“Not many,” said Cane.
“No, not many,” Smith reflected. “The Boers had the range all right that time.”
“Gave it us proper,” said Cane.
“We were hungry that night,” said Smith. “I could have eaten biltong.”
“I did eat some of it,” said Cane. “Not bad stuff, what there was of it, only not enough.”
“I don’t think,” said Smith, “that I’ve ever slept on the bare earth since.”
“No, sir?” said Cane. “It’s hard. You get used to it. But it will always be hard.”
“Yes, it will always be hard,” said Smith. “Do you remember the time we were thirsty?”
“Oh, yes, sir,” said Cane, “I remember that. One doesn’t forget that.”
“No. I still dream of it sometimes,” said Smith. “It makes a nasty dream. I wake with my mouth all dry too, when I dream that.”