rom Captain Rayner's and a few of their immediate friends. All
eyes followed the twinkling light as it danced away eastward towards the
gloomy coal-sheds. Then there was sudden and intense interest. The lamp
had come to a stand-still, was deposited on the ground, and by its dim
ray the adjutant could be seen bending over a dark object that was half
sitting, half reclining at the platform of the shed. Then came a shout,
"Come here, some of you." And most of the men ran to the spot.

For a moment not one word was spoken in the watching group: then Miss
Travers's voice was heard:

"What can it be? Why do they stop there?"

She felt a sudden hand upon her wrist, and her sister's lips at her ear:

"Come away, Nellie. I want to go home. Come!"

"But, Kate, I must see what it means."

"No: come! It's--it's only some other drunken man, probably. Come!" And
she strove to lead her.

But the other ladies were curious too, and all, insensibly, were edging
over to the east as though eager to get in sight of the group. The
recumbent object had been raised, and was seen to be the dark figure of
a man whom the others began slowly to lead away. One of the group came
running back to them: it was Mr. Foster.

"Come, ladies: I will escort you home, as the others are busy."

"What is the matter, Mr. Foster?" was asked by half a dozen voices.

"It was Mr. Hayne,--badly burned, I fear. He was trying to get home
after having saved poor Clancy."

"You don't say so! Oh, isn't there something we can do? Can't we go
that way and be of some help?" was the eager petition of more than one
of the ladies.

"Not now. They will have the doctor in a minute. He has not inhaled
flame; it is all external; but he was partly blinded and could not find
his way. He called to Billings when he heard him coming. I will get you
all home and then go back to him. Come!" And, offering his arm to Mrs.
Rayner, who was foremost in the direction he wanted to go,--the pathway
across the parade,--Mr. Foster led them on. Of course there was eager
talk and voluble sympathy; but Mrs. Rayner spoke not a word. The others
crowded around him with questions, and her silence passed unnoted except
by one.

The moment they were inside the door and alone, Miss Travers turned to
her sister: "Kate, what was this man's crime?"

VI.

An unusual state of affairs existed at the big hospital for several
days: Mrs. Clancy had refused to leave the bedside of her beloved