lily.

"What is it, then? What are you thinking about?"

"Thinking about you being so grumpy."

"Grumpy! Well, isn't it enough to make a fellow feel low-spirited when
he has been ill for weeks, wandering about here on these mountain-sides,
hunted as if we were wild beasts, almost starving, and afraid to go near
any of the people?"

"No," replied Punch with quite a snarl. "If you had had a bullet in
your back like I did there's something to grumble about. I don't
believe you ever knew how it hurt."

"Oh yes, I did, Punch," said Pen quietly, "for many a time I have felt
for you when I have seen you wincing and your face twitching with pain."

"Of course you did. I know. You couldn't have been nicer than you
were. But what have you got to grumble about now you're better?"

"Our bad luck in not getting back to some of our people."

"Well, I should like that too, only I don't much mind. You see, I can't
help feeling as jolly as a sand-boy."

"I don't know that sand-boys have anything much to be jolly about,
Punch," said Pen, brightening up.

"More do I--but it's what people say," said Punch; "only, I do feel
jolly. To be out here in the sunshine--and the moonshine, too, of a
night--and having a sort of feeling that I can sit down now without my
back aching and smarting, and feeling that I want to run and jump and
shout. You know what it is to feel better, now, as well as I do. This
ain't home, of course; but everything looks wonderful nice, and every
morning I wake up it all seems to me as if I was having a regular long
holiday. I say, do say you are enjoying yourself too."

"I can't, Punch. There are too many drawbacks."

"Oh, never mind them."

"But I can't help it. You know I have been dreadfully weak."

"But you shouldn't worry about that. I don't mind a bit now you are
getting well."

"What, not when we are faint with hunger?"

"No, not a bit. It makes me laugh. It seems such a jolly game to think
we have got to hunt for our victuals. Oh, I think we are having a
regular fine time. It's a splendid place! Come on."

"No, no; we had better rest a little more."

"Not me! Let's get some chestnuts. Ain't it a shame to grumble when
you get plenty of them as you can eat raw or make a fire and roast them?
Starve, indeed! Then look at the grapes we have had; and you never
know what we shall find next. Why, it was only yesterday that woman
gave us some bread, and pointed to the onions,