"That'll kill me, entirely!"
"Four ten-grain doses never killed any man," insisted the steward.
"I won't take it!"
"Oh, yes, you will, Kelly. This is the Army, and discipline is the rule. I'll make sure of the first dose by seeing you take it here."
The hospital steward's tone was firm, and under the regulations he was master of the situation.
"Then, for the love of Mike," gasped Kelly, "give me the bitter stuff in a capsule."
"Certainly, if you like it that way, Kelly," assented the steward, picking up a gelatine ten-grain capsule and packing it tight with the white, bitter powder.
"I don't like it any way," growled Kelly.
"Now, that's nonsense, man. Why, all the medical authorities are agreed that quinine is the greatest blessing to man ever discovered."
"Then why don't the doctors take more of it themselves?" scowled Private Kelly.