"I'm drowsin' down, boys," he said, wearily. "I'm drowsin' down. Ah! boys, it's a pity to lose such a man."
They roused him up, and walked him up and down before giving him another pull, but they had nips themselves to keep up to it.
"Ah! boys!" he said. "It's a long way to Cork."
"So it seems," said the super; but he got out a couple more bottles to be ready. He had some himself. They gave Pat another pull, and walked him up and down. The relief had pulls before they went in, and the relieved had pulls when they fell out.
And they walked him up and down.
They started one off on horseback to "Stiffners," on the main road, to see if there was a doctor or snakebite expert there, and to bring back more spirits, in case they ran short. The super gave him two quid, but he never came back.
And they walked Pat up and down and did exactly as before, till they couldn't wake him, nor the super—nor themselves till next day.
Pat woke first, and thought, and remembered; then he roused Dave, and, staggering, walked him up and down.
"Dave," he said (in conclusion). "Dave, me friend. Ye saved me life wid ye're pocket-knife, and soocked me blood. Here's a couple of quid for ye're sweetheart, me boy. An' there's wan of the same again whinever and any time ye ask for it."
"Don't mention, Pat," said Dave. "It was nothing. I'd do the same to yer any day."
