Yes, there was no doubt about it. It was done for!
I was in despair. Nothing worse could have happened to me. I knew the incomparable value of a few drops of moisture at critical moments. When you are exhausted and choked by the sun and the dust, there is nothing like a drop of water on a piece of sugar, or a thimbleful of rum to revive you. And on a route march too you are sustained by the mere thought that you are carrying with you this source of refreshment. And I who had taken such care, and was so pleased at having this clean well-corked water-bottle.... What odiously bad luck! My whole campaign seemed to me to be poisoned by it....
Bouillon arrived on the scene. Directly I had told him, distractedly, of my misfortune.
"Good heavens!" he said, "that it should 'appen just now! It's far too late to get it soldered!"
I sighed. He looked round the room.
"W'y not sneak one?"
As I shrugged my shoulders. He continued:
"I'll undertake the job if yer like?"
"But how?"
"Oh, I'll get one from someone or other."