"Pull yourselves together, then, and git out," said Snogger. "It's two minutes past time."
Bowdy and Billy got to their feet, buckled their equipment and went out to their posts. An hour later they came back. Bowdy shook the snow from his sheepskin jacket and sat down on the ground beside the brazier.
"It's a very cold night outside," he said. "Freeze the horns off a brass monkey, it would. Where's Spudhole?" he asked.
"Wot's wrong now? Wot d'yer want?" asked a feeble voice, as Spudhole peeped out from a dark corner by the wall. He rose to his feet and buttoned his sheepskin jacket which had become loose.
"How are you feeling now, Spudhole?" asked Benners.
"Oh, I'm all right; in the pink," said Spud. "'Ave yer a drop of water to spare?"
Bowdy handed a water-bottle to Spud; the youngster raised it to his lips and drank greedily.
"Cold water's not a drink for a night like this," said Bowdy. "What you want is something hot. If I make a mess-tin of tea, will you have some?"
"Thank you," said Bubb, handing the bottle back.
"I'm goin' to 'ave another kip now," he added. "Rouse me up when it's my turn for sentry-go."