“Comes up to me and offers me one hand, and claps t’other on my shoulder. ‘Glad to welcome so brave a brother,’ he says, ‘to the sergeants’ mess.’ My! I was took aback, sir, and couldn’t say a word; and if next minute his missus wasn’t shaking hands too with the tears in her eyes, sir—real uns, for I counted four as tumbled out and fell spat on the front of her dress. ‘Willyum Gedge,’ she says, and then she stops short with her lower lip dithering, and she couldn’t say another word, only stood shaking her head, while the boys cheered again. Think Sergeant Gee meant it, sir, or was it only showing off?”
“He meant it, my lad. Gee has a great deal of harsh tyranny in his ways of dealing with those under him; but a braver and more honest man never joined the regiment.”
“I’m glad o’ that, sir,” said Gedge. “Then, as he did mean it, why, of course we’re going to be friends.”
“Ah, Sergeant, you here?” said Colonel Graves, entering Bracy’s quarters. “One moment before you go. I have mentioned you in my despatch for displaying signal bravery in protecting your officer upon two occasions.”
“Me, sir? Oh, thanky, sir, but I—”
“Silence!—Bracy, my dear boy, I came to tell you that I have spoken so of you that if they do not give you the Victoria Cross I shall say there is something wrong.”
“For me, sir?” cried Bracy, with his pale, thin face flushing faintly. “Impossible, sir. Oh, I have not deserved all this!”
The Colonel’s eyes did not look quite so bright as usual as he warmly shook his young officer’s hand.
“Let me be the best judge of that,” he said. “You have always been one of my smartest officers, and in this last dangerous expedition you showed the will and did your utmost. It was fate that helped you in the last extremity to perfect the deed.”
The day came when the simple little much-prized decoration was pinned on Captain Bracy’s breast, and the motto never shone upon a truer heart.