14/25 A white-livered coward stands a mighty poor chanst of salvation, is what the chaplain thinks." "Does you mean that ?" anxiously asked Kettle. "Maybe you think it's hard lines to have to drill all day and walk post all night, but it's a merry jest compared with burning in hell fire. I'd ruther drill and walk post all my life than find myself in the lake of brimstone and sulphur that's a-waitin' for cowards." "Tain't the drill and the walkin' post as skeers me," said Kettle, "but I ain't noways fond of guns. If it wasn't for them devilish guns I'd enlist, pertickler if they'd let me stay with Miss Betty and the baby." "Sure they would," replied the artful Halligan with a wink. "The Colonel wouldn't disoblige his lady. |