"Oh Lord!" He wondered if he was to be the tortured witness of another grim encounter.
But his companion waved his hand reassuringly.

"Oh, I'm not goin' t' die yit! There too much dependin' on me fer me t' die yit.

No, sir! Nary die! I CAN'T! Ye'd oughta see th' swad a' chil'ren I've got, an' all like that." The youth glancing at his companion could see by the shadow of a smile that he was making some kind of fun.
As the plodded on the tattered soldier continued to talk.

"Besides, if I died, I wouldn't die th' way that feller did.

That was th' funniest thing.