The Larks Nest 21 



nest ; in all that din and fever of battle, he 

 still thought of it, and wondered what its fate 

 had been. Another minute and they were 

 crossing the track, and as they leapt up the 

 other side, he saw a bird fly out from under 

 the feet of a soldier next but one to himself. 

 The next moment he felt a sudden sharp blow, 

 and fell insensible. 



When he came to himself he could see the 

 redcoats pouring down the slope in front of him ; 

 every one was going forward, and the enemy's 

 cannonade had ceased. A wounded soldier close 

 by him groaned and turned heavily on his 

 side. Bill tried to pull himself together to walk, 

 but his right leg was useless, and he could only 

 crawl. He crawled to the edge of the bank 

 and found himself close to the nest ; he put his 

 hand in and found two warm eggs and two 

 nestlings. Then he slipped down the bank and 

 fainted at the bottom. 



A fortnight afterwards, the old parson came 

 down to his garden-gate with a letter in his 

 hand, and stepped across to the thatched cottage. 



