mons，firingashespokeTheshotmissed，andtheshooter，blindwithrage，threwhisrifledownandrushedatSlanefromtheprotectionofthewellWithinstrikingdistance，hekickedsavagelyatSlane’sstomach，buttheweedyCorporalknewsomethingofSimmons’sweakness，andknew，too，thedeadlyguardforthatkickBowingforwardanddrawinguphisrightlegtilltheheeloftherightfootwassetsomethreeinchesabovetheinsideoftheleftknee-cap，hemettheblowstandingononeleg~exactlyasGondsstandwhentheymeditate-andreadyforthefallthatwouldfollowTherewasanoath，theCorporalfelloverhisownleftasshinbonemetshinbone，andthePrivatecollapsed，hisrightlegbrokenaninchabovetheankle。
“’Pityyoudon’tknowthatguard，Sim。”saidSlane，spittingoutthedustasheroseThenraisinghisvoic~“Comean’takehimorfI’vebruk’isleg。”Thiswasnotstrictlytrue，forthePrivatehadaccomplishedhisowndownfall，sinceitisthespecialmeritofthatleg-guardthattheharderthekickthegreaterthekicker’sdiscomfiture。
SlanewalkedtoJerryBlazesandhungoverhimwithostentatiousanxiety，whileSimmons，weepingwithpain，wascarriedaway“’Opeyouain’t’urtbadly，Sir。”saidSlaneTheMajorhadfainted，andtherewasanugly，raggedholethroughthetopofhisarmSlanekneltdownandmurmured“S’elpme，Ibelieve’e’sdeadWell，ifthatain’tmybloomingluckallover！”
ButtheMajorwasdestinedtoleadhisBatteryafieldformanyalongdaywithunshakennerveHewasremoved，andnursedandpettedintoconvalescence，whiletheBatterydiscussedthewisdomofcapturingSimmons，andblowinghimfromagunTheyidolizedtheirMajor，andhisreappearanceonparadebroughtaboutascenenowhereprovidedforintheArmyRegulations。
Great，too，wastheglorythatfelltoSlane’sshareTheGunnerswouldhavemadehimdrunkthriceadayforatleastafortnightEventheColonelofhisownregimentcomplimentedhimuponhiscoolness，andthelocalpapercalledhimaheroThesethingsdidnotpuffhimup。