The tide of the boy's being set back with a shock.
"O!" he cried. "O … I didn't mean … I really…."
"That's all right, sir," came the other's smothered voice. "I know you didn't."
He swallowed, and his face grew rigid. Then a light broke all about it.
"But there!" with husky pride. "He won't bear me no grudge—will you, old man?" with a hoarse burst of tenderness, flinging his arm towards the bank, where the dead horse's girths glimmered still in the dusk. "He know'd I wouldn't have asked it of him, only I had to. That's my old orse! that's my Robin!—Never asked no questions. Just took and died and did his duty without the talkin. Maybe some of us might learn a bit from him."
Taking a great bandana from his pocket, he blew his nose like the report of a pistol.
"A'ter all," he said, with touching solemnity, "he died for his country, did my Robin—same as Abercromby at Alexandrya."
III
Behind them on the hill a clock struck eight.
The riding-officer held up his hand.