there wint the most amazin' shout I iver heard. An' thin I felt my head shpin, an' a mighty sweat bruk out on me, an' Malachi was growin' taller an' taller to me settin' on his back, an' I sez, foolish like an' weak, smilin' all round an' about, "Take me down," I sez, "or I'll fall."

'The next I remimber was lyin' in my cot again, limp as a chewed rag but cured av the fever, an' the Tangi as empty as the back av my hand. They'd all gone up to the front, an' ten days later I wint up too, havin' blocked an' unblocked an entire army corps. What do you think av ut, sorr?'

' T'll wait till I see Learoyd, I repeated.

' Ah'm here, said a shadow from among the shadows. ' Ah've heard t' tale too.'

'Ts it true, Jock?'

'Ay; true as towd bitch has getten't'mange. Orth'ris, yo' maun't let tdawgs hev owt to do wi' her.'