34 . TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



bandage between bis teeth. "I tbink I saw them bring 

 him in." 



The young officer carefully picks his way across the 

 crowded piece of ground. 



" Good God ! " he exclaims. "Is it all over, Smithers ? " 



" Not yet ; but I don't think he will see another sunrise, 

 poor fellow. He's nearly cut to pieces. But are you hurt ? " 

 he asks, catching sight of the blood trickling down the young 

 man's arm. 



"No; only a scratch." 



" Well, let me see to it. Ah, only a flesh wound. I'll just 

 put a bandage on it." 



"Has he been unconscious all the time?" 



"No; he came to for a few minutes, but went off again 

 after the operation. Just put another wet bandage on his 

 forehead," he added to one of his attendants. "Hold your 

 arm a little more to the right, will you, CoUyer ? " 



"Do you know, I ought to be lying there instead of 

 Dundas," said the young officer addressed as CoUyer. " We 

 went out to help the skirmishers, who were hard pressed, and 

 the rush of those spearmen knocked me down. I thought it 

 was all over, but when I came to myself I found him standing 

 over me and fighting like a very devil. Then there was 

 another rush, and we were buried under a mass of the enemy, 

 who fell from a volley at close quarters. When I at last got 

 free, the last rush was over, and Dennis, Dundas's Irish 

 servant, was howhng like a child over what I took to be his 

 dead body. He must live," he went on, " if it is only to wear 

 the Victoria Cross he has twice deserved within a week." 



" Now you may go," said Surgeon Smithers. " You need 

 not worry about that cut. It will be all right in a day or two." 

 "Send me word if he regains consciousness, will you, 

 Smithers ? " 



" Yes," replied the surgeon. " Put that stretcher down 

 there, my men," he said, and was soon hard at work again. 



