ut you can do nothing more today,
and you must do as the doctor bids you, sir."

"Where am I hit?"

"It is on the left arm, colonel. An Austrian cannonball did the
business. If it had been three or four inches farther to the right,
it would have finished you. As it is, I hope that you will soon get
about again."

"Then it has taken off my arm," Fergus said feebly.

"Better that than your head, sir. The left arm is of no great
account, except for holding a bridle; and there is a good bit of it
left.

"Drink a little more of this brandy and water. How do you feel now,
sir?"

"I feel cold," Fergus replied. "My feet are like ice."

Karl wrapped Fergus's fur-lined pelisse round his feet, undid his
blanket and cloak from his saddle, and laid them over him.

"That will be better, sir. Now, if you will promise to lie quite
quiet, I will fasten your horse up--I don't know what has become of
mine--and will go and collect some firewood and get up a good
blaze. I am afraid there is no chance of getting you into a
shelter, tonight."

"I am afraid we are being driven down the hill again, Karl. The
roll of musketry is coming nearer."

"That is so, colonel; but we shall have the cavalry up soon, and
that will make all the difference."

Just as Karl came back with an armful of firewood, a staff officer
rode up.

"The king has sent me to inquire how Colonel Drummond is," he said.
"His majesty has heard that he is badly wounded, and has been
carried here."

"This is the colonel, major," Karl said, leading him to the side of
Fergus.

"I am sorry to see you here," the officer said. "The king has sent
me to inquire after you."

"Will you thank his majesty, Major Kaulbach; and tell him that it
is nothing worse than the loss of a left arm, and that the
surgeon's opinion is that I shall do well. How goes the battle?"

"Badly, badly; but Holstein will be up in a quarter of an hour, and
then we shall have another try. We broke their line badly, last
time; and if we had had cavalry to launch at them, we should have
managed the business."

"The king is unhurt, I hope."

"Not altogether. He was struck from his horse by a piece of case
shot, but his pelisse saved him. He was able to mount again in a
few minutes, making very light of the affair; and was in the middle
of the fight, as usual. I was next you when you were hit, and I saw
your orderly lift you on to your horse before him and, as soon as
we got down here, reporte