“They say, sir, as I say, that they wouldn’t like their mates to desert them in a time of trouble like this.”
“That’s right, sergeant,” shouted a sailor.
“Yes, that’s a true word,” shouted another.
“Attention, there!” cried the major, sharply. “Go on, sergeant.”
“And if so be as our officer don’t order us different, we’ll all stick to one another, sick and sound, to the end.”
“Hear, hear; hurray!” cried the men, as with one voice.
“Do I understand, my lads, that you will stand by the sick and wounded to the last?”
“Yes, sir, all on us!” shouted the men in chorus.
“Yes, sir,” cried the joking sailor, “and we’ll all carry one another till there’s only one left as can carry; and he’ll have a jolly hard time of it, that’s all.”
The stern discipline was for a moment forgotten, and a hearty roar of laughter followed this sally.