s. Now, if you are all ready, we will start; but we must
move quietly, or the sentry at the quarter guard may hear us."

Ten minutes later they reached the hospital, being the last of the party
to arrive there.

"Now, Major," the Doctor said cheerily, as soon as he entered, "as this
place is supposed to be under my special charge I will take command for
the present. Wilson and Richards will act as my lieutenants. We have
nothing to do outside, and can devote ourselves to getting things a
little straight here. The first thing to do is to light lamps in all the
lower rooms; then we can see what we are doing, and the ladies will be
able to give us their help, while the men go out with the servants to
bring things in; and remember the first thing to do is to bring in the
horses. They may be useful to us. There is a good store of forage piled
in the corner of the yard, but the syces had best bring in as much
more as they can carry. Now, ladies, if you will all bring your bundles
inside the house we will set about arranging things, and at any rate get
the children into bed as quickly as possible."

As it had been already settled as to the rooms to be occupied, the
ladies and their ayahs set to work at once, glad to have something to
employ them. One of the rooms which had been fitted up with beds had
been devoted to the purposes of a nursery, and the children, most of
whom were still asleep, were soon settled there. Two other rooms had
been fitted up for the use of the ladies, while the men were occupying
two others, the courtroom being turned into a general meeting and dining
room.

At first there was not much to do; but as the servants, closely watched
by their masters, went backwards and forwards bringing in goods of all
kinds, there was plenty of employment in carrying them down to a large
underground room, where they were left to be sorted later on.

The Doctor had appointed Isobel Hannay and the two Miss Hunters to the
work of lighting a fire and getting boiling water ready, and a plentiful
supply of coffee was presently made, Wilson and Richards drawing the
water, carrying the heavier loads downstairs, and making themselves
generally useful.

Captain Forster had not come in. He had undertaken to remain in his tent
in the lines, where he had quietly saddled and unpicketed his horse,
tying it up to the tent ropes so that he could mount in an instant. He
still believed that his own men would stand firm, and declared