"--And he approached Snowdrop, with his cane raised in act to
strike.
"Top, massa," shouted the negro; "me will tell you--Dr Plaget desire dat
Heavystern should be leave."
"Confound Dr Plaget"--and he smote the pioneer across the pate, whereby
he broke his stick, although, as I anticipated, without much hurting his
man--but the sergeant instantly saw his error, and with the piece of the
baton he gave Snowdrop a tap on the shin--bone, that set him pirouetting
on one leg, with the other in his hand, like a tee--totum.
"Why, sir, did you not bring as many as Cucumbershin, sir?" "Becaase"
screamed Snowdrop, in great wrath, now all alive and kicking from the
smart--"Becaase Cucumbershin is loaded wid light infantry, sir, and all
of mine are grenadier, Massa Sergeant--dat dem good reason surely!"
"No, it is not, sir; go back and fetch Heavystern immediately, or by the
powers but I will"--"Massa Sergeant, you must be mad--Dr Plaget--you
won't yeerie--but him say, five grenadier--especially wid Corporal
Bumblechop for one--is good load--ay, wery tif load--equal to seven
tallion company [battallion, I presume], and more better load, great
deal, den six light infantry--beside him say, tell Sergeant Pivot to
send you back at five in de afternoon wid four more coffin, by which
time he would have anoder load, and in trute de load was ready prepare
in de deadhouse before I come away, only dem were not well cold just
yet.
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