"I can't see how it's to be done, boys. I dare say we four could reach the bank somewhere; but we're heavily handicapped by those two who can't swim."

"And there isn't time to teach them now," said Drummond sardonically.

"And we can't leave them," said Bracy. "What's to be done?"

Gedge was eager to offer a suggestion upon the slightest encouragement, and this he obtained from Roberts, who turned to him.

"How's the sprain, my lad?"

"Bit stiff, sir; that's all," was the reply. "Water done it a lot o' good."

"Think you could drop down with the stream and land somewhere near the fort to tell them how we're pressed?"

"Dessay I could, sir; but don't send me, please."

"Why?" asked Roberts and Bracy in a breath.

Gedge gave them a comical look, and waved his hand in the direction of his comrades.

"We all come out together to have what we called a nice little walk, sir, and a look at that there waterfall, as turned out to be farther off than we reckoned on. I shouldn't like to cut off and leave 'em in the lurch, sir."

"Lurch? Nonsense, my lad," said Bracy. "You would be going on a very risky errand to try and save us all."

"Yes, sir; o' course, sir; but I could get one of 'em over that little bit if you three gents could manage t'other. They'll be all right in a few minutes."

"I don't like sending him," said Roberts. "It is very dangerous, and we must, try it together."

His companions gave; a short, sharp nod, and acquiesced.

"If we only knew what is below us!" said Bracy as he gazed down-stream.

"Niggers," said Drummond shortly. "There'll be a dozen or two beyond these rocks waiting to pot us as soon as we are carried into sight by the stream."

"Well, there'll only be our heads to aim at," said Bracy; "and we must not go down in a cluster this time."

"No," said Roberts. "As soon as you feel ready, Bracy, we must start. It is madness to stay here. You and Gedge take that fellow between you; and Drummond and I will go as before."

"Hear that?" whispered Gedge to his comrade, who gave him a sulky nod. "That's right; and mind, I'm ready for yer this time. I shan't hit yer; but if yer moves hand or foot when I've turned yer over on yer back to float, we lets yer go, and yer can get across the blessed river by yerself."

"All right," said the man; "but I don't believe yer, Billy Gedge. I never learnt to swim, but if I could I shouldn't talk about leaving a pardner to shift for hisself."

"Er-r-er!" growled Gedge, whom these words seemed to mollify. "Well, keep them 'ands o' yours in the water, for as long as you holds 'em down you helps me to keep yer afloat, and as soon as yer begins to make windmills of 'em and waves 'em, or chucks 'em about as if you was trying to ketch flies, down you goes."

"All right," said the man, as they heard more bullets spattering on the rocks above them; "but, oh, how my hands does itch for a rifle and a chance to be taking shots at some of these beauties!"

"Yes," said Gedge; "and I hope it won't be long first. I hadn't any spite partickler agen 'em before, but I have now. Ha' they got any orspitals or doctors?"

"I dunno," said the other; "but if we gets outer this and in the ranks again, there's going to be some of the beds filled, and a bit o' work for their doctors to do."

"Well, my lads," said Roberts, stepping to where the three men crouched gazing at the deep, rushing water; "feel strong enough to start?"

"Yes, sir," came in chorus.

"And we shan't get in a tangle this time, sir, I hope," said Gedge.

"I hope not, my lad. Up with you, then."

There were no preparations to make; nothing to do but for the two officers to get their man face upward between them, and stand ready while Bracy and Gedge followed suit with theirs.

"Ready?" said Roberts. "Count ten after we've started, and then follow."

As soon as he had spoken he gave Drummond a nod, and they stepped among the rocks to the swift water, bent down, and, as they lowered themselves in, the strong current seized them, as it were, their helpless companion was drawn out, and away they went as fast as a horse could have trotted, down what was a veritable water-slide.

"Now, my lad," cried Bracy as Gedge, at a signal, went on counting the ten slowly. "Keep a good heart. We won't leave you."

"All right, sir;" said the man, drawing a deep breath.

"Nine—ten!" counted Gedge.

"Off!" cried Bracy, but checked himself for a moment, startled by the noise of the ragged volley which was fired from the enemy's bank as soon as they caught sight of the three heads gliding down the stream.

"If they are hit!" mentally exclaimed Bracy; and then, making a sign to Gedge, they followed out the precedent shown them, and the water seized and bore them along, with the private floating between them, their steady subsidence into the water and slow strokes keeping them well upon the surface.

So swiftly did they pass along that only a few moments had passed before the crackling of the firing from the far bank came plainly, and bullets ricochetted from the water to strike the other bank, but without effect, the rate at which they were descending making the aim taken with the long, clumsy matchlocks of no effect. Not a word was littered; and with their friends far ahead, their heads just seen, the fugitives glided along the straight course below them, free as it was from rocks. But they were evidently in full view of fresh parties of the enemy, and shot after shot splashed the water.

"Now for the bank, Gedge," cried Bracy suddenly.

"Yes, sir; all right, sir; but it's of no use."

"It is," cried Bracy angrily. "They are making for it now."

"Yes, sir: and they're swept by it. Can't you see it's like a smooth wall, with the water running by it like a railway train?"

Gedge was right; and there was nothing for it but to go with the stream towards the rocks which now rose right in their way, the long race ending in a wide chaos of foaming water, which leaped and sparkled in the afternoon sun.

"We shall be torn to pieces there," thought Bracy; and he strained his eyes to try and make out an opening; but his attention was taken up the next moment by the cracking of matchlocks and the puffs of smoke rising to his left, as fire was opened upon their leaders, who were running the gauntlet that it would be their fate to share in another minute, when Gedge suddenly uttered a hoarse cheer, and nearly lost his grip of his companion; for, quick, sharp, and loud, a genuine British volley rattled out, almost like a report from a piece of artillery, the bullets sending the leaves on the enemy's bank pattering down. Then another, and at regular intervals others; while the eyes of the swimmers were gladdened by the sight of friends making their way down among the rocks, towards which they were being rushed. Another volley rang out; there was a cheer, in which the two helpless privates joined; and directly after the fugitives were saved from being battered among the rocks by ready hands, whose efforts were covered by the rapid firing from the bank above.

Five minutes after, the dripping party were retiring with a company of their regiment, whose captain contented himself with giving the enemy a volley from time to time, as they doubled to reach their quarters, now not a quarter of a mile away, the young officers learning that the enemy was out once more and converging upon the fort, this unexpected news of the termination of the temporary peace having been brought in by scouts, and none too soon.

"Graves said that you must be brought in somehow," said the officer in charge of the company; "but I was not to cross the river where you did, but to come up this side, for you would turn back after crossing higher up."

"Yes; I remember telling the Colonel so," said Bracy eagerly.

"Well, it has turned out all right; but he needn't have told me, for we could not have crossed, as far as I can see."

"We did," said Drummond, laughing; "and brought in these three fellows, too."

"Yes; but I wouldn't holloa too soon," said the officer addressed. "We're not safe yet. Look yonder; they're swarming down that gorge, and we must race for it, or they'll cut us off. Forward, my lads."

Ten minutes later there was a halt and a clinking rattle, as the order was given to fix bayonets ready for a strong body of the hill-men, who had crossed the shallows lower down and were coming on to dispute their way.

"Why doesn't Graves send out another company to cover us?" panted Roberts. "We shall be cut off after all."

The words had hardly passed his lips when—crash!—there was a tremendous volley from their right front, which checked the enemy's advance, the white-coated hill-men hesitating. The officer in command seized the opportunity, and a volley was fired by the rescue company, the men cheering as they dashed on with bristling bayonets. That was enough: the enemy turned and fled, their speed increased by another volley from the covering company; and ten minutes later the fugitives were marching along coolly, protected by the fire from the walls of the fort, where they were directly after being heartily shaken by the hand, the sally-port clanging to in their rear.

"Quite enough for one day," said Drummond.

"Yes," said Bracy grimly; "that's having what Gedge called a nice long walk."

"Yes," said Roberts; "with a swim thrown in."



CHAPTER ELEVEN.

WHICH WAS BRAVER?

"Steady, there; steady, my lads. Not too fast. Seize upon every bit of shelter, and have a few steady shots at them. They're beaten, and we shall soon scatter them now."

The lads were as steady as the most exacting officer could desire; and though the two sides of the narrow, winding defile were lined with the enemy, who made good use of their clumsy jezails, of whose long range several of the Fusiliers had had bitter experience, the deadly fire which searched out every sheltering crag was too much for the Dwats, who were retiring as fast as the difficult nature of the ground would allow.

Bracy felt that, the enemy was beaten, and knew that the fierce tribes-men would be only too glad to escape as soon as they could: but as the tight had gone against them, their supposed to be secure hiding-places were one by one growing untenable as the Fusiliers advanced; and consequently, as giving up was about the last thing they thought of doing, their action was that of rats at bay—fighting to the bitter end. The men of Roberts's company knew, too, what they must do— drive the enemy completely out of the defile, or they would return again; so, partly held back by their officers, they advanced by a series of rushes, taking possession of every bit of fallen rock for shelter, and driving their enemies on and on, farther into the mountains, fully expecting that in a short time they would completely take to flight.

But disappointment followed disappointment. No sooner was one niche high up on the rocky sides cleared than there was firing from one on the other, and the work had to be gone through over again. Still they advanced, and the enemy retired; while the officers knew that sooner or later, in spite of numbers, this must come to an end, for nothing could withstand the accurate fire of the young Englishmen whenever they obtained a chance. Men dropped from time to time; but they had to lie where they fell till the fight was at an end, some to rise no more; others, knowing as they did the nature of the enemy, managed to creep to the shelter of a rock, where they laid their cartridges ready, and sat back watching the faces of the defile in anticipation of some marksman opening fire.

