the
morning the ambulance stopped at a handsome house that its owner had
placed at the disposal of the authorities for the use of wounded
officers. He was carried upstairs and placed in bed in a room on the
second story. Denis at once proceeded to install himself there. He
brought down a mattress from a room above, laid it in the corner,
throwing his greatcoat over it, then as soon as he thought the shops
were open he hurried out and bought a kettle and saucepan, two cups
and tumblers, a small basin, and several other articles.

"There, your honor," he said as he returned. "Now we have got
iverything we need, and I can make soups and drinks for your honor,
and boil myself a tater widout having to go hunting all over the house
for the things to do it with."

A few minutes later two surgeons entered the room and examined Ralph's
arm. They agreed at once that it was necessary to amputate it three
inches higher up, Ralph winced when he heard the news.

"It won't hurt you very much," one of the surgeons said. "The nerves
are all numbed with the shock they have had, but it is absolutely
necessary in order that a neat stump may be made of it. The bone is
all projecting now; and even if the wound healed over, which I don't
think it would, you would have trouble with it all your life."

"Of course if it must be done, it must," Ralph said. "There isn't much
left of it now."

"There is not enough to be of much use," the surgeon agreed; "but even
a shorter stump that you can fit appliances on to will be a great deal
more handy than one with which nothing can be done."

The operation was performed at once, and although Ralph had to press
his lips hard together to prevent himself from crying out, he did find
it less painful than he had expected.

"There, you will do now," the surgeon said. "Here, my man, take that
basin and a tumbler and run downstairs to the kitchen. They will give
you some broth there and some weak spirits and water. Bring them up at
once."

Ralph took a spoonful or two of the broth, and a sip of the spirits,
and then lay back and presently dozed off to sleep. Denis had followed
the surgeons out of the room.

"What instructions is there, your honor?"

"Your master is just to be kept quiet. If he is thirsty give him some
lemonade. You can obtain that or anything else you require below."

"And about myself, sir. I wouldn't speak about it but I have had
nothing to eat since yesterday morning, and I don'