The sergeant-major had the reputation of never being at a loss for an answer. A young officer made a bet with a brother officer that he would in less than twenty-four hours ask the sergeant-major a question that would baffle him.
The sergeant-major accompanied the young officer on his rounds, in the course of which the cook-house was inspected. Pointing to a large copper of water just commencing to boil, the officer said:
Why does that water only boil round the edges of the copper and not in the centre?
The water round the edge, sir, replied the veteran, "is for the men on guard; they have their breakfast half an hour before the remainder of the company."