d at the tent. "How goes
it?" said he, cheerfully but in the lowest of tones. He was a short man
and thin, but with a good color under his tan, and teeth gleaming at his
smile, white as milk.

"Why, I'm kinder worried about Maxwell--"

Before he could finish his sentence, Spruce was at Maxwell's cot. His
face changed. "Git the hot-water bottle quick's you can!" he muttered,
"and git the screen--the one I made!" As he spoke he was dropping brandy
into the corners of Maxwell's mouth. The brandy trickled down the chin.

"He looks awful quiet, don't he?" whispered the nurse with an awestruck
glance.

"You git them things!" said Spruce, and he sent a flash of his eyes
after his words, whereat the soldier shuffled out of the tent, returning
first with the screen and last with the bottles. Then he watched
Spruce's rapid but silent movements. At last he ventured to breathe:
"Say, he ain't--he ain't--he ain't--?"

Spruce nodded. The other turned a kind of groan into a cough and wiped
his face. Awkwardly he helped Spruce wherever there was the chance for a
hand; and in a little while his bungling agitation reached the worker,
who straightened up and turned a grim face on him.

"Was it me?" he whispered then. "For God's sake, Spruce--I did
everything the doctor told me, nigh's I could remember. I didn't disturb
him, 'cause he 'peared to be asleep. I--I never saw a man die before!"

"It ain't no fault of yours," said Spruce in the same low whisper. "I'm
sorry for you. Did you give him the ice I got?"

"Yes, I did, Sergeant."

"And was there enough for Green and Dick Danvers?"

"Yes, I kept it rolled up in flannel and newspapers. Say, I got a little
more, Sergeant."

"How?"

"The doctors or some fellers had a tub of lemonade outside, a little bit
further down. I chipped off a bit."

Spruce ground his teeth, but he made no comment. All he said was, "You
go git Captain Hale and report. Tell the captain I got his folks'
address. They'll want him sent home. They're rich folks and they were
coming on; guess they're on the way now. Be quiet!"

The soldier was looking at the placid face. A sob choked him. "He said,
'Thank you,' every time I gave him anything," he gulped. "God! it's
murder to put fools like me at nursing; and the country full of women
that know how and want to come!"

"S-s-s! 'Tain't no good talking. You done your best. Go and report."

As the wretched soldier lumbered off, Spruce set his teeth on an ugl