human
You shall do four days' field punishment, Hawke!
gpt
Forty days if you like, sir--I don't care what becomes of me. 'Ere's Mr. Dashwood back agin--that's good enough!
human
Another word, cried the lieutenant,
gpt
Steady, men, he said.
human
Thank you for the welcome, but it's not done in the best platoons, you know. How are you, Littlewood?
gpt
Top-hole, old chap! Where have you been, you beggar? You've managed to completely demoralise the company.
human
You shall have a narrative of my expedition all highly coloured, by and by, laughed Dennis.
gpt
I've had no end of a time, and I've brought back the news that we've got the Prussians in front of us by way of a change.
human
The dickens we have! said Littlewood.
gpt
Any chance of their counter-attacking?
human
That's the idea, old man. I'm going on listening-post to-night, and I shouldn't wonder if we get it pretty hot. Bob tells me you've had it in the neck whilst I've been away.
gpt
By Jove, yes! said Littlewood gravely,
human
Rotten hard lines!
gpt
You and Tiddler are 'for it' to-night, remember, he said, and the two men grinned delightedly.
human
Ah, Wetherby! Going strong?
gpt
A1, replied the boy, as the parade was dismissed,
human
Hum! we'll alter that to-morrow--it's certainly not palatial, said Dennis.
gpt
I suppose there's none of my clobber come up?
human
Oh yes, it's all here; I saw to that,
gpt
What a good little chap you are!
human
Not at all. I fagged for you at Harrow, and somehow I had the idea you'd turn up,
gpt
Well, I'm going to have a shave, said Dennis;
human
What a night! murmured Harry Hawke, as he lay on his stomach in two inches of water some twenty yards in front of the trench with his pal, Tiddler, beside him.
gpt
An' me on the peg to-morrer!
human
Bet you there won't be no show,
gpt
Don't you make too sure of that, Cocky. I'll put a shilling on Mr. Dashwood both ways, and he's got a notion that something's up.
human
Hear anything, Hawke?
gpt
Not so far, sir, but it's bloomin' difficult to 'ear to-night--the rain makes such a patter on the chalk, and it's fillin' up the shell 'oles a fair knock-art.
human
Well now, look here, said Dennis impressively,
gpt
I'm going to shove along, and I want you both to listen with your eyes. You know the Morse code, and if you see anything straight in front of you, pass the word back to Mr. Wetherby on the parapet behind.
human
But you ain't goin' alone, sir! You'll let one of us come wiv yer!
gpt
I am going alone, Hawke. I marked the lie of the ground before the light went, and it's as easy as walking down Piccadilly. If I can't find out what I want I shall come back; anyhow, look and listen!