“Ambulance? Certainly. The howitzer—perhaps they're only flesh wounds. I hope they are only flesh wounds. I must have more men—you'll come with me.”
From his porch Duane viewed both Augustus approach and the man stop at the hospital, and having expected a bungle, sat to hear; but at Albumblatt's mottled face he stood up quickly and said, “What's the matter?” And hearing, burst out: “Casey! Why, he was worth fifty of—Go on, Mr. Albumblatt. What next did you achieve, sir?” And as the tale was told he cooled, bitter, but official.
“Reinforcements is it, Mr. Albumblatt?”
“The howitzer, Captain.”
“Good. And G troop?”
“For my double flank movement I—”
“Perhaps you'd like H troop as reserve?”
“Not reserve, Captain. I should establish—”
“This is your duty, Mr. Albumblatt. Perform it as you can, with what force you need.”
“Thank you, sir. It is not exactly a battle, but with a, so-to-speak, intrenched—”