The company was in full pursuit, under the belief that they had completely cleared the defile as far as they had gone, when, in the midst of a rush led by Roberts and Bracy, both making for a rough breastwork of rocks built a hundred feet up one side and held by two or three score of the enemy, the latter uttered a sharp ejaculation, stopped short, and then dropped upon his knees, his sword, as it fell from his hand to the full extent of the knot secured by the slide to his wrist, jingling loudly on the stones. Roberts was at his side in a moment, and leaned over him.

"Not badly hurt?"

"No, no," cried Bracy; "never mind me. On with you, and lead the boys; they're close up to that breastwork. On—on!"

Roberts turned and rushed up the rock-strewn defile, reaching his men as they crowded together for a rush, and Bracy and the man hurrying to him saw them go over it as if they were engaged in an obstacle race. The next minute they disappeared round another bend in the jagged rift, in full pursuit of the late occupants of the murderous shelter.

"And me not with 'em, and me not with 'em!" groaned the private who had fallen back. "But I don't care. I ain't going to leave him."

Before he could double back to where Bracy knelt, the wounded officer sank over sidewise, with the rugged defile seeming to swim round before his eyes, and, for a few minutes, glory, the hot rage of pursuit, and the bitter disappointment of failure were as nothing. Then he opened his eyes upon the lad who was bending over him, holding a water-bottle to his lips.

"Try and drink a drop, sir, if it's ever so little."

The words seemed to come from a great distance off and to echo in Bracy's head, as he made an effort and swallowed a few drops of the lukewarm fluid.

"Gedge," he said at last with difficulty, staring hard at the lad, whose head seemed to have gone back to its old state after the blow from the falling rock, but only to swell now to a monstrous size.

"Yes, sir; it's me, sir. Ought to have gone on with the boys, but I couldn't leave you, sir, for fear of some of the rats coming down from the holes to cut you up."

"Rats? Holes?" said Bracy feebly. "What's the matter?"

"Not much, I hope, sir; on'y you've got hit. Whereabouts is it? Ah, needn't ask," he muttered as he saw a dark mark beginning to show on the left breast of the young officer's tunic, and spreading like a big blot on a writing-pad.

"Hit? Nonsense—ah!" Bracy uttered a low groan, and clapped his right hand across to cover the spot.

"Yes, sir. Jus' there," said Gedge; "but don't you mind. It's too high up to be dangerous, I know. Now, then. Amb'lance dooty. Must practice; I ain't forgot that."

Gedge gave a sharp look round and up and down the defile, before laying down his gun and taking out a bandage and some lint.

"Hold still, sir," he said, drawing his breath through his teeth afterwards with a hiss, as he rapidly stripped open his officer's jacket, and then tore away the shirt, to lay bare his white breast, where, just below the collar-bone, an ugly red patch showed itself.

"Sponge and cold water," muttered Gedge; "and I ain't got 'em." Then aloud: "That hurt yer, sir?" for he was examining the wound.

"Never mind that; go on," said Bracy faintly. "Plug the wound."

"Right, sir. Jus' going to.—One o' their ugly bits o' hiron," muttered the lad as he stopped the effusion of blood in a rough-and-ready way which must have been agonising to the sufferer, who, however, never winced.

"That's done it, sir; but I must turn you over to fasten the bandage."

"Go on," said Bracy in a faint whisper.—"Hah! the firing's getting more distant."

"Yes, sir; they're driving 'em right out of it this time, and we not in it, and—oh, a mussy me!" whispered the speaker now, as in his manipulations he became conscious of the fact that his task was only half-done, for there was the place where the ragged missile had passed out close to the spine, and the plugging and bandaging had to be continued there.

"That's good, sir," he said cheerily. "You won't have the doctor worriting you to get the bullet out, as he does with some of the lads. Now, then, a drop more water, and then I'm going to get you up yonder, more out of the sun, so as you'll be more comf'table till they come back."

"Yes!" sighed Bracy. "I can't help you, my lad. Listen! they're firing still."

"Oh yes, sir; they're doing the job proper this time. Shots is a good way off too. How they eckers, and—Hullo!" Gedge gave a sudden start, snatched at his rifle, and looked up the defile in the direction where his companions had passed, for there was a report from close at hand following upon the small stones close to his side being driven up, and he was watching a puff of smoke slowly rising high up the left precipitous side, finger on trigger, ready for a return shot, when— whiz—something like a swift beetle in full flight passed close to his ear, and he ducked down, simultaneously with an echoing report from the right side of the defile.

"Just like 'em!" he muttered. "Oh, you cowards! Only just show your muzzles, and I'll let yer see what British musketry practice is like."

But all Gedge saw was the gleam of a ramrod a hundred yards away, where one of the hill-men who had kept to his coign of vantage was rapidly reloading.

"No good to stop here," muttered Gedge; "they'd be hitting him 'fore long. Me too, p'raps. Well, here goes."

The lad rose upon his knees, took off his helmet and passed the strap of his rifle over his head and arm, slung it, replaced his helmet, and turned to Bracy.

"Won't hurt yer more than I can 'elp, sir; but we can't stop here."

"No; lie down, my lad. Get into cover, and wait till you can reply."

A sharp report from below them stopped Gedge from answering, and the bullet flattened against the rock a yard from where the lad knelt.

"Well, this is pleasant," he said, showing his teeth in a grin which looked as vicious as that of a hunted dog. "Urrrr!" he snarled, "if I only had you three down on the level with my bay'net fixed. Draw a big breath, sir. Up yer comes. Now, then, you hold fast with yer right. Hook it round my neck, and don't get the spike o' my 'elmet in your eye.—Now, then, my lad; right-about face—quick march!"

Gedge strode off with his load held in his arms as a nurse would carry a baby, and at the first step—bang! bang! and echo—echo—two shots came from behind, and directly after another from the front, but from the opposite side to the spot from whence the former shot had been fired.

"Well, if they can't hit me now they orter," muttered Gedge as he strode on with his heavy burden. "This is going to be walking the gauntlet if any more on 'em's left behind on the sneak. Oh dear! oh dear! if I only had a snug shelter and plenty o' cartridges I think I could stop that little game.—Hurt yer much, sir?" he continued aloud after a few dozen yards had been covered. "Fainted! Poor chap! Better, p'raps, for he won't know what's going on.—Go it!" he snarled as shot after shot was fired; while, though he managed to get out of the line of fire of the two first enemies, he had to pass closer to the two next, who fired again and again from their eyries far up the sides of the defile, these nooks, fortunately for Gedge and his burden, having been reached from above—the perpendicular walls precluding all descent into the dried-up torrent-bed.

The young fellow was right; he had to run the gauntlet, for to his dismay, as he tramped on with his load, he awoke to the fact that the Dwats, who had retired from the upper shelves as the Fusiliers rushed up the defile, were coming back to their hiding-places, and, warned by the firing of their companions, were ready to harass the retreat.

"I don't care," he muttered, "if I can only get him outer fire; but they must hit one of us before long. 'Tain't possible for 'em to keep on without."

Bang! and then bang! again, and the stones close by where the brave fellow trod were struck up, one of them giving Gedge a sharp blow on the knee.

"Talk about hitting a 'aystack!" he snarled. "Why, I could make better practice with a indyrubber cattypult and a bag o' marbles."

"Gedge—Gedge!" came from Bracy's lips in excited tones, for he had slowly revived to a knowledge of their position.

"Yes, sir; all right, sir. I know. I'd double, but the going is too bad."

"Of course, my lad; impossible. But are you mad?"

"Yes, sir; downright savage at the murderous brutes. This is their way o' treating the wounded."

"I didn't mean that, my man, but the way you're carrying me."

Shot after shot came whistling and buzzing by them from behind as he spoke, but still without effect.

"I'm carrying you all right, sir. Can't help hurting you a bit. It's easy this way."

"Nonsense, man. Set me down at once. I can stand. Then sling your rifle in front, and take me on your back."

"There they go, sir," said Gedge as another shot buzzed by, telling of its rough shape. "They never did no pigeon-shooting, sir, nor practised at sparrers from the trap."

"Did you hear what I said, sir?" cried Bracy angrily. "Set me down, and get me on your back. I can hold on with one hand and leave yours free."

"Couldn't use 'em if they was, sir."

"Halt! Take me on your back at once, sir," cried Bracy, panting with anger and pain.

"Can't, sir. Who's a-going to halt with them firing at us like that from behind? Ain't I 'bliged to keep ree-treating?"

"Obey my orders, sir. I tell you I shall be easier to carry on your back."

"Oh yes, sir, a deal easier to carry, and a nice deal easier to hit. Aintcher got it bad enough as it is?" said Gedge sulkily.

Bracy was silent for a few moments as he felt his suspicions realised. Gedge was carrying him in that awkward fashion so as to shelter him from any better-aimed bullet that might come. To make quite sure, though, he drew a deep breath and spoke again:

"I am wounded, sir, but I will be obeyed."

"All right, sir; soon as ever we get out o' shot."

"But you are hurting me horribly; and can't you see that, carrying me like this, you may receive the next bullet?"

"Oh yes, sir; I can see," said Gedge coolly; "but you be quiet, and I won't hurt you more'n I can help."

Bracy's voice had lost all its anger, and it was in no tone of command that he said:

"Set me down, my lad, and hold my arm. I'll try to walk beside you while you take a shot or two at those cowardly brutes."

"Ah, that's just what I'd like to do, sir; but it would on'y be waste o' time. They'd hit us, too, if we stood still for me to fire. It's our keeping moving that helps. 'Sides, I know it would only make your wounds break out worse, and shift the bandage. You keep quiet, for I ain't got no breath for talking."

