, though it was touch and go. I never thought they would
manage it. You can't think what a curious feeling it is, the life
going out of you. I was perfectly conscious, and knew all they
were doing and saying, and thought quite clearly, though in a
sort of dreamy way, about you, and a whole jumble of people and
things at home. It was the most curious painless mixture of dream
and life, getting more dreamy every minute. I don't suppose I
could have opened my eyes or spoken; at any rate I had no wish to
do so, and didn't try. Several times the thought of death came
close to me; and, whether it was the odd state I was in, or what
else I don't know, but the only feeling I had, was one of intense
curiosity. I should think I must have lain there, with Winburn
supporting my head, and moistening my lips with rum-and-water,
for four or five hours, before a doctor could be got. He had
managed to drive Larry about till he had found, or borrowed, or
stolen the drink, and then kept him making short cruises in
search of help in the shape of hospital-staff, ambulances, or
doctors, from which Master Larry always came back without the
slightest success. My belief is, he employed those precious
minutes, when he was from under his sergeant's eye, in looting.
At last, Winburn got impatient, and I heard him telling Larry
what he was to do while he was gone himself to find a doctor; and
then I was moved as gently as if I had been a sick girl. I heard
him go off with a limp, but did not know till long after of his
wound.

"Larry had made such a wailing and to-do when they first found
me, that a natural reaction now set in, and he began gently and
tenderly to run over in his mind what could be made out of 'the
captin,' and what would become of his things. I found out this,
partly through his habit of talking to himself, and partly from
the precaution which he took of ascertaining where my watch and
purse were, and what else I had upon me. It tickled me immensely
to hear him. Presently I found he was examining my boots, which
he pronounced 'iligant entirely,' and wondered whether he could
get them on. The 'serjint' would never want them. And he then
proceeded to assert, while _he_ actually began unlacing them,
that the 'captin' would never have '_bet him_' but for the boots
which 'was worth ten feet in a furlong to any man.' 'Shure, 'tis
too late now; but wouldn't I like to run him agin with bare
feet?' I couldn't stand that, and just opened