lonel!"

"Yes, yes, my lad," said the old officer, laying his hand upon the
youth's arm.

"Tell me about the lady."

"She has come to her senses; not burned, only terribly alarmed. She
will be able to thank you for your bravery!"

"Oh, nonsense!" said Dick, hurriedly, and with a singular abstention in
his semi-delirium from the use of the title of respect--_sir_; "anyone
would have done the same. Now tell me about the poor fellow over
yonder."

"I forbid you to ask another question!" cried the doctor, angrily.

"Let him hear what he wants, and then I'll go," said the colonel,
quietly. "What do you want to know, my lad?"

"Who is it? Which of the gentlemen of the mess?"

"Neither," said the colonel, quietly. "It is one of our guests--
Lieutenant Sir Mark Frayne."

Dick's jaw dropped, and his eyes dilated widely, as the colonel now
walked sharply away.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE ECHO OF THE BALL.

The barrack yard was thronged as the colonel hurried out, thankful that
the terrible disaster had not been made awful by any loss of life; and
for the next hour he was one of the most active in trying to allay the
alarm, and soothing the frightened girls and their chaperones, who were
now the occupants of the quarters where the various officers' wives were
doing their best to play hostess to the torn and dishevelled beings who
had sought shelter beneath their roof.

As for the square in which the marquee had been erected, that remained a
perfect chaos till the morning, the colonel having given orders that
nothing should be touched as soon as the fire had been extinguished and
the escaping gas securely stopped where the great pipe--not the original
cause of the mischief, but that which had been broken by the explosion--
stood amongst a heap of charred relics of the supper; while, to insure
that such articles of jewellery as had been lost in the terrible
struggle should be in safety, sentries were posted, and soon after the
barrack yard was cleared of all save those who had special business
there.

Hours elapsed before the last carriage rolled away with its scared
occupants; for in the cases of those who had come from a distance the
servants had not been ordered to attend till two and three o'clock.

At last, though, there was peace, and the officers of the 205th gathered
in the mess-room to partake of a cup of coffee and a cigar before
seeking their beds, as, utterly fagged out, they sat for some time
tal