Then flickers of fire shone out, and coffee was boiled, and the men got their breakfasts. Then, after a while, the Fall-in sounded, and the different corps and detachments stood to their arms. The commanding officer of the First Blankshire went round the ranks, and spoke to the men here and there. He did not remark on the mud which still clove to James Gubbins, but he stopped opposite Green.
“Why, what is the matter, Green; where and how are you hurt?” he asked.
“I, sir?” said Green, in astonishment; “I believe I am all right.”
“Why, you are bleeding like a pig!” And so he was, from his right ear.
“I must have cut it with my sword, sir, carrying it carelessly. I forgot that I had had it sharpened.”
“Well, it can’t be very bad, if you did not know it,” said the colonel, laughing as he rode on. The bleeding stopped presently, but not before it had made Green’s kharkee sleeve and his sword, down which there had been a trickle, look exceedingly warlike.
“He has fleshed his maiden blade!” said Tom Strachan.