“Well, sir, I don’t say you was ink-o—what you call it: but you was a bit touched in the upper story; and that was only nat’ral, sir.”
“Tell me about the enemy down below. Have they made us out?”
“I think not, sir; but I must out with it, sir.”
“Ah! there is danger?”
“Oh no, sir, I don’t think so; but I can’t give much of a report, for I had to do sentry-go while you slep’, sir.”
“Did you? Well, you’re a good fellow, Gedge.”
“Not a bit of it, sir. There, it must come to the top. I’d rather tell you than you should find it out, sir. I held up as long as I could, and kep’ going to sleep walking or standing still; and at last, after getting out your glass, I knelt down to put it back, and down I went right off to sleep, just as if some one had hit me on the head with the butt of his piece.”
“I’m glad of it, Gedge,” said Bracy, smiling.
“Glad of it, sir?” said the lad, staring.
“Heartily. It was the only thing you could do after what you had gone through.”