Bracy was silent, and slowly and steadily Gedge trudged on, growing more and more exhausted, and looking to right and left for some cavernous hole in which he could take refuge so as to screen his burden and defend him so long as he had a cartridge left.

"And even then," he muttered softly, "there's the bay'net. Wonder how I could get on in fair fight against one of the niggers with his tullywar. Too much for him, I fancy, for I am good at that game. Urrrr!" he snarled again, for half-a-dozen shots were fired at them almost together, but this time from lower down the defile in front, where the enemies who had fled were gathering again in force.

"That was a near un, sir," said Gedge as a bullet whizzed just over his head. "Well sir, I beg pardon, sir, and hope you won't report me for disobeying my sooperior orficer. I was a bit waxy and warm with a-carrying of yer; for you are a bit heavy, sir. Now, sir, please, I'm a-going to set you down gently and take you up on my back."

Bracy paid no heed, but gazed down the narrow gorge, from whose sides more shots were fired.

"D'yer hear, sir? You're most a-choking o' me with that there arm."

"Forward!" said Bracy between his teeth. "Mind, there's a great rift there. Don't stumble."

"I'm a-going to shift you first, sir. Once you're on my back I can straddle that easy."

"Yes, Gedge, I know," said Bracy as firmly as he could; "but don't insult me any more."

"Insult yer, sir? I wouldn't do it. How!"

"By thinking your officers want to shelter themselves behind their men. Forward, my lad, unless you find a place where we can shelter till our comrades come back."

"There aren't no shelter, sir, and there aren't no more mercy for them Dwats if we gets clear of this, which I don't think we shall. There, sir! It's all over, I suppose. Ain't hit, are yer?"

"No. But that volley."

"Yes, sir, there's any number waiting for us. Here, we must walk the gauntlet back again now. We may meet our chaps coming."

The firing was going on along the sides of the gorge, but just then there was another crash, a regular volley, and Gedge uttered a hoarse yell of excitement.

"It's hoo-roar, sir," he panted, "on'y I can't shout. That's our reserves coming up, and firing to keep the beggars' fire down. See, they've stopped now. Oh, if my rifle wasn't slung! Look at 'em. One— two—three of the cowardly beggars scuffling up yonder like great white rabbits, and on hands and feet, too."

Crash! again. A sharp volley from much nearer, and Gedge stopped short to gaze with his companion at the three hill-men away in front, a couple or three hundred feet above the level where Bracy's bearer stood forgetting his dangerous wound and his pangs as he felt horror-stricken at the terrible sight to his left.

There were, as Gedge said, three hill-men, crawling rapidly up a long shelf to reach a cluster of stones for shelter—a shelter they had left to get better aim at the struggling pair down below. And as the climbing Dwats were watched directly after the last volley, one who was last started up into a standing position, threw up his arms, and his long jezail fell from them down into the defile, while he balanced himself for a few moments and then dropped, turning over once, and disappearing from the watchers' eyes. The next moment the top one came to a stand by a great stone, and rolled over and over till he reached the steep precipice, down which he plunged, the horrible thud with which he struck the stones coming plainly to Bracy's ears.

There was still another white figure crawling up the narrow shelf, but he had stopped short; and as Bracy and his companion gazed, the poor wretch seemed to collapse and lie closer down to the rock. Just then another shot rang out, and the body gave a jerk, but did not move again.

"Hah!" ejaculated Gedge. "It's very horrid, sir, but it was their turn, and our lads can shoot. Come on, sir. I think we shall do it now."

He started off towards the body of their friends, who were coming rapidly on, but before they had gone a score of yards the firing from the enemy recommenced, and—spat! spat!—the bullets struck the stones close at hand.

"Oh, I say, sir, this is too bad!" groaned Gedge. "I did think we should do it now. Never mind. Britons never shall be slaves, and I will do it after all."

There was a rattling fire opened at once on the sides of the gorge, completely crushing that of the hill-men; and a few minutes after, as Gedge tramped on with his load, it was to be met by a burst of cheers, and a score of his comrades came racing on to his help. It was just then that a final shot came from somewhere behind, and poor Gedge started violently, staggered forward, and the next moment he would have gone down heavily with his burden but for the ready help of a dozen willing hands.

Directly after a distant cheering was heard. Roberts and his company were coming back.



CHAPTER TWELVE.

WOUNDS.

The enemy had been driven off with heavy loss, but the little victory had been dearly-won. Several men had been wounded, and most serious to all seemed to be the fact that among them was the gallant young officer who was liked by every man in the regiment. So it was that the march back to the great fort was made in silence; and when a few of the enemy, encouraged by what they looked upon as a retreat, hung about the rear and harassed the retiring column with shots from the heights, they paid dearly for being so venturesome. For Captain Roberts, leaving a little party in hiding to wait till the enemy showed in their pursuit, listened with a grim smile upon his lip till there was a sudden outburst of firing, and then tramped on with the remainder of his company, keeping as much as he could by the mule ambulance which was bearing his friend back to the fort.

Within half-an-hour the little firing-party overtook the rear of the column, and Roberts halted till they came up to him.

"Well, Sergeant?" he said.

"All right now, sir," said Gee, who looked what the men called ugly. "I think we've brought 'em all down."

"You're not sure, of course?"

"Well, pretty nigh, sir. There ain't been a shot since."

"Good. Be on the lookout. I hate for our poor fellows to be harassed like this."

"It's horrid, sir; but, begging your pardon, sir, how's Mr Bracy?"

"Bad, Gee, bad. I'm afraid he is shot through the lungs."

Sergeant Gee's brow went into a mass of puckers and frowns, and there was the peculiar sound of one grinding his teeth together, as the man tramped on behind his officer for a few minutes before speaking again.

"Beg pardon, sir; there's that Bill Gedge. Is he much hurt?"

"Very gravely, I'm afraid. Dr Morton can't tell yet from the hasty examination he made, but he shook his head."

"Poor lad!" said the Sergeant. "We were always bad friends, sir; he was so full of his Cockney monkey-tricks, and he hated me, but we couldn't spare him. What a soldier he would have made!"

"Hah!" ejaculated Roberts; "as full of pluck as a lad could be. Mr Bracy's been telling me how he carried him through the fire, and sheltered him with his own body. That's how it was he had his wound."

There was another pause, with the silence only broken by the echoing tramp, tramp of the men.

"Won't die—will he, sir?" whispered Sergeant Gee.

"I pray Heaven no," said the Captain.

"That sounds bad, sir," said the Sergeant huskily. "I should like to shake hands with him afore he goes; and if he gets better I won't be so hard on him again."

"I suppose you have only done your duty by him."

"I hope so, sir."

"Double on to the ambulance, and see how he is. Corporal Green, take the Sergeant's place."

Roberts halted to let his men pass him, keenly watching every one in his company, and a man limping caught his eye.

"Here, Bracy, what's the matter?" he said.

"Oh, nothing much, sir. Spent shot glanced off the rock and hit me in the ankle."

"Give him your arm, Sergeant, and get him on one of the mules."

"Beg pardon, sir; I can walk back."

"You're making your leg worse at every step, sir," cried Roberts angrily. "Get on and ride."

The words were spoken sharply, the young Captain being in no very amiable mood, for he was cooling down after tremendous exertion and the reaction from the wild excitement of the fight. But he spoke in the man's interest and with the desire to save him from after-suffering.

Then the weary tramp went on almost in silence, but no one flagged, and at the end of a couple of hours they obtained a glimpse of the flag at the top of the staff. The silence in the column was broken by a hearty cheer, the men's spirits rising again after what had been a depressing march back; and when the gates were reached they were cheered by the men on the walls, and the hills around softly echoed back the replies to the hearty welcome they had received.

The Colonel, with the officers left behind, stood at the gate waiting, and the answer to his inquiry regarding the enemy brought forth a fresh cheer.

"Splendidly done!" said the Colonel; and then sharply, "What casualties?"

"Mr Bracy severely wounded. Privates Down and Gedge had bullet-wounds. Other hurts slight."

The Doctor hurried away to his operating-room, and his assistants went to the door to help in the three patients, who were attended to in turn.

The first man who had fallen had to have a bullet extracted from his leg, half-way to the hip, where it was deeply embedded in the muscle.

"Now, my dear Bracy," said the Doctor, "let's look at you."

"No, I can wait," was the reply. "My bandages is quite firm, and the bleeding has ceased."

The Doctor frowned, and was about to say something regarding interference; but he checked himself, glanced at the bandage, and nodded.

"Very well," he said; "the other man."

Poor Gedge was very white and remarkably quiet, but his eyes were full of motion; and he watched the Doctor's face and every action of his hands.

"Why, Gedge, my lad," said the Doctor cheerily after a certain amount of busy manipulation, "this isn't fair. I didn't want to have you in hospital again."

"Same to you, sir," said the sufferer, with a ghastly attempt at a smile, as he screwed his head round to look at the Doctor.

"Hold still, sir. Look the other way."

"Yes, sir," said Gedge faintly. "'Tain't my head this time, sir."

"No, my lad; it's not your head this time."

"Sorry it's my back, sir; but I warn't a-running away."

"Bah! of course you were not; our lads don't know how."

"No, sir; course not, sir."

"Got it carrying Mr Bracy out of the fire—eh?"

"Well, yes, sir, I s'pose so, sir. Shall I—shall I—"

The poor fellow stopped short.

"Shall you what?" said the Doctor kindly; "try to move?"

"No, sir," said the poor fellow feebly; "I didn't mean that. It was, shall I be a goner?"

"Oh, nonsense—nonsense! Humph! poor fellow! he has fainted."

