'"I'll swear on the Cross!" sez I.

'"I care for none av your oaths," sez he.

'"Come back to your quarters," sez I, "an' if you don't believe the
livin', begad, you shall listen to the dead," I sez.

'I hoisted him an' tuk him back to his quarters. "Mrs. Bragin," sez
I, "here's a man that you can cure quicker than me."

'"You've shamed me before my wife," he whimpers.

'"Have I so?" sez I. "By the look on Mrs. Bragin's face I think I'm
for a dhressin'-down worse than I gave you."

'An' I was! Annie Bragin was woild wid indignation. There was not a
name that a dacint woman cud use that was not given my way. I've had
my Colonel walk roun' me like a cooper roun' a cask for fifteen minutes
in Ord'ly Room, bekaze I wint into the Corner Shop an' unstrapped
lewnatic; but all I iver tuk from his rasp av a tongue was ginger-pop
to fwhat Annie tould me. An' that, mark you, is the way av a woman.

'Whin ut was done for want av breath, an' Annie was bendin' over her
husband, I sez: "'Tis all thrue, an' I'm a blayguard an' you're an
honest woman; but will you tell him of wan service that I did you?"

'As I finished speakin' the Corp'ril man came up to the veranda, an'
Annie Bragin shquealed. The moon was up, an' we cud see his face.