ed
away, and lay, for how long he could not tell; but the next thing that
he remembered clearly was that he opened his eyes to see Punch bending
over him and rocking him to and fro according to the drill instructions
they had both learned as to how to deal with a fellow-soldier who has
been half-drowned.

"Oh, Punch," he cried, in a voice that sounded to him like a hoarse
whisper, "I thought you were dead!"

The boy was blubbering as if his heart would break, and it was some
moments before he half-sobbed and half-whimpered out, "Why, you couldn't
have done that, because it's what I was thinking about you. But, I say,
comrade, you are all right, aren't you?"

"I--I suppose so," gasped Pen.

"Oh, don't talk like that," sobbed the boy.

"This 'ere's the worst of all. Do say as you are coming round. Why,
you must be, or else you couldn't talk. But, I say, did you save me, or
did I save you? Blest if I know! And here we are on the wrong side
after all! What's to be done now?"

"Wring our clothes, I suppose, Punch," said Pen wearily, "or lie down
and rest without."

"Well, I feel as if I should like to do that," said Punch. "This 'ere
sand is hot and dry enough to make us steam. I say, comrade," he
continued, wiping his eyes and speaking in a piteous tone, "don't you
take no notice of me and the water squeezing out of my eyes. I am so
full of it that it's running out. But we are all right, comrade. I was
beginning to think you had gone and left me all alone. But I say, this
'ere's a nice place, this Spain! Here, what's the matter with you?"
continued Punch excitedly. "Don't turn like that, choking and pynting.
Oh, this 'ere's worse still! He's in a blessed fit!"

He had seized Pen by the shoulders now, and began shaking him violently,
till Pen began to struggle with him, forced him aside, and then pointing
across the river, he gasped out, "Cavalry! Look, look!"

The boy swung himself round, one hand felt for his musket, the other at
his belt, where the bayonet should have been, for the word cavalry
suggested to him preparations for receiving a charge.

Then, following the direction of his companion's pointing hand, he fully
grasped what was meant, for coming down the slope across the river were
a couple of English light dragoons, who had caught sight of the two
figures on the opposite bank.

The men were approaching cautiously, each with his carbine at the ready,
and for the moment it seemed as