uldn't have hit out
at me like that; and it shows, too, that all his ideas about being so
weak are fancy. That crack on the back didn't come from a weak arm.
But it's all due to the wound, and it would be better not to say
anything to him about it."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE UNCOMFORTABLE SYMPTOMS.

Captain Roberts intended to go and sit with his friend for an hour or
two next day, but he was called off on duty, and Drummond seized the
opportunity to pay a visit. He was met at the door by Mrs Gee, who
looked at him sourly as she passed, for she had just been summoned by
one of Doctor Morton's ambulance men to go and attend to one of the men
who had been taken worse.

"How do, nurse?" said Drummond. "Just going in to see your patient."

"Then you must not stay long, sir. Ten minutes will be plenty of time.
Mr Bracy can't get well if he is so bothered with visitors."

"Oh, I won't bother him, nurse; only cheer him up a bit."

The woman frowned and hurried away, leaving the course open, and
Drummond went straight on, thinking aloud.

"Glad my arm's not worse," he said, as he nursed it gently, "for I
shouldn't like to be under her ladyship's thumb. She ought to be called
to order. Talk about a hen that can crow; she's nothing to my lady
here. I wonder Bracy stands it. Hullo! what's the matter?"

Loud voices came from the door of Bracy's room--those of the latter and
Gedge; and upon hurrying in the young subaltern was astounded to find,
as it seemed to him, Private Gedge with one knee upon the edge of the
charpoy, bending over the patient, holding him down by the arm, which
was pressed across his chest close up to the throat.

"Here! Hi! Hullo here!" cried Drummond. "What's the meaning of this,
sir?"

The words acted like magic. Gedge slipped back, drawing Bracy's arm
from where it lay, and he then carefully laid it down beside him.

"It's all right, sir, now, sir; ain't it, Mr Bracy?"

"Yes, yes," said the latter faintly, and looking up at his visitor in a
weary, dazed way.

"This fellow has not been assaulting you, has he?" cried Drummond.

"Me? 'Saulting him, sir?" cried Gedge. "Well, come now, I do like
that!"

"Oh no; oh no," sighed Bracy.

"It was like this here," continued Gedge; "I was a-hanging about waiting
to see if he wanted me to give him a drink or fetch him anything."

Bracy's lips moved, and an anxious expression came over his face; but he
said nothing, only looked wildl