"Is his wound serious, Doctor?" said Bracy huskily.

"Never you mind. You lie still and wait. Well, there. Yes, the hurt is a very bad one. I don't think he'll die; but the bullet is in a dangerous place, and I dare not try to extract it to-day."

A short time after poor Gedge was lying in a state of stupor upon the bed he had previously occupied, and the Doctor was examining the young officer's wounds.

"Very bad, Doctor?" asked Bracy.

"Bad enough, sir. I don't like this exit so close to the vertebrae.— That hurt?"

"No; it feels dull and cold just there."

"Raise that hand a little."

"Can't, Doctor; I'm so tightly bandaged."

"Humph! Yes, you are pretty well tied up. That poor fellow Gedge did wonderfully well for you, considering. He attended to his ambulance lessons. First help's a grand thing when a man's bleeding to death."

"Was I bleeding to death?" said Bracy rather faintly.

"Of course you were; or perhaps not. The bleeding might have stopped of itself, but I shouldn't have liked to trust it. There; shan't do any more to you to-day. We'll have you to bed and asleep. That's the first step towards getting well again. Sorry to have you down so soon, Bracy, my dear boy. There, keep a good heart, and I'll soon get you right again."

The Colonel was at the hospital door soon after, along with Major Graham, both anxious to hear about Bracy's hurt.

"Bad," said the Doctor shortly as he put on his coat. "Don't ask to see the poor boy; he's just dropping off to sleep."

"Bad?" said the Colonel anxiously.

"Yes, bad, sir. A young fellow can't have a hole drilled right through him by a piece of ragged iron without being in a very serious condition."

"But the wound is not fatal?"

"H'm! no, not fatal. He's young, strong, and healthy; but the exit of the missile was in close proximity to the spine, and there's no knowing what mischief may have been done."

"What do you mean?" said the Colonel anxiously.

"Injury to the nerve centre there. I can't say. Possibly nothing may follow, but I am obliged to say the wound is bad, and there is danger of his being crippled—permanently injured in a way which would render him unfit for service."

"But look here," said the Major excitedly, "you have a bad habit of making the worst of things, Morton. Come, explain yourself. Are there any symptoms suggestive of what you hint at?"

"My dear Graham, I never come and interfere with your work; don't you meddle with mine."

"I don't want to, sir," said the Major tartly. "I only want for the Colonel and yours obediently not to be left in the dark."

"Graham is quite right," said the Colonel gravely. "We should like to know a little more."

"Very good," said the Doctor, "but I can only say this: there is a peculiar absence of sensation in the lower extremities, and especially in the poor fellow's left arm. This may be temporary, and due to the terrible shock of the wound; but it also may be consequent upon injury to the nerves in connection with the spine. I can say no more. Time only will show."

The two officers left the hospital-room, looking terribly depressed.

"Poor lad! poor lad!" the Major kept on saying. "Such a brave, unassuming fellow. It's wonderful how little we realise how we like our fellow-men, Colonel, till they are badly hurt. Hah! I am sorry—more sorry than I can express."

The Colonel said nothing, but turned and held out his hand, which the Major took and pressed warmly.

"Thank you, Graves," he said, taking out a showy silk handkerchief and blowing his nose very hard, making it give forth sounds like those made by a boy beginning to learn the bugle. "Hah!" he said; "one never knows. Here to-day and gone to-morrow, Graves. May be our turn next."

"Yes," said the Colonel quietly: "but if it is in the way of duty, I don't see that we need mind."

"Humph! Well, I don't know about that. I should like to live to a hundred, if only for the sake of finding out what it feels like. Some people do."

"Yes," said the Colonel, smiling; "and over a hundred; but then they die."

"Yes, of course; but from old ago."

"And other things too, as the old epitaph says."

"What old epitaph?"

"On the venerable lady. The lines run something like this:—

"She lived strong and well to a hundred and ten, And died by a fall from a cherry-tree then."

"Bah! don't talk about dying, Graves. Poor Bracy! Oh, the Doctor must set him all right again. But this sort of thing does make one feel a bit serious."

"It is very, very sad," said the Colonel.

"Yes, very. By the way, though, have you noticed how splendidly our lads are behaving?"

"Magnificently, for such mere boys," said the Colonel meaningly.

"For such mere boys?" said the Major sharply. "I never saw men in any regiment behave better. Why, sir, it was magnificent to-day. I didn't say anything to Roberts about it, because I don't want the lads to hear and get puffed up by pride. But, really, sir, I'm very proud of our regiment."

"And so am I. But you have changed your ideas a little."

"Bah! Pooh! Nonsense! Don't jump on a man because he spoke out a bit. You'll grant yourself that they are a very boyish-looking lot."

"Yes; but I do not judge them by appearances. I look at their discipline and acts."

"So do I," said the Major, "and I recant all I said about them before. There, sir, will that satisfy you?"

"Quite, Graham," said the Colonel. "There, we must be hopeful. I couldn't bear for poor Bracy to become a wreck."



CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

A BIT QUEER.

"Tell us all about it," said Bracy as he lay partially dressed outside his simple charpoy bed in the small room Doctor Morton had annexed for his officer patients.

"All about what?" said Roberts, who had come in, according to his daily custom, to sit for a while and cheer up his suffering friend.

"All about what? All about everything that has been going on—is going on."

"And is going to go on!" said Roberts, laughing. "That's a large order, old chap."

"You may laugh," said Bracy dolefully; "but you don't know what it is to be lying here staring at the sky."

"And mountains."

"Pah! Well, at the mountains too, day after day, in this wearisome way. I hear the bugle and the firing, and sometimes a shout or two, and then I lie wondering what everything means—whether we're driving them away or being beaten, and no one to tell me anything but that dreadful woman; for old Morton thinks of nothing but sword-cuts and bullet-wounds, and will only talk of one's temperature or one's tongue. I tell you it's maddening when one wants to be up and doing something."

"Patience, patience, old man. You're getting better fast."

"How do you know?" cried Bracy petulantly.

"Morton ways so."

"Morton's an old—old—old woman," cried Bracy angrily. "I'm sick of him. I'm sick of that other disagreeable woman. I'm sick of physic— sick of everything."

"Poor old chap!" said Roberts, laying his cool hand upon his friend's burning forehead. "Come, you'll feel better after that."

"Don't—don't talk that way—and take away your hand. You make me feel as if I must hit you."

"I wish you would, old man, if it would make you feel better."

"Better! Pah! It's horrible. Morton only talks. Says I'm better when I'm worse."

"Oh, come now, that won't do, you know. You are stronger."

"Pah! How can I be stronger when I am as weak as a baby, unable to move hand or foot? There; I beg pardon for being so disagreeable."

"Oh, nonsense! Who thinks you disagreeable?"

"You do, Rob; only you're such a good old chap that you won't notice my sick man's whims."

"Love 'em," said Roberts coolly. "More you go it the better I like it, because it's all a sign of the spirit in you kicking against your weakness. I know how you feel—want to come and have another go in at the Dwats?"

"Yes," said Bracy in a sharp whisper through his closed teeth. "I do long to help give them an awful thrashing."

"Of course you do, my boy; and you shall soon. Now, if, instead of kicking against hospital routine, you took to it in a mean, spiritless sort of way, and lay there waiting to be roused up to speak, I should feel uncomfortable about you, for I should know it was a bad sign.— You'll be all right soon."

Bracy was silent for a few minutes, and lay gazing wistfully through the window at the dazzling snow-peaks flashing miles away in the bright sunshine. Then he shook his head slowly from side to side.

"It's of no use to be self-deceiving," he said at last. "I know as well as can be, Rob, what's wrong. I'm not going to die."

"Die? Ha, ha! I should think not. Take more than a bullet-hole to kill you."

Bracy smiled, and looked sadly in his friend's eyes.

"It's precious hard, old fellow," he said; "for as I lie here I feel that I'm almost a boy still, and it comes so soon."

"What comes so soon?"

"My big trouble, old fellow. Morton won't say a word about it; but I know."

"Come now; what do you know? You lie awake imagining all sorts of things."

"But I don't imagine that. You can see it for yourself. I'm strong enough in mind, but the weakness of body is terrible."

"Of course it is. You have had a hole right through you, made by a rough piece of iron fired from a gun; but it's healing up fast."

"Yes," said Bracy, with a sigh, "the wound is healing up fast."

"Then, what more do you want?"

"My old manly strength," cried the sufferer with energy. "This horrible, helpless weakness!"

"Dull! What an unreasonable patient you are!" cried Roberts. "How can you expect the strength to come till the wound is healed?"

"I don't expect it," sighed the poor fellow. "Roberts, old man, it will never come back. My spine was injured by that bullet."

"Yes; we know that."

"And it has affected the nerves so that I am going to be helpless for the rest of my life—a poor invalid, whose fate is to be carried about or wheeled everywhere."

"Don't believe it," said Roberts shortly. "Who told you that stuff?"

"My own instinct. You know I cannot move hand or foot."

"Not yet. Nature has bound you down so that your wound may not be disturbed till it is well."

"There, don't talk about it," said Bracy quickly. "I want to know how things are going on. I don't hear half enough."

"All right, old man," cried Roberts cheerfully. "You shall have it in brief. This is a hole—we're in a hole—the Dwats, bless 'em! are like the sand upon the seashore, and they come sliding into the hole. Then we shovel 'em out, and just like sand they come trickling down again upon us. Now it's down one of the gullies, now it's down another; and the more we kill the more seem to come on."

"Yes—yes—yes," sighed Bracy; "just as it has been from the first. We ought to have reinforcements."

"That's right, and I dare say some have been sent; but the tribes south and east have all risen, and are holding them in check, so we've got to do the work here ourselves."

