come they had received.

The Colonel, with the officers left behind, stood at the gate waiting,
and the answer to his inquiry regarding the enemy brought forth a fresh
cheer.

"Splendidly done!" said the Colonel; and then sharply, "What
casualties?"

"Mr Bracy severely wounded. Privates Down and Gedge had bullet-wounds.
Other hurts slight."

The Doctor hurried away to his operating-room, and his assistants went
to the door to help in the three patients, who were attended to in turn.

The first man who had fallen had to have a bullet extracted from his
leg, half-way to the hip, where it was deeply embedded in the muscle.

"Now, my dear Bracy," said the Doctor, "let's look at you."

"No, I can wait," was the reply. "My bandages is quite firm, and the
bleeding has ceased."

The Doctor frowned, and was about to say something regarding
interference; but he checked himself, glanced at the bandage, and
nodded.

"Very well," he said; "the other man."

Poor Gedge was very white and remarkably quiet, but his eyes were full
of motion; and he watched the Doctor's face and every action of his
hands.

"Why, Gedge, my lad," said the Doctor cheerily after a certain amount of
busy manipulation, "this isn't fair. I didn't want to have you in
hospital again."

"Same to you, sir," said the sufferer, with a ghastly attempt at a
smile, as he screwed his head round to look at the Doctor.

"Hold still, sir. Look the other way."

"Yes, sir," said Gedge faintly. "'Tain't my head this time, sir."

"No, my lad; it's not your head this time."

"Sorry it's my back, sir; but I warn't a-running away."

"Bah! of course you were not; our lads don't know how."

"No, sir; course not, sir."

"Got it carrying Mr Bracy out of the fire--eh?"

"Well, yes, sir, I s'pose so, sir. Shall I--shall I--"

The poor fellow stopped short.

"Shall you what?" said the Doctor kindly; "try to move?"

"No, sir," said the poor fellow feebly; "I didn't mean that. It was,
shall I be a goner?"

"Oh, nonsense--nonsense! Humph! poor fellow! he has fainted."

"Is his wound serious, Doctor?" said Bracy huskily.

"Never you mind. You lie still and wait. Well, there. Yes, the hurt
is a very bad one. I don't think he'll die; but the bullet is in a
dangerous place, and I dare not try to extract it to-day."

A short time after poor Gedge was lying in a state of stupor upon the
bed he had previously occupied, and the Doctor was examining the