“Yes, sir, the Wapiti bunch is getting pretty small. Corporal Thom was with me—”
“Corporal Thom!” cried Barry. “Was Corporal Thom your chum?”
“Yes, sir, for six years we was on the Bar U. M. together. We was awful close friends. He was a good chum.”
“Corporal Thom!” exclaimed Barry again; “he was your chum! He was a great friend of mine too. You have indeed suffered a great loss.”
“He thought a lot of you, sir,” said Monroe. “He has often talked to me about you.”
“But what a splendid death!” cried Barry. “Perfectly glorious!”
“I didn't hear, sir,” said Monroe; “I came down three days ago, and only heard that a bomb got him.”
“Oh, splendid,” said Barry. “Nothing finer in the war. Let me tell you about it. There was an enemy raid coming up. The corporal had got wind of it and called his men out. They rushed into the front line bay. Just as they got there, eight or ten of them, a live bomb fell hissing among them. They all rushed to one end of the bay, but the corporal kicked the bomb to the other end, and then threw himself on top of it. He was blown to pieces, but no one else was hurt.”
During the recital of this tale, Monroe stood looking at Barry and when he had finished his eyes were shining with tears.
“Ay, sir, he was a man, sir,” he said at length.