ter."

Still there was no sound, and the boy began to think that he had come
too late.

He spoke again and again, but there was no reply, and after feeling
about a little he dipped his fingers in the tin and let a few drops fall
upon the poor fellow's dry lips. Then more and more, as he found they
moved. Then he scooped up as much as his little hand would hold, guided
it carefully and held it there so that a few drops trickled between the
man's lips and the others ran over his face and neck, with a strangely
reviving effect. For there was a low sigh or two, and he could hear the
sound repeated of his patient trying to swallow, after which his mouth
opened widely, so that he was able to pour in more water, which now was
swallowed with avidity.

All this had such a reviving effect that suddenly to Dick's great
delight there was a hoarse whisper--

"More--more. Water--water."

This was responded to at once, and after a few more tiny portions had
been poured between the sufferer's lips a hoarse voice said:--

"Heaven bless you, it has saved my life."

"Can you sit up a little and drink?" said Dick eagerly.

"I don't know--I'll try."

There was a faint rustling, a piteous groan of pain, and then:--

"Now quick. I can do no more. Water."

By touch Dick found that his companion had raised himself on one elbow,
and he guided the tin to his lips with one hand, passing the other round
the poor fellow's head to try and support him, as he drank eagerly till
the last drops were drained from the tin.

"Like life--like life," was sighed, and Dick felt his patient sink down
again with a sigh of content.

"Shall I fetch some more?" said the boy.

"Not yet. Tell me. Who are you? Is it a woman?"

Dick laughed in his great joy at hearing the words.

"No," he said: "it's only me."

"You? Who are you?"

"Dick. Mrs Corporal Beane's Dick."

"Oh, my boy, my boy, you have saved my life," moaned the sufferer,
catching the little fellow's hand and pressing it to his fevered lips.

"But who are you?" said the boy. "I don't know your voice."

"Don't you, my brave little fellow? Yes, you do--the Colonel, Colonel
Lavis."

"Oh," said Dick wonderingly, "and did somebody shoot you?"

"Yes. I was hit twice. I crawled away among the bushes and rocks after
I fell, and then all was dark, and I was trying to creep to where I
could hear water. But tell me, my brave lad. They drove the Frenchmen
off?"

"No," said