hivalrous feeling. When or how I was wounded
I never could ascertain; but a round shot had penetrated my thigh,
tearing the muscles into shreds, and giving to the surgeon who saw me
the simple task of saying, '_Enlevez le--point despair_.'

I heard thus much, and I have some recollection of a comrade having
kissed my forehead, and there ended my reminiscences of Landshut. Nay, I
am wrong; I cherish another and a more glorious one.

It was about four days after this occurrence that the surgeon in charge
of the military hospital was obliged to secure by ligature a branch
of the femoral artery which had been traversed by the ball through my
thigh. The operation was a tedious and difficult one, for round shot, it
would seem, have little respect for anatomy, and occasionally displace
muscles in a sad fashion. I was very weak after it was over, and orders
were left to give a spoonful of Bordeaux and water from time to time
during the evening--a direction which I listened to attentively, and
never permitted my orderly to neglect. In fact, like a genuine sick
man's fancy, it caught possession of my mind that this wine and water
was to save me; and in the momentary rally of excitement it gave, I
thought I tasted health once more. In this impression I never awoke from
a short doze without a request for my cordial, and half mechanically
would make signs to wet my lips as I slept.

It was near sunset, and I was lying with unclosed eyes, not asleep, but
in that semi-conscious state that great bodily depression and loss of
blood induce. The ward was unusually quiet, the little buzz of voices
that generally mingled through the accents of suffering were hushed, and
I could hear the surgeon's well-known voice as he spoke to some persons
at the farther end of the chamber.

By their stopping from time to time, I could remark that they were
inspecting the different beds, but their voices were low and their steps
cautious and noiseless.

'Tiernay--this is Tiernay,' said some one, reading my name from the
paper over my head. Some low words which I could not catch followed, and
then the surgeon replied--

'There is a chance for him yet, though the debility is greatly to be
feared.'

I made a sign at once to my mouth, and after a second's delay the spoon
touched my lips; but so awkwardly was it applied, that the fluid ran
down my chin. With a sickly impatience I turned away, but a mild, low
voice, soft as a woman's, said--

'_Allons!