The Corporal got his men together, and ordered them to string all the canteens they could find around their necks. On arriving at the cabin, they seized upon and "poured out" the whisky. After a thorough loading-up, the Corporal returned and reported at head-quarters.
"You poured it out, did you?" inquired the Colonel.
"Yes, sir," categorically replied the Corporal.
The Colonel noticed a canteen about the Corporal's neck, and thought he smelled something, and, looking him steadily in the face, repeated:
"You poured it out, sir, did you?"
"Yes, sir," emphatically replied the Corporal.
"And where did you pour it, sir?"
"In our canteens, Colonel," he replied.
For a moment his eyes flashed with anger; but, on second thought, the joke struck him as being too good, and the pleasant smile so characteristic of the Colonel wreathed his face in a moment.
"Well, Corporal," continued he, "I suppose that is some of the 'poured-out' in your canteen, eh?"