"How are the supplies?"

"Tidy—tidy; and we keep on fretting a little game, only it's risky work; and I never feel as if I should get back again when I'm out shooting. Had some narrow escapes."

"What about ammunition?"

"That's all right. Enough for a couple of months yet, fire as hard as we like."

"Why didn't Drummond come to see me yesterday? Ah, I know; he has been wounded."

"Just scratched; that's all. I dare say he'll come in some time to-day."

"Poor fellow! I am sorry."

"He isn't—he's delighted. Goes about with his arm in a sling, showing it to everybody, and telling them about the fight he had with a big Dwat. Says he should have cut him down, only one of our lads was so precious handy with his bayonet and ran him through."

"Ah!" cried Bracy, flushing slightly, as he mentally pictured the scene. "How bravely our lads do stand by their officers!"

"They do. Good fellows; brave boys. I like the way, too, in which that chap Gedge waits on you."

"Yes," said Bracy, with a sigh; "and the poor fellow is not fit to be about. Morton owned to it; but he will wait on me hand and foot, to that horrible woman's disgust."

"What! Mrs Gee?"

Bracy nodded.

"Well, she is a disagreeable, tyrannical sort of female Jack-in-office; but she has her good points."

"Yes; but they're such sharp points, and they prick dreadfully."

"Ha, ha!" laughed Roberts. "A joke; and you say you're not getting better.—I say, what were we talking about? Oh, Gedge. I wish he wasn't such an awful East-end Cockney in his ways, for he's a splendid fellow inside. Times and times he has brightened the poor fellows up out yonder, singing and telling stories and playing some of his india-rubber games, bad as his own wounds are. I believe he'd pretend to laugh even if he were dying."

"I can never be grateful enough to him," sighed Bracy.

"Oh yes, you can. We must all petition for him to get his stripes as soon as we can, only it will make old Gee mad with jealousy."

"Yes," said Bracy thoughtfully; and then: "How long have I been lying here?"

"Three weeks, old man."

"And you are no further with the Dwats?"

"Not a bit. That thrashing we gave them together when you went down ought to have settled 'em and made 'em sue for peace; but they began sniping at us the very next day."

"It seems to be their nature to be always fighting," sighed Bracy.

"Yes. I don't believe they could live without it. They must fight something or somebody, and regularly enjoy a good skirmish."

"You haven't said anything about Colonel Wrayford the last day or two."

"No, poor fellow! he's in a very low state. Between ourselves, boy, we only came just, in time."

"What, do you mean?"

"To save Ghittah. Those fellows would have done their best; but they would have been overmatched, and without their Colonel they'd have given way at last, and the people at home would have been reading of a terrible reverse in the Dwat district. Massacre of the British force."

"Not so bad as that surely."

"I don't know. Poor Wrayford had worked till he was utterly exhausted, body and mind, and as soon as Graves began to relieve him of part of the strain it was just as if something snapped, and he curled up at once. Morton says it was all from overstrain after his wound, and that he'll want a twelvemonth at home to get back his strength."

"I beg pardon, sir," said a hard, acid voice; "it is quite time Mr Bracy had his lunch."

Roberts turned quickly upon the stern, frowning, youngish woman who had entered silently in a pair of home-made list slippers, and stood in the doorway gazing at him fixedly.

"That's right, Mrs Gee," said Roberts; "bring it in, and feed him up well, for he wants it, poor fellow!"

"Mr Bracy has everything, sir," said the woman coldly, "and given him to the minute when there's no one here."

"Oh, I'm nobody," said Roberts good-humouredly.

"No, sir."

"Eh? Oh, all right; bring in his lunch.—Hang the woman! I didn't mean that," he said to himself.

"No, sir; not while you are here," replied the woman in the most uncompromising way. "Mr Bracy can't lift his arms yet, and I have to give him his meals, and it troubles him for any one to see him fed."

"Yes, yes, of course. I ought to have known, Mrs Gee. Where is the lunch?"

"Being kept hot for him, sir."

"Go and fetch it, then, and I'll be off the moment you come."

Mrs Gee said nothing, but turned silently and disappeared, while Roberts rose and leaned over the bed.

"The tyrant of the sickroom, old boy. Never mind; she's a capital nurse, and sympathetic under her hard shell. But I say, old fellow, can you imagine it to be possible that Gee fell in love with that female dragon?"

"No," said Bracy, smiling. "It seems impossible. One can't understand these things. I don't mind her so much now, but I do wish she wouldn't be quite so hard on poor Gedge."

"Poor lad; no. What's that, though?—the click of crockery. Only fancy the willow-pattern plate out here in the hills!"

"Not so far out of place," said Bracy, smiling. "Chinese pattern, and we are very near to China."

"Good-bye, old man," said Roberts hastily. "Here she comes. Never mind about shaking hands yet. Do it in a look. Good-bye. See you to-morrow—if I don't get knocked over first," he added to himself; and, bonding low, as there was a short, hard cough outside, evidently meant for a signal to him to depart, he laid one hand upon Bracy's shoulder, the other on his brow, and gave him a very brotherly look and smile.

"You'll be all right soon, my helpless old cockalorum," he cried cheerily. "There, pitch into your corn well, and grow strong. Ta, ta!"

He turned quickly to cross the room, and then made a bound a yard away in his astonishment, for he received a tremendous blow across the loins, which made him turn sharply to gaze in wonder at his helpless friend, who was looking at him wildly.

"What the dickens did you do that for?" he asked.

"I beg pardon, sir. I thought you said—"

"Yes, yes, all right, Mrs Gee, I'm off," he cried; and he hurried away and out into the great court, where he passed one hand behind him to begin softly rubbing his spine.

"Is the poor fellow off his head?" he muttered in his wonderment and confusion. "Helpless and weak? Why, it was enough to break a fellow's back. Has he got a club in the bed?"

Roberts stopped short, as if about, to turn back.

"Ought I to go and warn that woman of his antics? No; she could summon help directly, and—"

"Morning, sir. Find Mr Bracy better, sir?"

Roberts looked up sharply, to find Gedge, with his face looking very thin and more angular than ever, leaning as far as he could out of a narrow window.

"Yes—no—well, getting on, Gedge."

"Oh yus, sir; he's getting on. Pecks better now."

"I'm glad of it. You're better too, my lad."

"Me, sir. Oh, I'm getting a reg'lar impostor, sir. Ought to be back in the ranks, only I don't want to leave Mr Bracy, sir."

"Certainly not. Keep with him, and do all you can."

"Right, sir. Do a lot more if old Gee's wife wasn't there, sir."

"Humph!" ejaculated Roberts, with his hand involuntarily busy rubbing his back. "By the way, Gedge, have you noticed anything particular about Mr Bracy when you've been with him?"

"No, sir. Oh yus, sir; I know what you mean."

"Ha!" cried Roberts. "You have noticed it?"

"Oh yus. You mean those fits o' the blue dumps as he has."

"Well—er—yes," said Roberts.

"Yus, sir; he has them bad. Gets a sort o' idee in his head as he'll never be all right again."

"Yes, yes; all weakness."

"Jest what I telled him, sir. 'Look ye here, sir,' I says; 'see how you bled that day 'fore I could stop it. Yer can't expect to be strong as you was till you gets filled up again.'"

"Of course not," assented Roberts.

"That's it, sir. And I says to him, I says, 'Look at me, sir. Just afore I got my blue pill—leastwise it warn't a blue pill, but a bit o' iron—I was good for a five-and-twenty mile march on the level or a climb from eight hay-hem to eight pee-hem, while now four goes up and down the orspital ward and I'm used up.' He's getting on though, sir. You can see it when you cheers him up."

"Yes; I noticed that," said Roberts.

"Specially if you talks about paying them roughs out for shooting at us that day as they did."

"Ha! cowardly in the extreme."

"Warn't it, sir? When we're up and at it, we lads, we're not very nice; but fire at a poor beggar carrying his wounded orficer—why, I wouldn't think one of ours 'd do such a thing—let alone believe it."

"Of course they would not, my lad," said Roberts. "There, I'm glad to hear about how well you attend to Mr Bracy."

He nodded, and went on to his quarters, wondering to himself over what had taken place at Bracy's bedside.

"It was very queer," he thought; "but it shows one thing—the poor fellow's a good deal off his head at times, or he wouldn't have hit out at me like that; and it shows, too, that all his ideas about being so weak are fancy. That crack on the back didn't come from a weak arm. But it's all due to the wound, and it would be better not to say anything to him about it."



CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE UNCOMFORTABLE SYMPTOMS.

Captain Roberts intended to go and sit with his friend for an hour or two next day, but he was called off on duty, and Drummond seized the opportunity to pay a visit. He was met at the door by Mrs Gee, who looked at him sourly as she passed, for she had just been summoned by one of Doctor Morton's ambulance men to go and attend to one of the men who had been taken worse.

"How do, nurse?" said Drummond. "Just going in to see your patient."

"Then you must not stay long, sir. Ten minutes will be plenty of time. Mr Bracy can't get well if he is so bothered with visitors."

"Oh, I won't bother him, nurse; only cheer him up a bit."

The woman frowned and hurried away, leaving the course open, and Drummond went straight on, thinking aloud.

"Glad my arm's not worse," he said, as he nursed it gently, "for I shouldn't like to be under her ladyship's thumb. She ought to be called to order. Talk about a hen that can crow; she's nothing to my lady here. I wonder Bracy stands it. Hullo! what's the matter?"

Loud voices came from the door of Bracy's room—those of the latter and Gedge; and upon hurrying in the young subaltern was astounded to find, as it seemed to him, Private Gedge with one knee upon the edge of the charpoy, bending over the patient, holding him down by the arm, which was pressed across his chest close up to the throat.

