urk born, an' the first rewerse that come to
'im--as it will come to every one now an' again, sir--they left 'im in a
fix instead of sending 'im reinforcements, so 'e was forced to retreat,
an' the Sultan recalled 'im. It do seem to me that the Turkish
Government don't know good men when they've got 'em; an', what's more,
don't deserve to 'ave 'em. But long before these things 'appened, w'en
'e found that you was my master an' Ivanka our friend, 'e sent us to the
rear with a strong guard, an' 'ere we are now in one of 'is willas, in
what part o' the land is more than I can tell--near Gallipopolly, or
somethink like that, I believe."

"So, then, we are prisoners?" said I.

"Well, I s'pose we are, sir, or somethink o' the sort, but, bless your
'art, sir, it's of no manner of consiquence. We are treated like
princes and live like fighting-cocks.--But you mustn't talk, sir, you
mustn't indeed, for the doctor gave strict orders that we was to keep
you quiet."

Lancey's communications were of so surprising a nature, so varied and so
suggestive, that my mind was overwhelmed in the mere attempt to recall
what he had said; in another moment I had forgotten all, and dropped
into a deep, dreamless, refreshing slumber.

During the period that I was thus fighting, as it were, with death--in
which fight, through God's blessing, I finally gained the victory--the
fight between the Russians and the Turks had progressed apace; victory
leaning now to the former, now to the latter. Many bloody engagements
had taken place on the plains of Bulgaria and among the Balkan
mountains, while Osman Pasha had carried on for some time that
celebrated defence of Plevna which afterwards carried him to the front
rank of the Turkish generals, and raised him, in the world's estimation,
above them all. Everywhere breech-loading weapons, torpedoes,
telegraphs, monster cannon, and novel appliances of modern warfare, had
proved that where hundreds fell in the days of our fathers, thousands
fall in our own--that the bloody game is immensely more expensive and
deadly than it used to be, and that if war was folly before, it is sheer
madness now.

The first great attack had been made on the redoubts in front of Plevna,
and in assaulting one of these poor Dobri Petroff distinguished himself
so highly for desperate, reckless courage, that he drew the special
attention of General Skobeleff, who sent for him, probably to offer him
some appointment, but wha