as I get over being such a cripple. We shall
have 'ventures, sha'n't we?"

"To be sure," replied Pen; "and you want to get strong, don't you?"

"Oh, don't I just! I should just like to be strong enough to meet that
brown Spaniel chap and chuck my cap at him."

"What for?"

"What for? Set his monkey up and make him come at me. I should just
like it. I have licked chaps as big as he is before now--our chaps, and
one of the Noughty-fourths who was always bragging about and crowing
over me. I don't mind telling you now, I was a bit afraid of him till
one day when he gave me one on the nose and made it bleed. That made me
so savage I forgot all about his being big and stronger, and I went in
at him hot and strong, and the next thing I knew was Corporal Grady was
patting me on the back, and there was quite a crowd of our chaps
standing laughing, and the corporal says, `Bedad, Punchard, boy, ye
licked him foine! Yes, _foine_,' he said, just like that. `Now, go and
wash your face, and be proud of it,' just like that. And then I
remember--"

"Yes, but remember that another time," said Pen quietly. "You are
talking too much," And he laid his hand on the boy's forehead again.

"Oh, but I just want to tell you this."

"Tell me to-morrow, Punch. You are growing excited and feverish."

"How do you know? You ain't a doctor."

"No; but I know that your forehead was cold and wet a few minutes ago,
and that it is hot and burning now."

"Well, that only means that it's getting dry."

"No; it means doing yourself harm when you want to get well."

"Well, I must talk," pleaded the boy.

"Yes, a little."

"What am I to do? I can't be always going to sleep."

"No; but go as much as you can, and you will get well the quicker."

"All right," said Punch sadly. "'Bey orders; so here goes. But I do
wish that the chap as gave me this bullet had got it hisself. I say,
comrade," added the boy, after lying silent for a few minutes.

"What is it? What do you want?"

"Just unhook that there cord and hang my bugle on that other peg. Ah,
that's better; I can see it now. Stop a minute--give us hold."

The boy's eyes brightened as Pen handed him the instrument, and he
looked at it with pride, while directly after, obeying the impulse that
seized him, he placed the mouthpiece to his lips, drew a deep breath,
and with expanding cheeks was about to give forth a blast when Pen
snatched it from his hands.

"Whatcher d