"Are you quite sure? You must not stand in your own light. This is a
fine chance for you to get on in the service." The colonel's voice had
become very friendly.
"I know where my true duty lies, sir; I owe everything to you and to
the regiment. I should not hesitate to refuse an appointment on the
general staff if it were offered me now." McKay did not add that his
future prospects were now materially changed, and that it was no
longer of supreme importance to him to rise in his profession.
"Give me your hand, my boy," said Colonel Blythe, visibly touched at
McKay's disinterestedness. "You are proving your gratitude in a way I
shall never forget. But let us talk business. You know I want you as
adjutant."
"I shall be only too proud to act, sir."
"I must have a good staff about me. We are in great straits; the
regiment will go from bad to worse. There are barely 200 'duty' men
now, and it will soon be a mere skeleton, unless we can take good care
of the rest."
"Yes, sir," said McKay, feeling constrained to say something.
"They are suffering--we all are, but the men most of all--from
exposure, cold, want of proper clothing, and, above all, from want of
proper food. This is what I wish to remedy. They are dying of
dysentery, fever, cholera--I don't know what."
"The doctor, sir?"
"Can do nothing.
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