they came and drive them back.

"And oh, dear! It's weary work," said Mrs Corporal, who had had
nothing to cook for the men, but made up for it by acting as nurse and
helping the wounded.

She was kneeling down by Corporal Beane when she spoke, and had been
trying to comfort him, for he had done nothing but growl because the
doctor said he must not think of getting up, and as she talked to him
she said suddenly: "Oh, if I could only know what has become of my boy."

She stopped short, for at that moment a shot was fired, and Corporal
Beane sat up and reached for his musket.

"Here they come," he cried. "I don't care what the doctor says--I won't
lie here. Give me my cartridge-box, old woman: I'm going to fight."

There was another shot, close at hand, and then a shrill voice rang
out:--"Oh, don't shoot--don't shoot!"

"_My boy Dick_!" shouted Mrs Beane, and she rushed out, as torn and
bleeding, the boy staggered up between two of the men, and the next
minute was surrounded by the officers, but could not speak for
exhaustion: but he made signs for water, drank some thirstily, and one
of the sentries stated to the Major that he had seen something crawling
up towards his post and fired.

"And then I see it, and fired too, sir," said the other.

"Poor boy," cried the Major. "Where are you hurt?"

"I don't know--everywhere. I'm scratched, and I tumbled, and my knees
are sore. But do go directly, oh! Do go, or he'll be dead."

It was some time before in his weak, half-starved state the poor boy
could make them understand, for he had completely broken down: and it
was not until he had swallowed a little biscuit soaked in wine, as he
lay with his head in Mrs Beane's lap, that he at last told hysterically
of how he had managed to crawl by the French outposts and reached his
friends.

His last words were, "Why don't you go?--the Colonel--you'll be too
late."

There was silence for a few minutes, all present watching the little
messenger as he lay back insensible in Mrs Beane's arms.

Then the Major walked away: the men were formed up in a hollow square:
and he addressed them and told them that their Colonel was lying wounded
and dying away yonder, on the slope of the ravine, and he called for
volunteers to fetch him in.

They stepped forward to a man, and a strong company was told off under
one of the captains, the doctor being of the party, and the men carrying
a litter ready for their load.

"But we mu