Page:Scarface.pdf/79

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
SCARFACE
71

tered regiment, "come down from there and go back and have your wounds dressed."

"We ain't got any officers," retorted Tony doggedly. "Most of 'em got bumped off during the night but a few only got nicked and I sent them back to get patched up. They wouldn'ta gone, of course, if they'd been conscious but they was all out like a light so I didn't have any trouble with 'em. The men fight grand when there's somebody to see to 'em," he continued, "but they're a little skittish when there ain't. So I'm seein' to 'em till some officers get here."

"Damme!" exclaimed the colonel to his staff. "Can you beat that; argues with me to stay up there and get his head blown off?" Then he raised his voice and called to Tony again: "I'm Colonel Riley. I'll leave Captain Stone here to 'see' to your men. Now you come down from there—at once, do you hear?—and go back and have your wounds dressed. I can't afford to have a man like you getting infection and dying on me."

So Tony scrambled down from his observatory but dangerous hillock, saluted the colonel, who si­lently shook hands with him, and reluctantly started for the rear.

Before the day was over, Colonel Riley was in