"Why don't you tell the Doctor that?"
"Never! I don't cry out when I'm caught, youngster. I take my punishment."
"Yes," said the Big Man, reflecting. "That's right, I suppose; but, then, there's the team to think of, you know."
They sat for a long time in silence, broken suddenly by the Butcher's voice, not so gruff as usual.
"Say, Big Man—feeling sort of homesick?"
No answer.
"Just a bit?"
Still no answer. The Butcher looked down, and saw the Big Man struggling desperately to hold in the sobs.
"Here, none of that, youngster!" he exclaimed in alarm. "Brace up, old man!"
"I—I'm all right," said the Great Big Man with difficulty. "It's nothing."