"Here! Hi! Hullo here!" cried Drummond. "What's the meaning of this, sir?"

The words acted like magic. Gedge slipped back, drawing Bracy's arm from where it lay, and he then carefully laid it down beside him.

"It's all right, sir, now, sir; ain't it, Mr Bracy?"

"Yes, yes," said the latter faintly, and looking up at his visitor in a weary, dazed way.

"This fellow has not been assaulting you, has he?" cried Drummond.

"Me? 'Saulting him, sir?" cried Gedge. "Well, come now, I do like that!"

"Oh no; oh no," sighed Bracy.

"It was like this here," continued Gedge; "I was a-hanging about waiting to see if he wanted me to give him a drink or fetch him anything."

Bracy's lips moved, and an anxious expression came over his face; but he said nothing, only looked wildly from one to the other.

"Then all at once I hears him calling, and I went in. 'Here, Gedge, my lad,' he says—just like that, sir, all wild-like—'take this here arm away; it's trying to strangle me.'

"'What! yer own arm, sir?' I says, laughing. 'That won't do.'—'Yes, it will,' he says, just in that squeezy, buzzy way, sir; 'I can't bear it. Take it off, or it'll choke me!'"

"Well?" said Drummond anxiously; "did you?"

"Yes, sir, of course I did; for he spoke just as if it was so; and I got hold of it and tried to pull it away, but he wouldn't let me. He kep' it tight down close to his throat, and looked quite bad in the face."

"You should have used force," said Drummond.

"I did, sir; lots o' force; but he'd got it crooked, and it was just as if the joint had gone fast, so that I was afraid that if I pulled too hard I might break something; and it was just while I was hanging fire like that you came, and he let it come then quite easy. Didn't you, sir?"

"Yes, yes," said Bracy hurriedly. "It had gone to sleep, I suppose, and was as heavy and as cold as marble."

"Oh, I see," said Drummond, smiling; "been lying in an awkward position, I suppose?"

Bracy nodded, but there was a curious look in his eyes that his visitor did not see.

"Come to take a look at you and have a chat.—I say. You heard about me getting in for it?"

"Yes, I heard," said Bracy sadly. "You were wounded."

"Bit of a chop from a tulwar," replied Drummond, touching his bandaged arm lightly. "Nothing much, but I am off duty for a bit. Precious nuisance, isn't it?"

Bracy looked at him so piteously that the young fellow coloured.

"Of course," he said hurriedly; "I understand. Precious stupid of me to talk like that and make a fuss about being off duty for a few days, when you're in for it for weeks. But I say, you know, you are a lot better. Old Morton said you only wanted time."

"He told you that?" cried Bracy eagerly.

"Yes, last night when I met him and he asked me about my scratch. Said he was proud of your case, for with some surgeons you would have died. Ha, ha! He looked at my arm the while, with his face screwed up as if he pitied me for not being under his hands. I say, he's a rum chap, isn't he?"

"He has been very good and patient with me," sighed Bracy; "and I'm afraid I have been very ungrateful."

"Tchah! Not you, old fellow. We're all disagreeable and grumble when we're knocked over. That's only natural. Children are cross when they're unwell, and I suppose we're only big children. I say, heard the news?"

"News? No; I hear nothing here."

"Poor old man! Well, the scouts have brought in news that two more tribes have been bitten with the idea that they want their ranks thinned a bit, and so they've joined the Dwats; so I suppose we shall have some warm work."

"And I am lying here as helpless as a lump of lead. No; I did not hear."

"Why, sir, I telled you all that only this morning," broke out Gedge.

"Eh? Did you, my lad?"

"Yes, sir; d'reckly after breakfast."

"So you did. I went to sleep afterwards, and it passed out of my memory. I'm getting weaker, I suppose."

"Not you," cried Drummond. "Here, I say, as I'm a cripple too, I shall come on more. What do you say to a game or two every day? Chess?"

Bracy shook his head.

"Of course not; chess is hard work. Well, then, draughts?"

Bracy shook his head again.

"Right; not much of a game. What do you say to dominoes? We've got a set of double doubles; regular big ones. Shall I bring 'em on?"

"No," said Bracy decisively; "bring your field-glass, and come and sit at that window. You can command a good deal of the valley there."

"What! and tell you all the movements I can make out? To be sure, dear boy. Now, I never thought of that. So I will. I'll come on this afternoon, and you and I will criticise them all and see if we could have planned the beggars' attack better. There, I promised your she-dragon of a nurse not to stay long, so off I go. Bye, bye, old chap; you're beginning to look blooming. We'll do some Von Moltke, and—ah! would you? I say, you are getting better. Larks—eh? But I was too quick for you."

The young officer smiled and nodded merrily, and then went out of the room, Gedge opening the door for him, and slipping out after.

"Well, what is it?" said Drummond, as Gedge stood looking at him anxiously, and as if waiting for him to speak.

"Thought you was going to say something to me, sir, 'bout Mr Bracy there. Don't speak so loud, or he'll hear you."

"Don't matter if he does, my lad. We're not conspiring against him. What did you expect me to say?"

"Something about that arm of his'n, sir, and about him trying to kick you just now."

"Oh, pooh! nonsense! His arm had gone dead; and as for his kicking at me—well, we're getting old friends now, and it was for a bit of fun."

"Think so, sir?"

"Of course."

"Then you wouldn't tell the Doctor about it?"

"About that? Absurd! Here, you're not up to the mark yourself, my lad."

"Well, no, sir; can't quite reach it yet; but I'm a deal better."

"Full of fancies, that's all. What! were you thinking that your master was a bit off his head?"

"Something o' that sort, sir."

"Then don't think so any more. He's fanciful enough without you beginning."

"Then you don't think it's anything to mind?"

"No, of course not. I'm glad to see him getting so much stronger."

Drummond nodded, and being in a good deal of pain, began to nurse his arm again, and tried whether whistling would soothe the sharp, gnawing ache which seemed to run from his wrist up to his shoulder.

Gedge waited till his footsteps died out, and then turned to go back to Bracy's room.

"His is only a clean cut of a tullywor," he muttered, "and'll soon grow together. Different thing to a ragged bullet-wound right through the chest and back, or one like mine, right in the back. I don't like the looks o' all this, though; but he must know better than me, after seeing a lot o' poor fellows cut down and shot; but I think I ought to tell the Doctor."

He opened the door softly and went in, to find that Bracy had been watching for him anxiously.

"Here, Gedge!" saluted him.

"Yes, sir. Get yer a drink, sir?"

"No, no; I want to speak to you. I think I can trust you, Gedge?"

"Yes, sir; of course, sir. What yer want me to do?"

"Hold your tongue, my lad."

"Yes, sir."

"Don't tell the Doctor or Mrs Gee that I hit Captain Roberts on the back yesterday."

"How could I, sir? Did yer?"

"Yes, yes," said Bracy hurriedly. "Nor yet about my arm doing what it did."

"No, sir, cert'n'y not; but I say, sir, you know, your arm didn't do nothing but go to sleep."

"Nor yet about my trying to kick Mr Drummond," said Bracy, without heeding his fellow—sufferer's words.

"Oh no; I shan't say nothing to nobody, sir, unless you tell me to."

"That's right," said Bracy, with a sigh of relief. "That will do. Go now; I want to sleep till Mr Drummond comes back."

"Right, sir," said Gedge, and he went to the bed's head and gently raised the sufferer, while he turned the pillow.

"Makes yer head a bit cooler, sir."

"Yes, thanks, Gedge," said Bracy drowsily; and by the time the lad was outside he was half-asleep.

"I don't like them games of the guvnor's," said Gedge to himself.—"Guvnor? Well, why not? I'm like being orficer's servant now. There's something queer about him, as if he was a bit off his head and it made him get up to larks; for he can't be—No, no, that's impossible, even if it looks like it. He ain't the sorter chap to be playing at sham Abram and make-believe because he was sick of fighting and didn't want to run no more risks."



CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE DOCTOR IN A FANTIGUE.

Drummond returned to the hospital with his glass, and, to Mrs Sergeant Gee's disgust, installed himself in the window and sat for a couple of hours lightening the painful monotony of Bracy's imprisonment by scanning the movements of the distant enemy hovering about in the hills, and making comments thereon.

"Ah," he said at last, "what we want here is a company of gunners, with light howitzers to throw shells a tremendous distance. If we could have that cleverly and accurately done, we could soon scatter the beggars; but as it is—"

"Yes, as it is," said Bracy peevishly, "we have no gunners and no howitzers; and if we had, how could they be dragged about among these hills?"

"It would be difficult," said Drummond. "There are some fellows crawling out of that west ravine now. Wait till I've focussed them, and—"

"No, no; don't do any more to-day," cried Bracy. "I can't bear it. You only make me fretful because I can't be about doing something again."

"Of course it does; but what is it, old fellow? Are you in pain?"

"Pain? I'm in agony, Drummond. I can't sit up, for I seem to have no power; and I can't lie still, because I feel as if there; was something red-hot burning through my spine."

"Poor old chap! I say—think the bullet is still there?"

"No, no; it passed right through."

"What does the Doctor say?"

"Always the same—always the same: 'You're getting better.'"

"That's right; so you are," said the Doctor, who had just come to the door.—"Ah, Mr Drummond, you here?"

"Yes, sir. Cheering poor old Bracy up a bit."

"That's right. How's your wound?"

"Horrible nuisance, sir."

"Hum! ha! I should like to have; a look at it, but I suppose it would not be etiquette. All the same, etiquette or no, if it does not begin to mend soon come to me."

