I LOSE A THUMB 



brain, and I remembered that the horse had seized my 

 thumb between its teeth. Instinctively I felt that some- 

 thing terrible had occurred ; a cold shiver ran through my 

 frame and longing to know the worst yet half afraid to be 

 enlightened, I looked down at my hand. 



To my horror and dismay I could see but the four 

 fingers only. The thumb was gone ! Torn completely 

 away at its juncture with the hand, there was nothing left 

 of it but some jagged skin and sinews. Yet, strange to 

 say, I felt no pain this was yet to come ! But the horror 

 and shock of the discovery, added to the exertions I had 

 undergone, now began to tell upon me. A dizziness came 

 over me, my limbs trembled ; soon all around me seemed 

 suddenly to grow dark, and drifting rapidly into uncon- 

 sciousness I fell heavily to the ground. 



When consciousness returned, I found I was in my tent 

 with the surgeon bandaging my hand. He told me he had 

 " trimmed " and sewn up the wound, adding that my 

 thumb had since been found lying near the horse's feet and 

 was to be buried that evening with one of our men who 

 had died of sunstroke. 



For two long weary months I lay 'twixt life and death, 

 for it was the height of the hot season, and exposed as I 

 was to the full force of it, with no better shelter than a 

 thin canvas tent afforded, I marvel how I survived to tell 

 the tale. 



At length I was allowed to leave the pile of straw which 

 had served me as a bed, and being pronounced fit for 

 further duty was, on the first opportunity offering, sent on 

 to rejoin my corps which, fighting its way forward, was 

 now many miles distant. 



