e by that time all save the doubled sentries upon the walls and the
suffering wounded lay plunged in a heavy sleep wherever a place could be
found roomy enough for the poor fellows' aching limbs.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

BRACY'S NURSE.

"Bracy, my dear old man!"

"My dear old chap!" These were the salutations of Drummond and Roberts
later on in the morning, when they sought him out, to find him with
Gedge in a portion of the soldiers' quarters which had been temporarily
turned into a hospital.

"Ah, Roberts," sighed Bracy drowsily as he raised himself on one arm.
"Not hurt, I hope?"

"Not a scratch. But you--you? Morton tells me you fought like a lion
all through that horrible attack."

"Like a very weak lion," said Bracy, smiling faintly.

"But how are you?"

"Oh, so much better," said the young officer, with a sigh. "I feel so
restful, and as if I could do nothing but sleep."

"Thank Heaven! But what a change in you!"

"And you, Drummond? But your face--blackened. Were you in that
explosion I heard?"

"Yes; I helped to pop off the powder."

"Helped!" cried Roberts. "Why, you placed the powder-bag and fired the
fuse."

"Well, what of that? Some one had to do it. I wasn't hurt there,
though, old man. It was in setting fire to the store and coaxing it
into a blaze, for the blessed wood refused to burn. Spoiled my lovely
looks a bit--eh? But I say--it's harder work than you would think for
to burn a--I say! Bracy, old chap!--Why, he's asleep!"

"Fast," said Roberts, looking wonderingly at their friend, who had sunk
back on his rough pillow, formed of a doubled-up greatcoat, and was
breathing deeply, with his face looking peaceful and calm.

"Here, I say, you, Bill Gedge," cried Drummond; "this can't be right.
Go and fetch the Doctor."

"No, sir; it's all right, sir. The Doctor was here half-an-hour ago.
He was fast as a top then; but he heard the Doctor speaking to me, and
roused up while he had his wounds looked at. What d'yer think o' that,
sir?"

He drew a small, ragged scrap of something from his pocket, and held it
out before the two officers.

"Nothing," said Roberts shortly; "but I don't like Mr Bracy's looks.
This can't be right."

"Doctor says it is, sir, and that it's exhorschon. He's to sleep as
much as he can. You see, he had a horful night of it, sir, just when he
wasn't fit."

"But how in the world could he fight like the Doctor says he did?"

"I dunno, sir,"