting, Murray, for I am very weak. I feel, you see, that I ought to be up and doing now, my lad, and I haven't the power to stir.”
”Beg pardon, sir,” said Murray, ”but now you're _hors de combat_ am I not leading officer?”
”Certainly, my dear boy, and I tell you that you have done wonders.”
”Thank you, sir,” said Murray, ”but I was not fis.h.i.+ng for compliments.
What I wanted you to say was that I was to take the lead.”
”I say so, then, certainly, my dear sir.”
”Well, then, sir, I say that your duty is to lie still and get better, and that our lads are to do the same.”
”Well, leaving me out, Murray, that's quite right.”
”Yes, sir, and including you. The best thing is for me to give our lads a rest to recoup a bit. We can't do better than hold this place in case of a fresh attack.”
”Quite right.”
”And wait until the captain sends help.”
”Excellent, Murray; but the captain may be waiting for help to come from us.”
”Yes, sir, and if he is I am sorry to say that I could not lead four men to his aid.”
”Oh dear, that's bad,” groaned the lieutenant.
”You couldn't get up and lead us, sir.”
”Get up? Lead you, Murray? My dear lad, I am as weak as an infant.”
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