"I will, sir. Good-afternoon. Ta, ta, Bracy, old man. Keep up your spirits."

"You needn't go, Mr Drummond," said the Doctor. "I can't stay many minutes, and you can talk to him after I'm gone. Well, Bracy, my lad, wounds easier?"

"No. Worse."

"That they are not, sir. You told me you felt a little numbness of the extremities."

"Yes, sir. Arm and leg go dead."

The Doctor nodded.

"That agonising pain in the back goes on too," continued Bracy. "Sometimes it is unbearable."

"Do you think the bullet is still there, sir?" ventured Drummond.

"You stick to your regimental manoeuvres, sir," said the Doctor gruffly. "What do you know about such things?"

"Not much, sir; only one of our fellows was very bad that way before you came, and it was through the bullet remaining in the wound."

The Doctor nodded slowly, and made an examination of his patient, promised to send him something to lull the pain, and then, after a few cheerful words, went away, sent a draught, and the sufferer dropped into a heavy sleep.

The days went on, with plenty of what Shakespeare called alarums and excursions in the neighbourhood of the great fort, the enemy being constantly making desultory attacks, but only to find Graves's boys and Wrayford's men, as they were laughingly called, always on the alert, so that the attacking party were beaten off with more or less loss, but only to come on again from some unexpected direction.

Bracy had plenty of visitors, and Mrs Gee told him that this was the cause of his want of progress; but the visitors dropped in all the same, and the patient made no advance towards convalescence. Now it would be the Colonel, who was kind and fatherly, and went away feeling uneasy at the peculiarity of his young officer's symptoms, for Bracy was fretful and nervous in the extreme; now an arm would jerk, then a leg, and his manner was so strange that when the Colonel went away he sent for Dr Morton, who bustled in, to meet the Colonel's eye searchingly.

"Doctor," said the latter, "I've just come from Bracy's bedside. He does not get on."

"Not a bit," said the Doctor gruffly.

"I have been watching his symptoms carefully."

"Very good of you," said the Doctor gruffly. "I've been watching your manoeuvres too."

This was meant for a sarcastic retort, but the Colonel paid no heed, and went on:

"That poor fellow has the bullet still in the wound."

"No, he has not," retorted the Doctor.

"Then there is something else?"

"Tell me something I don't know," said the Doctor gruffly.

"You think there is, then?"

"I know there is," replied the Doctor. "Do you think, sir, I don't understand my profession?"

"Don't be pettish, Morton. I don't wish to interfere; but I am extremely anxious about poor Bracy."

"Can't be more so than I am, sir."

"Tell me what you feel is wrong."

"Bit of iron, I expect, close up to the vertebrae. The abominable missile broke up, and part remained behind."

"Then, in the name of all that's sensible, why don't you extract it?"

"Because, in the name of all that's sensible, I don't want to see the poor fellow die of tetanus—lockjaw, as you call it."

"You dare not extract it?"

"That's it, sir. The piece—a mere scrap, I dare say—keeps his nerves in a horrible state of tension, but it is beyond my reach. Are you satisfied now?"

"Perfectly; but can nothing be done?"

"Nothing but leave it to Nature. She may do what I can't."

"Danger?"

"Of being a cripple; not of anything fatal."

"Poor fellow!" said the Colonel sadly.

"Yes, poor fellow!" said the Doctor. "I'm doing all I know, and must be off now, for you keep me very busy."

Roberts had been sitting with the patient that same afternoon, and towards evening the Major dropped in, glass in eye, and sat talking for a bit, with Bracy fighting hard to keep down his irritability, for the Major was a bad visitor in his way.

"You ought to be up and about, Bracy," he said.

"Yes; I long to be."

"Then why don't you try to brace yourself up—be bracy by nature as well as by name—eh? Ha, ha! Don't you see?"

"Because I am so weak, sir," replied the patient grimly.

"Ah, that's what you think, my dear boy," said the Major, yawning, and shooting his glass out of his eye. "That's what you think. Now, if you were to pull yourself together and make up your mind to get well you'd soon master that weakness."

"Do you think I'm shamming, then, sir?"

"Well, no, my dear boy," said the Major, stretching the string of his eyeglass as he picked it up, and then giving the latter a polish with his handkerchief before proceeding to stick it into its place; "I don't think you are shamming, but that you are in a weak state, and consequently have become hypochon—what you may call it. If you were to—"

Flick! and a sudden jump of the Major to his feet, as he turned sharply to look down at Bracy.

"Confound you, sir! What do you mean by that?"

"Mean by—mean by what?" stammered Bracy, who lay perfectly motionless, with his arms by his sides.

"Mean by what, sir? Why, by striking at my eyeglass and sending it flying."

"No, Major; no, I assure you I—"

"Don't prevaricate with me, sir. There's the string broken, and there's the glass yonder. I—I can forgive a certain amount of irritability in a sick man; but this is impish mischief, sir—the action of a demented boy. How dare you, sir? What the dickens do you mean?"

"Major, I assure you I wouldn't do such a thing," cried Bracy wildly.

"Don't tell me," muttered the Major, striding across to where his glass lay, and picking it up. "Cracked, sir, cracked."

"Indeed, no, Major; I am sure I am quite—"

"I didn't say you were, sir: but my glass. The last I have, and not a chance of replacing it. How am I to go on duty? Why, you must be mad, sir. You might have struck me."

The Major's words were so loud and excited that they brought Mrs Gee to the door, to glance in and hurry away, with the result that directly after the Doctor appeared.

"What's the matter?" he cried. "Bracy worse?"

"Worse, sir?" cried the Major, who was now in a towering rage, the broken glass, a part of which had come out of the frame into his hand, having completely overset his equanimity. "Worse, sir? Look at that."

"Broken your eyeglass?" said the Doctor angrily, "and a good job too. You can see right enough, for we tested your eyes. Only a piece of confounded puppyism, of which you ought to be ashamed."

"Doctor Morton," cried the Major, puffing out his cheeks, his red face growing mottled in his anger. "How dare you!"

"How dare I, sir?" cried the Doctor, who was quite as angry. "How dare you come here, disturbing my patients, and turning the place into a bear-garden just because you have dropped your idiotic eyeglass and broken it? Do you know I have poor fellows in the next room in a precarious state?"

"What! Dropped my eyeglass, sir? I tell you, this lunatic here struck at me, sir, and knocked the glass flying."

"What!" cried the Doctor. "Did you do that, Bracy?"

"No, no, Doctor," stammered the young man; "I assure you I—I—"

"I—I—I!" roared the Major. "How dare you deny it, sir! He did, Doctor. The fellow's stark staring mad, and ought to be in a strait-waistcoat. He isn't safe. He might have blinded me. I came in here quite out of sympathy, to sit with him a little while, and this is the treatment I received. Suppose I had lost my sight."

"Look here, Major," said the Doctor, turning to him, after stepping to the bed and laying his hand upon Bracy's forehead; "the poor fellow is as weak as a babe, and could no more have done what you say than flown out of the window and across the valley. You are exaggerating, and—Oh, my gracious!"

The Major had just time to hop aside and avoid the Doctor's head, for all at once a tremendous kick was delivered from the bed, and the receiver was propelled as if from a catapult across the room, to bring himself up against the wall. Here he turned sharply, to see Bracy lying perfectly still upon the bed, staring at him wildly, and the Major holding his sides, his always prominent eyes threatening to start from his head, while his cheeks became purple as he choked with laughter and stamped about, trying hard to catch his breath.

"Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!" he laughed hoarsely. "Oh Doctor! you'll be the death of me. This is too rich—this is too rich—this is too rich!"

"Too rich? Be the death of you? I wish it would," panted the Doctor, turning to the bed to shake his fist at Bracy, but keeping well out of reach of his leg, "You treacherous young scoundrel! How dare you play me such a trick as this?"

Bracy's lips moved, but no sound was heard, and his eyes looked wildly pathetic in their expression.

"I didn't give you credit for such monkey-tricks; but I've done with you now. You've been imposing upon me—you're shamming—malingering, so as to keep out of going on duty again. You might have injured me for life."

"Don't bully the poor fellow, Doctor," cried the Major, wiping his eyes, and picking up one piece of his glass which he had dropped. "I don't think he's shamming, he's off his head. Look how his eyes roll. Poor lad! Give him a dose of something to quiet him, for he's as mad as a March hare."

"Mad as a March hare!" snarled the Doctor, rubbing himself. "I told you it's all a trick."

"I—I—I—d-d-don't care what it is," stammered the Major; "but I wouldn't have missed it for a hundred eyeglasses. Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho! I can't stop myself. I never laughed so much in my life.—Ha!" he added as he sank into a chair and wiped his eyes; "I feel better now."

"Better!" cried the Doctor. "You may as well let me give you something, or you'll be disgracing yourself before the men."

That was enough. The Major sprang to his feet, to look threateningly at the Doctor.

"Disgrace myself, sir?" he cried furiously.

"Bah!" cried the Doctor, and he bounced out of the room, and, forgetting his patients in the ward near, banged the door.

"There, you've done it now, Bracy!" cried the Major, calming down, and going up to the bedside. "No more of those games, sir, or I shall hit out too. What's the matter with you? Are you shamming, or are you off your head?"

"Beg pardon, sir," said Gedge, entering the room; "the Doctor's sent me to keep watch by Mr Bracy, sir; and he has given me orders that no one is to be near him till he has decided what is to be done."

"What! Order me to go?" said the Major fiercely. "You go back to Doctor Morton, and tell him never to dare to send me such a message as that again."

"Yes, sir," said Gedge, saluting.

