"Well, well, I say it of myself," continued the trooper. "It's no use humbuggin' about it. I'm swimmin' wi' the current. Goin' to the dogs like a runaway locomotive. Of course I see well enough that men like Sergeant Hardy, an' Stevenson of the Marines, who have been temperance men all their lives, enjoy good health--would to God I was like 'em! And I know that drinkers are dyin' off like sheep, but that makes it all the worse for me, for, to tell you the honest truth, boys--an' I don't care who knows it--I _can't_ leave off drinkin'. It's killin' me by inches. I know, likewise, that all the old hard drinkers here are soon sent home ruined for life--such of 'em at least as don't leave their miserable bones in the sand, and I know that I'm on the road to destruction, but I can't--I _won't_ give it up!" "Ha! Johnson," said Armstrong, "these are the very words quoted by the new parson at the temperance meetin' last night--an' he's a splendid fellow with his tongue. `Hard drinker,' says he, `you are humbuggin' yourself. You say you _can't_ give up the drink. The real truth is, my man, that you _won't_ give it up. If only I could persuade you, in God's strength, to say "I _will_," you'd soon come all right.' Now, Johnson, if you'll come with me to the next meetin'--" "What! _me_ go to a temperance meetin'?" cried the trooper with something of scorn in his laugh. "You might as well ask the devil to go to church! No, no, Armstrong, I'm past prayin' for--thank you all the same for invitin' me. But what was you askin' about news bein' true? What news?" "Why, that the old shepherd has been killed, and all our cattle are captured, and the Egyptian cavalry sent after them." "You don't say so!" cried the trooper, with the air of a man who suddenly shakes off a heavy burden. "If that's so, they'll be wantin' us also, no doubt." Without another word he turned and strode away as fast as his long legs could carry him. Although there might possibly be a call for infantry to follow, Miles and his friend did not see that it was needful to make for their fort at more than their ordinary pace.