A bloomin' 'asty puddin' was that tournamong, but it wasn't so bloomin'
'asty that the Subadar and William Connor didn't finish what they started
for to do when the day was young."

"Did Janders stick the b'y?" asked Coolin, who had just come in from
Suakim with the Commissariat camels. "Shure, I hope to God he didn't!"
He was pale and wild of eye.

"Did a bloomin' sparrow give you 'is brains when you was changed at
birth? Stick William Connor--I believe you not! This is what 'appened,
me bloomin' sanitary. When I got back be'ind the 'eavenly parapet, there
was William Connor in a nice little slaughter-house of 'is own. 'E was
doin' of 'isself proud--too busy to talk. All at once 'e spies a flag
the Osnum Digners 'ad planted on the 'eavenly parapet. 'E opens 'is
mouth and gives one yell, and makes for that bit of cotton. 'E got
there, for 'e would not be denied. 'E got there an' 'e couldn't get
back. But 'e made a rush for it--"

"A divil he was on rushes," broke in Private Coolin, wiping his mouth
nervously.

"'E's the pride of 'is 'ome and the bloomin' brigade, bar one, which is
the Subadar Goordit Singh. For w'en the Subadar sees Connor in 'is 'ole,
a cut across 'is jaw, doin' of 'is trick alone, away goes Subadar Goordit
Singh and two of 'is company be'ind 'im for to rescue. 'E cut with 'is
sword like a bloomin' picture. 'E didn't spare 'is strength, and 'e
didn't spare the Osnum Digners. An' 'e comeback, an' he brought with him
William Connor--that's all what come back."

"How long did William live?" asked Coolin. "He was a good frind to me