perfect cure, so that Tom's limp became scarcely perceptible, and his
general strength was so much restored, that he and I afterwards had many
long geological and botanical rambles over the surrounding country, in
company with little Spinks and the rest of the evening class.

"And this was no mere flash in the pan. We persevered to the end. From
the date of that fight all the boys became Turnerites, our village
school commenced a prosperous career, and our kind old master had the
satisfaction of living to see it grow into one of the most noted in the
district for turning out well-educated boys.

"Finally: Tom Turner became a real `Professor'--a Professor of Theology.
And Tiddler became a real doctor of medicine. The Tadpole also came
off with flying colours. His body grew up to his head, insomuch that he
became a fine strapping fellow, and a Professor of Natural History in
one of our colonial colleges. I am the only one of the lot who did not
get on well in life, and that, lads, was owing to drink. In a drunken
spree I enlisted, and here I am now, only a corporal; but, thank God,
I'm also a total abstainer, and hope to remain so to the end of my
life."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Most of the men in the trenches had become rather sleepy while listening
to Jacob Free's story, but they began to freshen up a little when the
first faint streaks of dawn appeared, for they knew full well that the
enemy would be stirring ere long. And they were right.

When day broke the Russians commenced firing, and every now and then a
shell would pass roaring over the men's heads. Sometimes one would drop
in amongst them. When this happened the men fled right and left, or
threw themselves flat on their faces until the shell had exploded.

On one of these occasions a shell dropped close to a wounded man, to
whom Bob was giving a drink at the time. The men near it sprang away or
lay down as usual, but the wounded man lay in such a position, with his
shoulders raised by a little knoll of earth, that he could not escape,
and had not strength even to move. With a look of horror he gazed at
the hissing shell. Bob Thorogood saw this all at a glance. In a moment
he had the live shell in his arms, rushed to the top of the earthworks,
and hurled it over, only just in time, for it burst as it reached the
ground, and blew the spot on which Bob stood, with Bob himself, back
into the trenc