Aslan/Jill A Mystery of Heroism short story by Stephen Crane

The other soldiers are shocked he's going to get the water. They can't decide if his actions are heroic or completely foolish.

“Look here, my lad,” he said, in a pious sort of a voice—“look here, my lad”—Collins was not a lad—“don’t you think that’s taking pretty big risks for a little drink of water?”

“We ain’t dyin’ of thirst, are we? That’s foolishness.”

“Well, somebody put him up to it, an’ he’s doin’ it.”

“Say, he must be a desperate cuss.”