Sammy Smiles held fast to his nose, and made haste to bend over his principal, whom he pretended to examine.
"Bring bandages!" he shouted. "Help me to stop him from bleeding to death."
"It's nary a bit of use," groaned the Vermonter. "No feller ever lived with his jubilee vein cut in two!"
"Merciful goodness!" cried Frank, in pretended horror, as he hovered over Hans, also taking care to cling to his nose. "The whole top of his head is shot away!"
The Dutch boy gave a wild, despairing wail.
"Und you said dot feller vos goin' to run avay! Dunder und blitsens! I vos a fool dot I don'd run avay meinseluf pefore mein prains he shot oudt!"
"Never mind," said Frank. "You will die like a hero, and we'll bury you with all the honors of war."
"Yah!" snorted Hans. "Dot vos nice—I don'd pelieve! I don'd care apout dot honors uf var! Oh, Shimminy Gristmas! vot a fool a blamed fool vos!"
"I am surprised at you," said Frank, sternly. "You should be proud to perish in such a heroic manner."
"Oh, yaw! I peen tickled to death—mit a pullet. Id vos fun!"