I'd have gone like a shot." "You couldn't send yourself," I said dryly.
"Eh?
What do you mean ?" "You were telling me what you would have done if you had been chief." "Bah! Yah! Don't you pretend to be so sharp.

That's what the old man ought to do, though--send out a messenger, and if he didn't find the General he'd find out how things are going.

I believe the Boers are licking our regular troops." "Oh, nonsense!" I said, looking startled.

"Impossible." "Nothing's impossible in war, my boy.

I'm getting uncomfortable.