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           Allthewhilewehadnowater,onlyrawbrandyforadrink,whichwasworsethannothing;butwekeptthebottleascoolaswecould,buryingitintheearth,andgotsomereliefbybathingourbreastsandtemples.

           Thesoldierskeptstirringalldayinthebottomofthevalley,nowchangingguard,nowinpatrollingpartieshuntingamongtherocks.Theselayroundinsogreatanumber,thattolookformenamongthemwaslikelookingforaneedleinabottleofhay;andbeingsohopelessatask,itwasgoneaboutwiththelesscare.Yetwecouldseethesoldierspiketheirbayonetsamongtheheather,whichsentacoldthrillintomyvitals;andtheywouldsometimeshangaboutourrock,sothatwescarcedaredtobreathe.

           ItwasinthiswaythatIfirstheardtherightEnglishspeech;onefellowashewentbyactuallyclappinghishanduponthesunnyfaceoftherockonwhichwelay,andpluckingitoffagainwithanoath.“Itellyouit’s‘ot,”sayshe;andIwasamazedattheclippingtonesandtheoddsing-songinwhichhespoke,andnolessatthatstrangetrickofdroppingouttheletter“h.”Tobesure,IhadheardRansome;buthehadtakenhiswaysfromallsortsofpeople,andspokesoimperfectlyatthebest,thatIsetdownthemostofittochildishness.Mysurprisewasallthegreatertohearthatmannerofspeakinginthemouthofagrownman;andindeedIhavenevergrownusedtoit;noryetaltogetherwiththeEnglishgrammar,asperhapsaverycriticaleyemighthereandtherespyouteveninthesememoirs.