, in very good French, "you are not going to
have my poor companion shot in cold blood because he has the misfortune
to be wounded?"

"Eh, do you understand French?"

"Yes, sir; every word you have said."

"But you are not an officer?"

"I have my feelings, sir, and I appeal to you as an officer and a
gentleman to save that poor fellow. It would be murder, and not the act
of a soldier."

"Humph!" grunted the officer. "You boys should have stayed at home.--
Here, sergeant, carry the lad into camp. Find room for him in the
ambulance.--There, sir, are you satisfied now?" he continued to Pen.

"Yes, sir," replied Pen quickly; "satisfied that I am in the presence of
a brave French officer. God bless you for this!"

The officer nodded and turned away, the sergeant stopping by the
prisoners.

"Here, I say," whispered Punch, "what was all that talking about?"

"Only arranging about how you were to be carried into camp, Punch,"
replied Pen.

"Gammon! Don't you try and gull me. I know," panted the boy excitedly.
"I could not understand the lingo; but you were begging him not to have
me shot, and he gave orders to this 'ere sergeant to carry out what he
said. You are trying to hide it from me so as I shouldn't know. But
you needn't. I should like to have gone out like our other chaps have--
shot fair in the field; but if it's to be shot as a prisoner, well, I
mean to take it like a man."

The boy's voice faltered for a few moments as he uttered the last words,
and then he added almost in a whisper, "I mean, if I can, for I'm awful
weak just now. But you'll stand by me, comrade, and I think I will go
through it as I ought. And you will tell the lads when you get back
that I didn't show the white feather, but went out just like a fellow
ought?"

"That won't be now, Punch," said Pen, leaning over him. "I am not
deceiving you. I appealed to the officer, and he gave orders at once
that you were to be carried by the men to their camp and placed in one
of the ambulance wagons."

"Honour?" cried Punch excitedly. "Honour bright," replied Pen. "But
that means taking me away from you," cried the boy, with his voice
breaking.

"Yes; but to go into hospital and be well treated."

"Oh, but I don't want to go like that," cried the boy wildly. "Can't
you ask the officer--can't you tell him that--oh, here--you--we two
mustn't--mustn't be--" For the sergeant now joined them with a couple of
men carrying a rough