The pot's quite sound, so the doctor hasn't put in a single rivet." "I am glad," I said heartily.
"That's right--thank you," said the poor fellow, smiling pleasantly, and he kept his eyes fixed upon me for some moments.

Then in a light bantering way he went on, "Doctor said the well-worn old thing." "What was that ?" I asked.
"Oh, that if it hadn't been for that bullet and brass cartridge-case, backed up by the thick leather belt, that Boer's bullet would have bored--now, now, you were going to laugh," he cried.
"That I wasn't," I said wonderingly.

"What is there to laugh at ?" "Oh, you thought I was making a pun: bored a hole right through me." "Rubbish!" I said.

"Just as if I should have thought so lightly about so terribly dangerous an injury." "Good boy!" he cried merrily.

"I like that.