little he iwer cracks on himself 'bout thim. Years back he hild a
commission in some cavalry reg'mint in Injia, but he got broke--over a
woman, I fancy. He's knocked about th' wurrld quite a piece since thin.
Eyah! he talks av some quare parts he's been in. Fwhat doin'? Lord
knows. Been up an' down the ladder some in _this_ outfit--sarjint one
week--full buck private next. Yen know th' way these ginthlemin-rankers
run amuck?"

"How does he get away with it every time?" queried Redmond. "Hasn't any
civilian ever reported him to the old man?"

"Yes! wance--an' 'Father,' th' ould rapparee! he went for me baldheaded
for not reporthin' ut tu."

With a sort of miserable heartiness Slavin cursed awhile at the
recollection. "Toime an' again," he resumed, "have I taken my hands tu
um--pleaded wid um, an' shielded um in many a dhirty scrape, an' ivry
toime sez he, wid his ginthlemin's shmile: 'Burke! will ye thry an'
overlook it, ould man?' . . . Eyah! he's mighty quare. For some rayson
he seems tu hate th' idea av a third man bein' here, tho' th' man' wud
die for me. Divil a man can I kape here, anyway. In fwhat fashion he
puts th' wind up 'him, I do not know; they will not talk, out av pure
kindness av heart an' rispict for meself, I guess. But--a few days here,
an' bingo!--they apply for thransfer. Now ye know ivrythin', bhoy--fwhat
I am up against, an' fwhy I will not 'can' Yorkey. Ye've a face that
begets thrust--do not bethray ut, but thry an' hilp me. Bear wid Yorke
as best ye can--divilmint an' all--for my sake, will yeh?"

Not devoid of a certain simple dignity was the grim, rugged face that
turned appealingly to the younger man's in the light of the moon.