“Never mind, Casey, you’ll get back home some day,” put in another soldier. “And in years to come you’ll be telling your grandchildren what a mighty fighter you were out in the state of Luzon, recently annexed to the United States, along with the state of Hawaii.” And a laugh went up over the conceit.
“Sure an’ you ton’t haf nodding to grumble ofer of you ton’t git shot,” said Stummer.
“Or don’t get taken down with disease,” put in another. “My, but I pity the fellows with fever and chills and malaria, and the other things that are just as bad. I believe about one-fifth of the army is now on the sick list.”
“Some of the boys are going to send a petition to 206 General Otis for relief. They say they can’t stand it much longer.”
So the talk went on, both Ben and Gilbert saying but little. Presently Major Morris poked his nose into the opening.
“I think you boys had better come out of there,” he said shortly.
“Why, major—” began several.
“Are we to advance?” asked others.
“No, we are not going to advance, unless it’s skyward,” continued the major. “Either come out of that, or else put out that fire, and be mighty careful about it.”
“The fire ain’t doing no harm,” grumbled a private, under his breath.