y violent jerk caused the other to
gape and bleed, and the dressing had to be renewed at every halt where
water was obtainable. But the comrade who rode alongside and
congratulated him on not having any gun-shot wounds meant well, and he
restrained his impatience. Only when Grady, whom he credited with more
sense, went on the same tack, he said, "Thank you, Paddy; did you ever
see a codfish crimped?"

"No, sure, but I have seen a salmon."

"Alive?"

"In course; it's no use doing it after he's dead."

"And did you congratulate him?"

"Indeed, I did not, and it was a cruel thing I thought it," said Grady.
"Ah, and sure I see what you are after! And it is like a crimped fish
ye are with the deep slashes, and only those would think light of them
who have not got them. But you will soon be all right again after the
clane cuts, while a poke or a bullet-hole is a long time haling if it
does not kill ye entirely. That is what the boys mane."

It was after a couple of days that Kavanagh was able to hold this
conversation. Before that he was incapacitated for talking not only by
weakness, but also because the cut on the side of his head had reached
his cheek, and slicing through it nicked the tongue.

Taking food and drink was therefore quite painful enough just at first
without talking. But it was surprising how quickly this part began to
heal. He could not smoke yet, however, and that resource for whiling
away some of the long hours failed him.

"It was a regular duel ye had with the haythen in his temple, and ye won
it fair and square, anyhow, without shooting," said Grady. "The other
was as dead as Julius Sayser when the boys saw him, for I was not to the
fore myself, having had my little tour the day before."

"I remember," said Kavanagh. "And how is your prisoner getting on? He
has not slipped away yet, has he?"

"Sorra a bit of it, he seems quite plazed to be living with dacent
people for a change. He tould the interpreter that it was a mighty
great friend of the Mahdi's ye killed; a man some people reckoned very
holy--a _faker_ he called him. At least, a man like that lived up by
that cavern ye discovered."

"I don't know who he was," said Kavanagh, "but I wish he had recovered.
He was a game one that, to fight as he did after he got his death-
wound."

Sergeant Barton, who came up just then, heard this last remark, and
said, smiling--

"That is true enough, but his opponent must have a good