Dick sadly, and as he told all he knew the Colonel groaned
again and again and to Dick's horror he heard him mutter to himself:--

"Better that I had died--better that I had died than suffer this. The
defeat--the shame."

Then all was still in the darkness, the fear began to creep into Dick's
breast again, and he gently stretched out his hand to touch the
Colonel's, when to his great joy his hand was seized: then another hand
touched it, and he felt it kissed and then held fast, drawing him
forward so that he half lay across the wounded man's breast, and could
feel the beating of his heart, lying thinking there till he heard a low
sigh or two, followed by a steady regular breathing as if he slept.

And at last, utterly wearied out, sleep came to the boy as well, and he
lay dreaming there, keeping what might have been the chill of death from
a brave man's breast, till the sun rose again and was beating down
warmly upon the back of Dick's head, when he opened his eyes to stare
wonderingly at the stained and blackened face so close to his.

Dick did not dare to stir for fear of awakening the Colonel again: but
he was not asleep, for after a time he opened his eyes and smiled
pleasantly.

"The fortune of war, little comrade," he said.

"Yes, sir," said Dick, and he stared at him, wondering that the stern,
fierce officer who ordered the men about so could look so pleasant.

"That's right," said the Colonel: "we have been successful many times.
But let's see, Dick, you were brought into camp wounded."

"Yes," said Dick. "My head was very bad."

"Of course. I remember all about it. How was it you were injured?"

Dick shook the head that had been hurt.

"You don't know? But you speak well. Who are your father and mother?"

"Corporal Beane and Mrs Corporal."

The Colonel looked at the boy curiously.

"Yes," he said at last: "so I remember hearing. Well, Dick, you were
wounded, and we helped you: now it is my turn and you have helped me."

"Yes," said Dick.

"I am thirsty, my boy: will you fetch me some water?"

"Yes," said Dick, seizing the tin.

"But look carefully round: the enemy may be holding the ground."

"Would they kill us if they saw us, sir?"

"I hope not, boy: but if I can bear my wounds I'll keep in hiding, for
my brave lads must make an effort to find us soon."

"I'll mind," said Dick, and he took a long look round, and then crept on
hands and knees to the spring, looked at it longing