43 
THE STRAND MAGAZINE . 
“THE -BUTLER HANDED HIM AN OFFICIAL-LOOKING ENVELOPE / 5 
saw him standing over there and flashing 
signals.” 
“Did you at any time give him signals to 
send after you were attacked ? ” 
“ No, sir. I had no opportunity.” 
“ How so ? ” 
“ Could not get near him, sir.” 
“ How did you cross the river ? ” 
Copeland hesitated. He had no idea who 
had seen him or who had not, and there 
was the dead mule lying in the river for 
damning evidence against him. 
“ I started on the mule ; the enemy shot 
that, and then I swam and waded.” 
“ And the mule, where did you get that 
from ? ” 
Copeland turned red and hesitated. 
“You may consider yourself under arrest, 
Mr. Copeland,” said the general, slowly and 
deliberately. “ I’ll have your conduct in 
this matter investigated at once.” 
Copeland saluted and started to walk 
slowly to the rear, trying hard to think of 
some way to save his reputation, and as 
he walked he was recognized by a corporal 
of Yeomanry, who had until lately been 
teller in a London bank. The corporal made 
no sign, and neither did Copeland, but each 
man recognized the other. Copeland con- 
tinued his march to the rear, and the cor- 
poral rode forward to where the general 
stood. There he halted, to the rear of him, 
and waited for further orders. 
Nine stretchers passed, one of them in 
front and the rest all in a cluster behind it. 
The general turned his head. 
“ Corporal,” he ordered, “ find out who 
are on those stretchers.” 
And the corporal dismounted and stopped 
the stretcher-bearers. The first man that he 
looked at, on the stretcher that was in front, 
was Robert Furleigh, and the corporal 
recognized him. He lifted the skirt of his 
open tunic, though, and looked at the name on 
it, to make absolutely sure. 
“ Is he alive ? ” he asked. 
