Glad you stood by your mate in the hospital . How many did you kill ? ' ` Only one . ' ` Bad lot , of course ? ' ' A damned rascal . ' ` Well , do n't look so fierce ; I 've no objection . Would n't mind popping at some of those bloodthirsty blackguards myself . Had to dodge and keep quiet after it , I suppose . ' ` Pretty quiet for a long spell . ' ` Got off all right in the end , and headed for your mines and did that jolly brave thing . Now , I call that decidedly interesting and capital . I 'm glad to know it ; but I wo n't blab . ' ` Mind you do n't . Look here . Ted , if you 'd killed a man , would it trouble you -- a bad one , I mean ? ' The lad opened his mouth to say , ` Not a bit , ' but checked that answer as if something in Dan 's face made him change his mind . ` Well , if it was my duty in war or self-defence , I suppose I should n't ; but if I 'd pitched into him in a rage , I guess I should be very sorry . Should n't wonder if he sort of haunted me , and remorse gnawed me as it did Aram and those fellows . You do n't mind , do you ? It was a fair fight , was n't it ? '
` Yes , I was in the XXXXX ; but I wish I 'd been out of it .
Aram Dan Pretty blackguards duty mines objection right self-defence war