“Yus, sir.”
“That I did everything that man could do to reach the Ghil Valley.”
“That I’ll swear, sir.”
“And that he must lose no time in hurrying to the fort. If he likes to detach half a company to try and pick me up, he will do so; but the fort is to be the first consideration. Do you hear?”
“Yus, sir.—Oh yus, I hears,” said Gedge through his teeth as, with the help of Mrs Gee’s pocket-book packet, he put some oil-silk over the snow, and then applied the broadest bandage he could find cleverly enough.
“That’s right. I’m a bit of a coward, Gedge,” continued the poor fellow, with a smile.
“Yes, sir, you are, sir,” said Gedge; “an out-and-outer.”
“And I want to have as little pain to bear as I can while you’re gone.”
“Course you do, sir. That’s why I’m doing this.”
“Make haste, while the light lasts. I want you then to take the rest of the food and put it in your own haversack.”