Major Jackson of the R.A.M.C. came to see me soon after daylight. He gave me an opiate and I slept all that day and night. I went on parade next morning, fresh, calm, and cool—and saw Burker riding toward the group of gentlemen who were awaiting the signal to "fall in".
I say I was fresh, calm, and cool.
I was.
And there was Burker—looking exactly as in life, save for a slight nebulosity, a very faint vagueness of outline, and a hint of transparency.
I had been instructed by the Adjutant to assume the post of Instructor (as the end of the Mounted Infantry drill season was near)—and I blew the "rally" on my whistle as many of the gentlemen were riding about, and shouted the command: "Fall in".
Twenty living men and one dead faced me, twenty dismounted and one mounted. I called the corporal in charge of the armoury.
"How many on parade?" I asked.
He looked puzzled, counted, and said:—
"Why—twenty, ain't there?"
I numbered the troop.