"No; stop. This is his own ground," said the Major. "Here, go on with your duty, my lad, and keep a sharp eye on Mr Bracy. He is... or—er— not quite so well to-day. You needn't tell the Doctor what I said."

"No, sir; cert'n'y not, sir," replied Gedge, and he held the door open, standing like a sentry till the Major had passed out, closed it, and I hen stood looking down at Bracy, who lay gazing at him despairingly for some moments before raising his hand cautiously and doubtingly towards his lips.



CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

LOW SPIRITS.

"Drink o' water, sir? Yus, sir—there you are."

Gedge gently raised Bracy's head and, all the time on the watch, hit him drink with avidity: but lowered his burden quickly the next instant, for with a sudden jerk the remainder of the water in the brass cup presented was jerked over his face, and the lotah went flying with a bell-like ring.

"I was on the lookout for that, sir," said Gedge good-humouredly, "but you was too quick for me. I say, sir, don't you say you ain't getting better no more."

"Better, Gedge?" said Bracy pitifully. "I am horribly worse."

"Not you, sir, when you can play games like that."

"Oh, my lad—my lad, I could not help it!" Gedge grinned as he looked at him, and shook his head.

"You don't believe me," said Bracy sadly. "Well, you see, sir, I can't very well after that. I couldn't quite take it in when the Doctor told me what you'd done to him, and how you'd served the Major."

"What did he say?" asked Bracy eagerly.

"Said you'd broke out, sir, and was playing all kinds o' games; and that you had been cheating him and everybody else."

"Anything else?"

"Yus, sir; that it was a reg'lar case o' malingering, on'y I don't think he quite meant it. He was cross because he said you kicked him. Did you, sir?"

"Yes—no—my leg jerked out at him, suddenly, Gedge."

"Same thing, sir. Said you'd knocked the Major's eyeglass off and broke it. Did you do that, sir?"

"My arm jerked out and came in contact with his glass, Gedge."

"Same thing, sir, on'y we call it hitting out."

Bracy made a weary gesture with his head, and then, in despairing tones, asked for more water.

"All right, sir; but no larks this time."

"What?"

"Don't get chucking it in my face, sir, unless it does you a lot o' good. If it do I won't mind, for I should like to see you full o' fun again."

"Fun!" groaned Bracy. "Give me the water. It is no fun, but a horror that is upon me, my lad."

"Sorry to hear that, sir," said Gedge, filling the brass cup again from a tall metal bottle. "Still, it do seem rather comic. What makes you do it, sir?"

"I can't help it, my lad," groaned Bracy, who once more drank thirstily and emptied the cup; Gedge, who had been watching him sharply, ready to dodge the water if it were thrown, managing to get it away this time without receiving a drop.

"Now you'll be better, sir."

"Thank you, my lad. I wish I could think so."

"Well, do think so, sir. You ought to, for you must be an awful deal stronger."

"No, no; I am weaker than ever."

"Are yer, sir?"

"Yes, my lad. I was a little like this the other day."

"Yus, sir, I know."

"And it has been getting worst; and worse."

"Better and better, sir. It's a sign the nat'ral larkiness in yer's coming back."

"No, no, my lad. The Doctor noticed it when my arm twitched, and told me it was involuntary action of the nerves, caused by the injury from the bullet."

"Well, sir, he ought to know: and I dare say it's all right. But I say, sir—I don't, mind, and I won't say a word—you did it o' purpose."

"No, Gedge; indeed no."

"But really, sir, do you mean to tell me that when your arm was laid acrost your chest you couldn't get it away?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"And that you hit out and kick at people like that without being able to help it?"

"Yes; it is quite true, my lad, and it is horrible."

"Well, I dunno about being horrible, sir. Things like that can't last, no more than a fellow being off his head and talking all kinds o' stuff for a bit."

"You can't grasp it, Gedge," sighed Bracy.

"No, sir; wish I could."

"What!"

"Only wish you had my shot in the back, and I'd got yours."

"You don't know what you're talking about, my lad."

"Oh, don't I, sir? I just do. Voluntary action, don't you call it? I just seem to see myself lying in yonder with old Gee coming to see me, and with a leg and a arm ready to go off as yours seem to do. My word, the times I've felt like giving old Gee one, but dursen't, because it's striking your sooperior officer. Just think of it, sir; knocking him right over all innercent like, and not being able to help it. Why, I'd give anything to have your complaint."

"Nonsense, nonsense! You are talking folly."

"Can't help that, sir. It'd be worth months o' pain to see old Gee's face, and to hear him asking yer what yer meant by that."

"No, no; it's horrible—and it means, I'm afraid, becoming a hopeless cripple."

"There, you're getting down in the mouth again. Don't you get thinking that. But even if you did, we'd make the best of it."

"The best of it, man!" groaned Bracy.

"O' course, sir. You could get me my discharge, I dessay, and I'd come and carry yer or push yer in one o' them pramblater things as gents sets in and steers themselves. Then yer could ride o' horseback, or I could drive yer in a shay; and then there's boats as you could be rowed about in or have sails. It don't matter much about being a 'opeless cripple, so long as you're a gentleman and don't have to work for your living. Then, as to them two spring limbs, I could soon get used to them, sir, and learn to dodge 'em; and if I was too late sometimes, it wouldn't matter. All be in the day's work, sir. So don't you be down."

Bracy was silent for a few minutes; and seeing that he wished to think, Gedge moved silently about the room, sponging up the water, that had been spilled, taking down Bracy's sword and giving it a polish, rearranging his clothes upon a stool, and whistling softly, though he was in a good deal of pain, till he began chuckling to himself, and Bracy turned his head.

"What are you laughing at?" he said.

"Only thinking about old Gee, sir. He 'listed just at the same time as me, sir; and then, all along of his bumptiousness and liking to bully everybody, while I was always easy-going and friends with every one, he gets first his corp'ral's stripes, and then his sergeant's, and begins to play Jack-in-office, till his uniform's always ready to crack at the seams. Just fancy, sir, being able to give him a floorer without helping it. Ho, my!"

Gedge had to wipe his eyes with the backs of his hands, so full of mirth seemed the thought of discomfiting the tyrant who had hectored over him so long; and Bracy lay looking at him till he calmed down again.

"You don't believe in all this being involuntary, Gedge?" he said at last.

"Didn't at first, sir. I thought it was your larks, or else you were off your head. But I believe it all now, every bit, and I can't get over it. Just to be able to hit your sooperior officer, and no court-martial. Then the Doctor. Just to be able to make him feel a bit, after what he has made us squirm over."

"Then you do believe me now?"

"Of course, sir. And I tell yer it's grand to have a complaint like that. I mean for such as me. No punishment-drill, no lines, no prison, no nothing at all, for bowling your sooperior officer over like a skittle."

Bracy turned his head wearily.

"Ah, Gedge, you can't realise what it all means, to be a hopeless cripple, always in pain."

"Wuth it, sir, every twinge; and as to being a hopeless cripple, what's that so long as there's plenty o' crutches to be had? Pst! Some un coming, sir."

Gedge was right, for directly after the Doctor entered the room, signed to Gedge to go, and then detained him.

"How has Mr Bracy been?" he said sharply.

"Bit low-sperrited, sir."

"Yes; but has he exhibited any of those peculiar phenomena?"

Gedge passed his hand over his chin and stared.

"Bah! Has he kicked at you, or struck you, or done anything of that kind?"

"No, sir; not a bit."

"That's right. Well, Bracy, you quite startled me, my lad; I was taken by surprise, and I looked at it from the commonplace point of view. I've had time to think of it now from the scientific side. Tell me, can you control yourself when those fits come on? I mean, this involuntary nerve and muscular action!"

"Do you think that I should let it go on if I could, Doctor?" said Bracy sadly.

"No, of course not, my dear fellow. Pardon me for asking you."

"Tell me, then: can you cure it? Can you stop these terrible contractions?"

"Yes, with Nature's help, my dear boy."

"Ha!" sighed Bracy: "then may it come. But why is it? I never heard of such a thing before."

"Naturally; and I never encountered such a case. It is all due to the irritation of the spinal nerves, and until we can get rid of the cause we cannot arrive at the cure."

"But, Doctor—"

"Patience, my dear boy—patience."

"Can you give me some?" said Bracy sadly.

"I hope so, for I am going to appeal to your manliness, your strength of mind. You must try to bear your sufferings, and I will help you by means of sedatives."

"Thanks, Doctor. If you could only get me to be strong enough to act in some way."

"Go out with the men and help them to shoot a few of the enemy—eh!"

"Yes," cried Bracy eagerly. "It would keep me from thinking so, and wearing myself out with dread of my helpless future."

"Well, listen to reason," said the Doctor cheerily. "Your helpless future, in which you see yourself a miserable cripple, old before your time, and utterly useless—"

"Yes, yes," cried Bracy eagerly; "it is all that which keeps me back."

"Of course; and what is all that but a kind of waking ill-dream, which you invent and build up for yourself? Come, you must own that."

"Yes," said Bracy, with a sigh; "but I am very bad, Doctor."

"Were."

"I am still; but I will and can fight harder—"

"No, no; not as you did this morning," said the Doctor, smiling.

"I say, I can fight harder if you tell me that I may recover from these terrible fits."

"I tell you, then, that you may and will. There, you've talked enough. Shake hands, and I'll go."

He held out his hand, but there was no response, for Bracy's right arm lay motionless by his side, and a look of misery crossed the poor fellow's face.

"Never mind," said the Doctor quietly; and he took Bracy's hand in his, when the fingers contracted over his in a tremendous pressure, which he had hard work to hear without wincing. But he stood smiling down at his patient till the contraction of the muscles ceased, and Bracy did not know till afterwards the pain that his grip had caused.