iving Captain Wilson at his window flogged the horse into a
gallop: when abreast of the barracks Jack ran the wheel against a bank,
and threw himself and Gascoigne out. Midshipmen are never hurt by these
accidents, but fortunately for the success of the enterprise their faces
were cut and bruised. Don Philip was standing by: he called the men to
pick up our two scamps, carried them into the barracks, and sent for the
surgeons, who undressed them, put Jack's left leg into a multitude of
splints, and did the same to Gascoigne's arm. They were then put to
bed, their contused faces with the blood, left _in statu quo_, while Don
Philip sent an orderly, as from the commandant, to Captain Wilson, to
acquaint him that two of his officers had been thrown out of a caricola,
and were lying dangerously hurt at the barracks.

"Good heavens, it must be Mr Easy and Mr Gascoigne!" said Captain
Wilson, when the intelligence was communicated; "I saw them galloping
down the street like two madmen just now. Coxswain, take the gig on
board and tell the surgeon to come on shore immediately, and bring him
up to me at the barracks."

Captain Wilson then put on his hat, buckled on his sword, and hastened
to ascertain the extent of the injury. Don Philip kept out of the way,
but the captain was ushered into the room by one of the officers, where
he found, in two beds, our two midshipmen stretched out, the surgeon of
the forces and the regimental surgeon in consultation between them,
while attendants were standing by each bed with restoratives. The
medical gentlemen saluted Captain Wilson, and looked very grave, talked
about fractures, contusions, injuries, in the most interminable manner--
hoped that Mr Easy would recover--but had doubts. The other gentleman
might do well with care; that is, as far as his arm was concerned, but
there appeared to be a concussion of the brain. Captain Wilson looked
at the cut and blood-smeared faces of the two young men, and waited with
anxiety the arrival of his own surgeon, who came at last, puffing with
the haste he had made, and received the report of the brothers of the
faculty.

The leg of Mr Easy fractured in two places--had been set--bone
protruding--impossible to move him. Gascoigne, arm, compound fracture--
concussion of the brain not certain. Now, that all this would have been
discovered to be false if the surgeon had been able to examine, is true;
but how could he not credit the surgeon of