French soldiers before you, strike off
to left or right and try and get by them, and don't go down to the track
again till they are left behind."

"And then find our men, sir?" cried the boy excitedly.

"Yes."

"And tell them where you are, and bring some back to carry you to your
tent?"

"Yes," said the Colonel, smiling.

"But suppose I can't find them, sir?"

"Then--" said the Colonel, looking sadly at the boy, before closing his
eyes, "then--we won't talk about that, my boy: a brave little fellow
like you must find them."

"Yes, I'll try," said Dick eagerly. "When shall I go?"

"Now," said the Colonel, and the boy dashed off at once among the rocks
and bushes, but in five minutes he was back again.

"What, boy, do you give it up?"

"No," said Dick stoutly. "I was in such a hurry I didn't say good-bye,
sir--and--and--"

"Well, what?" said the Colonel, smiling, for the little fellow stopped.

"I was afraid!"

"Afraid?"

"You'd think I didn't mind, and wanted to get away and leave you."

"But you do not, my boy?"

"Only to find someone to help you."

The Colonel caught his hand and drew him down closer and closer till he
could kiss him, when the tears started to Dick's eyes and he flung his
arms round the wounded man's neck and clung to him and kissed him in
return.

"Now go, Dick," said the Colonel. "I have just such a little fellow at
home in England, and I want to see him again."

"Have you?" cried Dick eagerly: "then I will find our men so that you
shall."

"Hah," sighed the Colonel as Dick started off, and he watched the boy
till he disappeared. Then he sighed again, drew the blanket more over
him and closed his eyes, and as the sun went down and the darkness fell
he sank into a deep sleep.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was just beginning to get dusk the next evening and the sentries
about the little hill where the 200th lay had been doubled. For the
French regiments not many hundred yards away had crept in closer, and
were so placed that the English were surrounded, and their case was very
desperate, for though they had plenty of water their provender was
getting low, and the scouts sent out had reported to the Major that it
looked as if an attack was going to be made.

So the wounded had been placed together behind a rough wall built of
pieces of rock, and the men stationed, all hungry and desperate, ready
to meet the enemy when