use he said you kicked him. Did
you, sir?"

"Yes--no--my leg jerked out at him, suddenly, Gedge."

"Same thing, sir. Said you'd knocked the Major's eyeglass off and broke
it. Did you do that, sir?"

"My arm jerked out and came in contact with his glass, Gedge."

"Same thing, sir, on'y we call it hitting out."

Bracy made a weary gesture with his head, and then, in despairing tones,
asked for more water.

"All right, sir; but no larks this time."

"What?"

"Don't get chucking it in my face, sir, unless it does you a lot o'
good. If it do I won't mind, for I should like to see you full o' fun
again."

"Fun!" groaned Bracy. "Give me the water. It is no fun, but a horror
that is upon me, my lad."

"Sorry to hear that, sir," said Gedge, filling the brass cup again from
a tall metal bottle. "Still, it do seem rather comic. What makes you
do it, sir?"

"I can't help it, my lad," groaned Bracy, who once more drank thirstily
and emptied the cup; Gedge, who had been watching him sharply, ready to
dodge the water if it were thrown, managing to get it away this time
without receiving a drop.

"Now you'll be better, sir."

"Thank you, my lad. I wish I could think so."

"Well, do think so, sir. You ought to, for you must be an awful deal
stronger."

"No, no; I am weaker than ever."

"Are yer, sir?"

"Yes, my lad. I was a little like this the other day."

"Yus, sir, I know."

"And it has been getting worst; and worse."

"Better and better, sir. It's a sign the nat'ral larkiness in yer's
coming back."

"No, no, my lad. The Doctor noticed it when my arm twitched, and told
me it was involuntary action of the nerves, caused by the injury from
the bullet."

"Well, sir, he ought to know: and I dare say it's all right. But I say,
sir--I don't, mind, and I won't say a word--you did it o' purpose."

"No, Gedge; indeed no."

"But really, sir, do you mean to tell me that when your arm was laid
acrost your chest you couldn't get it away?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"And that you hit out and kick at people like that without being able to
help it?"

"Yes; it is quite true, my lad, and it is horrible."

"Well, I dunno about being horrible, sir. Things like that can't last,
no more than a fellow being off his head and talking all kinds o' stuff
for a bit."

"You can't grasp it, Gedge," sighed Bracy.

"No, sir; wish I could."

"What!"

"Only wish you had my shot in the back, and I'd got yours