human
What in the world are we goin' to do for grub, Si?
gpt
Oi know what Oi'm goin' to do, said Hennessey.
human
Oi'm goin to show the foinest pace av shprinting back to camp that has been sane in these parts since our roight bruk that day at Chickamaugy. No grass'll grow under me fate, Oi tell yez. And as I pass through your camp Oi'll foind yer Captain, and tell the fix you're in, and to sind out some rations.
gpt
But even if he does send them at once, they can't git here till evenin', and I hate powerfully to let him and the rest know that we didn't have sense enough to take care o' our victuals after we'd drawed 'em,
human
If it was only one, or even two days, I'd let the boys starve it out, as a good lesson to 'em, said Shorty.
gpt
But three seems like cruelty to dumb beasts.
human
But what'll they say about us in camp? groaned Si.
gpt
They'll have the grand laugh on me and you, and every one o' the boys. I'd ruther go on quarter rations for a month than stand the riggin' they'll give us, and have Capt. McGillicuddy give me one look when he asks the question about how we come to lose all our rations so soon? He'll think me a purty Sarjint to send out into the country in charge o' men, and you a fine Corpril.
human
Say, said Shorty, his face illuminated with a bright idea.
gpt
We might report the rations 'lost in action.' That'd fix it fine. We had two good fights, and come out ahead. That'll tickle the Captain so that he won't be partickler what we report.
human
Hurroo! echoed Hennessey;
gpt
But we didn't lose 'em in action, and to say so'd be a lie, answered Si, whose conscience had none of the easy elasticity of his partner's.
human
We could report 'em burnt up by lightnin','but we won't. They was lost by sheer, dumbed carelessness, that me and you and the boys should knowed better than to've allowed. That's all there is of it, and that's what I'm goin' to report, if I have to.
gpt
Great Jehosephat, exploded Shorty;
human
Nothin' kin justify a lie,
gpt
Holy smoke! bigger men than you--lots bigger--have squared up their accounts that way. Didn't all the Captains in the rijiment, and the Quartermaster and Commissary, and, for what I know, the Chaplain and the Colonel, git clean bills o' health after the battle o' Stone River, by reportin' everything that they couldn't find 'lost in action?'
human
Yis, added Hennessey,
gpt
Well, I don't think any the more o' them for it. We spiled our rations before the fightin' begun, they'd bin spiled if there'd bin no fightin', and I haint going to send no other words, if I've got to send any word.
human
Who the divil's goin' to carry this word, Oi'd like to know, Misther Klegg? broke in Hennessey.
gpt
Are you goin' to put words into my mouth, Misther Klegg? Oi'll tell your Captain just fwhat Oi plaze, about you and your foight and your rations. Oi want no more worrids wid ye. Attintion, min! Shoulder, a-r-m-s! Roight face! Forward, foile left!--M-a-r-c-h!
human
I s'pose I ain't responsible for any o' the fairy tales with which that wild Mick'll fill up the Captain, said Si, self-consolingly, as Hennessey and his squad marched away in quick time.
gpt
He'll put a rich, red, County Connaught color on everything that's happened out here, and the Captain'll believe as much as suits him. Anyhow, Hennessey'll not say anything to our disadvantage, and probably the Captain'll send out some rations by fast mule express.
human
Yes, accorded Shorty;
gpt
Humph, said Si, skeptically,
human
Yes; they're awful foragers and thieves, assented Shorty.
gpt
All Ohio boys is. I'm glad I'm from Injianny. Still, I've generally bin able to find something, even after the Ohio boys had bin there.
human
Well, I think we'd better first go back and see about them rebels that we wounded last night. They may be sufferin' awfully, and we oughtn't to think about something to eat, before doin' what we kin for them.
gpt
That's so, assented Shorty.
human
I'd a-gone back last night, but we was all so dead tired.
gpt
Well, I'll take two o' the boys and go back. You stay here with the rest, and hold the mill. I'll git back as soon's I kin, and then you kin take a couple o' the boys and go out foragin'.