The worst part of this--the worst part he's willing to admit to himself right now, anyway--is that he can't exactly argue with Hickey's logic. It makes sense. It's practical. And although they hadn't resorted to doing something similar in the main group, that's because they hadn't needed to; they'd had enough spare clothing to trade around to whoever needed it.

James had given his sweater to Dundy, gloves had been passed around between too many people to count, slops had become completely mismatched and they'd simply grabbed whatever was a close enough size. But if clothing had begun to run out, at least one person in command--and, if he's honest, it would likely have been James himself--would've almost certainly made the the decision not to bury necessary supplies with their owner.

But he's not about to say any of that. And he's also not about to say the other thing that comes to mind, which is that he hopes Hickey trips over his feet and breaks his leg.

Though that does remind him of something.

"Perhaps. But with terrain as treacherous as it is here, ill-fitting boots may be more a hindrance than a help. Haven't you already sustained an injury to your leg?"

He's been informed there had been an incident involving a stabbing.