'There is not much the matter with me now--I feel well enough,' said O'Flaherty, mildly, and eyeing the mixture askance; and after a little while he looked at Puddock. That disciplinarian understood the look, and said, peremptorily, shaking up his little powdered head, and lisping vehemently-- 'Lieutenant O'Flaherty, Sir! I insist on your instantly taking that physic. How you may feel, Sir, has nothing to do with it. If you hesitate, I withdraw my sanction to your going to the field, Sir. There's no--there _can_ be--no earthly excuse but a--a miserable objection to a--swallowing a--recipe, Sir--that isn't--that is may be--not intended to please the palate, but to save your _life_, Sir,--remember. Sir, you've swallowed a--you--you _require_, Sir--you don't think I fear to say it, Sir!--you have swallowed that you ought not to have swallowed, and don't, Sir--don't--for _both_ our sakes--for Heaven's sake--I implore--and insist--don't trifle, Sir.' O'Flaherty felt himself passing under the chill and dismal shadow of death once more, such was the eloquence of Puddock, and so impressible his own nature, as he followed the appeal of his second. 'Life is sweet;' and, though the compound was nauseous, and a necessity upon him of swallowing it in horrid instalments, spoonful after spoonful, yet, though not without many interruptions, and many a shocking apostrophe, and even some sudden paroxysms of horror, which alarmed Puddock, he did contrive to get through it pretty well, except a little residuum in the bottom, which Puddock wisely connived at. The clink of a horse-shoe drew Puddock to the window. Sturk riding into town, reined in his generous beast, and called up to the little lieutenant. 'Well, he's taken it, eh?' Puddock smiled a pleasant smile and nodded. 'Walk him about, then, for an hour or so, and he'll do.' 'Thank you, Sir,' said little Puddock, gaily. 'Don't thank _me_, Sir, _either_ of you, but remember the lesson you've got,' said the doctor, tartly, and away he plunged into a sharp trot, with a cling-clang and a cloud of dust. And Puddock followed that ungracious leech, with a stare of gratitude and admiration, almost with a benediction. And his anxiety relieved, he and his principal prepared forthwith to provide real work for the surgeons. CHAPTER XVI. THE ORDEAL BY BATTLE.