another gash on the right cheek. His side was laid open with a
spear-thrust, the weapon having fortunately glanced from his ribs, and
he had another sword-cut on the hip. He was unable to walk from loss of
blood, but he felt that none of his wounds were very serious; and the
surgeon said to him cheerfully, "You will do, lad. Your wounds are ugly
to look at, but they are not serious. You will be on horseback again in
another ten days."

Major Horsley had not spoken to him, but he had given him a little nod
of satisfaction when the corporal gave his report. The cavalry moved
across at a walk towards the wells of El-Teb, the wounded being carried
between the lines, as there was no saying how many Arabs might be
lurking among the bushes. On reaching the wells they were taken to the
field hospital, which had already been organized. There their wounds
were more carefully examined and re-dressed; and after a drink of
lime-juice and water, with a little brandy in it, Edgar soon dropped off
to sleep. In the morning Major Horsley and Captain Atkinson came round
to see how the men of their regiment were getting on. The surgeon's
report was favourable except in the case of Corporal North.

"I think he will pull round, major; but I am sure he will never be fit
for service again. That wound on the shoulder, which he tells me is the
first he got, has cut clean through the collar-bone and penetrated
almost to the upper rib. I doubt whether he will ever have the use of
his arm again; but that I cannot say. Anyhow, it will be long before it
is fit for hard work. Trumpeter Smith? There is nothing serious the
matter with him, but he has had a marvellous escape. If his helmet had
not saved his head, the blow would have cleft right through his skull;
if the wound in his cheek had been a couple of inches higher, it would
have opened the temporal artery; and if the spear had penetrated instead
of gliding off his ribs, that alone would have been sufficient to have
done his business. As it is, he is not much the worse except for loss of
blood, and with luck will be fit to take his place again in the ranks in
a fortnight."

"I am glad to hear so good an account of you, Smith," the major said as
he went up to his bedside. "I have reported your conduct to General
Stewart, and your name will be sent in among those recommended for the
Victoria Cross. Mind, I don't say that you will get it, lad, I don't
think you will; for so many men distinguished