Out of the shambles rose Spud Tamson, somewhat dazed with the blow.
"Cheer up, ould pal,—are yis better?" queried Muldoon.
"Begorra, it’s the stars ye’ve been seein’."
"Three star brandy wisnae in it, Pat. It’s worse than the D.T.’s."
"Never mind, me bhoy, we’ve got their ould bullet engines," said Pat, pointing to the machine guns with the gun team lying round. "But I say, Spud, have a nip."
"Here," he said, drawing a beautiful silver brandy-flask out of his pocket.
"Man, it’s the rale thing. Did ye get onything else?"
"I did that,—a purse of gould German quids."
"I get hauf o’ that. It wis me that kill’t him."
"A bird in the haun’s worth twa in the bush."
"That’s what the ould judge said when he gave me thirty days for stealin’ Mike Docherty’s pigs," concluded Pat, as he ruefully parted with half of his bag of gold.
"_I see_ Sergeant Tamson is in divisional orders to-day," said Colonel Corkleg to Lieutenant Greens during breakfast in the dug-out.
"Oh, his leading of that attack the other night. He’s been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Useful man. Useful man."
"Yes, sir. Isn’t it wonderful how a man like that, born in the slums, has all the instinct of a leader, as well as the pluck of a dozen ordinary men."
"They’re all the same, Greens," said the colonel, laying down his knife. "You know, I have always commanded that type of man. In peace times you find him convicted daily for drunkenness, absence, insolence, and a hundred other things, yet in war he is always a hero."
"I think, sir, the reason of that is that they are nearer to the brute creation, and better able to stand the shocks of war."
"Well—yes. Those fancy corps composed of gilded youths haven’t much stomach for a long campaign. They’re bothered with brains. They think too much. A man who thinks deeply isn’t much use in the ranks. An officer can do the thinking, the man must go to the cannon’s mouth without asking the reason why. It wouldn’t do to have three million generals in an army."
"Another point, sir, that I have often thought of; that is, how these men from the slums have always fought Britain’s battles. Up till a few years ago it could be said that Britain’s battles were won by aristocrats and paupers."