ose, there was a flash, a report, and the doctor fell forward on his
horse's neck.

"See to him, Crawford!" cried the colonel huskily; and as I clutched
the animal's bridle, the troopers swept on in hurricane fury, while
from all parts of the battlefield there rose a cry of triumph.

CHAPTER VIII.

A FRIENDLY OPPONENT.

I had known the young English doctor only a short time, but I had
learned to love him as a dear friend. In the fight he had shown
himself brave and fearless, but quite apart from this, his qualities
endeared him to every one. He was always cheery and full of hope, even
in our worst straits; he was tender-hearted as a child, and every sick
or wounded soldier worshipped him for his unvarying attention and
kindness.

He was not dead when, slipping from my horse, I placed my arm round him
as well as I could to support him. I saw that his eyes were open, and
that a beautiful smile lit up his face. For a second or two he
recognized me and tried to speak, but this was beyond his powers. Then
a change came swiftly and suddenly; the light faded from his eyes, his
cheeks grew ashen gray, and though quite unfamiliar with death, I knew
that his spirit had fled.

Some wounded Indians, staggering from the fight, helped me to place the
lifeless body on the ground; and these poor, simple natives filled the
air with their lamentations. The death of the brilliant young surgeon
had deprived them of a good friend, and they were quick to show their
grief.

The fight was now over. The majority of the Spaniards were either
killed or captured; but no one took much pleasure in the well-earned
little victory. From the chief to the meanest soldier in the
detachment, every one mourned sincerely the loss of a trusty comrade.

On active service, however, one has not much time to spend in grieving.
There were the dead to be buried, the wounded to be seen to, the
prisoners to be secured, and then, after a short space for food and
rest, we were marching in hot pursuit of the scanty remnant that had
escaped.

"It's lucky," observed Jose, with a laugh, "that the colonel managed to
procure a few horses."

"His command would have been one short without them," I replied.

We were by no means a smart-looking detachment. The officers rode on
horseback, and a number of mules had been obtained for the men, who
followed the system of _ride and tie_. Our clothes began to show signs
of hard wear, we suffered much from