as the men
for the advance, and would have gladly charged against impossible odds
rather than remain immovable under fire. When the order at length came
he did not hear it. Just after the storm of fire that heralded the
advance of the guards broke out, a round shot struck him high up on
the left arm. He was conscious only of a dull, numbing sensation, and
after that knew no more of what was taking place.

It was pitch dark before he became conscious. Fires were burning at
various points along the ridge; for when the victory was complete the
British retired to the position they had held so long, and the
Prussian cavalry took up the pursuit. Fires had been lighted with
broken gun carriages and shattered artillery wagons, and parties with
torches were collecting the wounded. Ralph found that his head was
being supported, and that a hand was pouring spirits and water down
his throat. The hand was a shaky one, and its owner was crying loudly.
As he opened his eyes the man broke into a torrent of thankful
exclamations.

"The Lord be praised, Mr. Conway. Sure, I thought you were dead and
kilt entirely."

"Is that you, Denis?"

"Sure and it's no one else, your honor."

"Is the battle over?"

"It is that. The French are miles away, and the Proosians at their
heels."

"What has happened to me, Denis?"

"Well, your honor's hurt a bit in the arm, but it will all come right
presently."

It was well for Ralph that he had been struck before the order came
for the advance, for as he fell the one surviving surgeon of the
regiment had at once attended to him, had fixed a tourniquet on the
stump of his arm, tied the arteries, and roughly bandaged it. Had he
not been instantly seen to he would have bled to death in a few
minutes.

Denis now called to one of the parties who were moving about with
stretchers. Ralph was lifted on to it and carried to the village of
Waterloo where he was placed in an ambulance wagon which, as soon as
it was full, started for Brussels.

The fighting was now over, and Denis asked leave to accompany his
master. The rout of the enemy had been so thorough and complete that
it was not thought probable any serious resistance could be offered to
the advance of the allied armies to Paris, and he therefore obtained
leave without difficulty to remain with his master. Ralph suffered
from exhaustion rather than pain on the journey to Brussels, and
several times became almost unconscious. At four o'clock in