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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
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