g, for I
knew that my arm was so shattered that it ought to be amputated just
below the elbow, while for want of surgical assistance it would mortify;
but somehow I felt very happy just then, and my state did not give me
much pain, only that I wanted to have been up and doing; and at last
Lizzy helping me, I got up, my arm being bandaged--and in a sling, to
find that I could walk about a little; and I made my way down into the
court-yard, where I got near to Captain Dyer, who, better now, and able
to limp about, was talking with Lieutenant Leigh, both officers now, and
forgetful apparently of all but the present crisis.

"What wounded are there?" said Captain Dyer, as I walked slowly up.

"Nearly every man to some extent," said Lieutenant Leigh; "but this man
and Lant are the worst."

"The place ought to be evacuated," said Captain Dyer; "it is impossible
to hold it another day."

"We might hold out another day," said Lieutenant Leigh, "but not longer.
Why not retreat under cover of the night?"

"It seems the only thing left," said Captain Dyer. "We might perhaps
get to some hiding-place or other before our absence was discovered; but
the gate and that back window will be watched of course: how are we to
get away with two severely wounded men, the women, and children?"

"That must be planned," said Lieutenant Leigh; and then the watch was
set for the night, as far as could be done, and another time of darkness
set in.

It was that which puzzled me, why a good bold attack was not made by
night; why, the place must have been carried again and again; but no, we
were left each night entirely at rest, and the attacks by day were
clumsy and bad. There was no support; every man fought for himself and
after his own fashion, and I suppose that every man did look upon
himself as an officer, and resented all discipline. At all events, it
was our salvation, though at this time it seemed to me that the end must
be coming on the next day, and I remember thinking, that if it did come
to the end, I should like to keep one cartridge left in my pouch.

Then my mind went off wandering in a misty way upon a plan to get away
by night, and I tried to make one, taking into consideration, that the
quarters on the north side of us now, and only separated by ten feet of
alley, were in the hands of the mutineers, who camped in them, the same
being the case in the quarters on the south side, separated again by the
ten feet of alley thr