I
Knapp was leaning forward, his chin on his hands.
"Yes, it was a sweet cop. They was expectin the foot, and they got the orse, and got em ot."
He chuckled faintly.
"I couldn't see much, but I eard enough to make my eart glad. Scream!—I tell ye…. It were better'n beer to me.
"Then I faints for loss o blood."
He paused, staring at the ground.
"When I come to, the foot—soldiers were carrying the Genelman through the door—them long legs of is'n and all."
His voice began to jerk.
"Just the same—only more paler-like."
He was jigging with his knees, and the words joggled as they came out.
"Then he see me.
"'Hullo, Soldier,' says he. 'No, no, don't get up,' me trying to rise to me officer. 'We're both a bit dicky, I expect. How are you?'
"'Nicely thank you, sir,' says I, choky. 'And you, sir?'
"He smiles that way of his.
"'I'll be better soon,' says he. But I knoo from the way of his voice he'd got his marchin orders all right; and I knoo e knoo'd it too."
The little man was sniffing; and the tears were flowing down his nose.
"'Take me to Sailor,' says he to the chaps.
"So they took him to where pore old Pipes lay in his chair, his head lollin back, somethin dreadful to see.
"The Genelman bends over him, and takes one of his hands.
"That stirs the old man.
"'That you, sir?' says he, usky-like.
"'Ah, friend,' says the Genelman, 'how goes it?'
"'Tarrabul ornary,' says pore old Pipes.
"'You'll be better soon,' says the Genelman, strokin his hand. 'It's a rough passage,' says he, 'but it's Ome right enough once you're there.'
"'Ome it is,' says Pipes, and back goes his head, and he was h'off again.
"Then the Genelman turn to one of the chaps.
"'Just spread your coat on that dresser, my man, will you?' he says. 'Now lift him gently. Don't wake him. He's set his course for the Old Country…. Now just lay me on the floor, and prop me up against the wall—same as Soldier there.'"
Knapp was sobbing now.
'"Same as Soldier there,' he repeated. 'There weren't to be no difference a-tween us. O no! 'Same as Soldier there,' he says—and me pull his nose only yesterday! And strike me dead!"—he lifted a streaming face—"if it didn't come over me all of a pop what Mr. Piper said about him and Jesus."