"Take those two men up behind you!" an officer shouted.

Two of the troopers reined in their horses and assisted Edgar and his
companion to climb up behind them, and then riding at full speed soon
regained the line. In another minute the trumpet sounded for a halt.
Edgar and his companion now slipped from the horses and joined their own
squadron. The corporal was scarce able to stand, and Edgar was not in a
better plight. Major Horsley rode up to them.

"Not badly wounded, I hope?" he asked. "It is a miracle your getting in
when once dismounted."

"I think I am pretty nearly done for, sir," the corporal said. "But I
wish to report that Trumpeter Smith has saved my life by coming back to
my assistance when my horse was stabbed and fell with me. He killed the
two men who attacked me, and so gave me time to free myself and to aid
him in making a fight of it until the second line came up." As Corporal
North concluded he fell insensible from loss of blood.

At that moment the surgeon came up. "Are we going to charge again,
major? because if so, these men, with the others badly wounded, had
better be sent across at once to the infantry. There are too many of
these Arab scoundrels about for them to be left behind here. But if we
are not going to charge I will give their wounds a first dressing at
once."

"I don't know," the major said. "I will ride to the general and ask him,
and speak to him about the wounded. Sergeant Meekings, if the order
comes to charge before I return, tell off a trooper to take up each man
too badly wounded to ride, and let them carry them straight across to
the infantry."

After giving this order he rode rapidly away, but returned in two or
three minutes. "We are not going to charge again, doctor," he said;
"they are mustering too strongly for us to attempt it. The general says
he will halt where we are until the worst cases of the wounded are
attended to. Here, two of you men, dismount and assist the surgeon."

"Get their jackets off, lads," the doctor said. "Take this corporal
first; he is the worst case."

The other wounded men were now brought up, and their wounds were all
bandaged. Those who could sit a horse then mounted behind other
troopers, while a number of soldiers were ordered to dismount and to lay
the others upon blankets and carry them in.

Edgar was one of these. He had received one cut on the top of his head,
and his helmet had alone saved his skull from being cleft. He had