Dis a secret affair." The two negroes each took a long drink, and returned the canteen with expressions of approval.
"De oder men are on duty," the sergeant said with the air of a man who knew his business; "dey mustn't hab none of it, not until dey comes off.
As we are de relief, it am proper and right dat we drink a drop out ob a canteen ef we want it." "Quite so, Sergeant Newson," Tony said in a tone of admiration.

"Dat's de way to manage dese tings--duty first and pleasure afterward." "It am nearly time to relieve guard," the other said; "and den dey can hab a drink." In five minutes the two soldiers relieved those on guard, and they, also, took a long drink at the canteen, to which the sergeant also again applied his lips.
"Now I must be going," Tony said.

"I will leave the canteen with you, sergeant.

I have got some more of the stuff over there, and I dare say you will like another drink before morning." Then he stole away, but halted and lay down twenty yards distant.

In ten minutes he heard the sergeant say: "I feel as if I could do jus five minutes' sleep.