litter; and as Punch, almost speechless now, caught
at his wrist and clung to him tightly, he looked down in the prisoner's
wildly appealing eyes.

"Why, what's the matter with the boy?" growled the sergeant roughly.
"Does he think he's going to be shot?"

"He's badly hurt, sir," said Pen quietly, "and can't bear being
separated from me."

"Oh, that's it, is it, sir?" said the sergeant. "My faith, but you
speak good French! Tell him that I'll see that he's all right. What's
his hurt--bayonet?"

"No," said Pen, smiling. "A French bullet--one of your men aimed too
well."

"Ha, ha! Yes, we know how to shoot. Poor fellow! Why, I have just
such a boy as he.--Lift him up gently, lads.--Humph! He has fainted."

For poor Punch had held out bravely to the last; but nature was too
strong even for his British pluck.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

IN MISERY.

"I say, Pen, are you there?"

"Yes, I'm here. What do you want?"

"Want you to turn me round so as I can look out of the door. What made
you put me like this?"

"It wasn't my doing. You were put so that you might be more
comfortable."

"But I am not more comfortable, and it's so jolly dark. I like to be
able to look out of the door if I wake in the night."

"Hush! Don't talk so loudly."

"Why not? There's nobody to hear. But just turn me over first."

"Hush! There are three or four other people to hear," whispered Pen.
"You are half-asleep yet. Don't you understand, Punch?"

"Understand--understand what?" said the poor fellow, subduing his voice
in obedience to his companion's words.

"I must tell you, I suppose."

"Tell me? Why, of course! Oh, I begin to understand now. Have I been
off my head a bit?"

"Yes; you were very much upset when the French officer was with us, and
fainted away."

"Phee-ew!" whistled the boy softly. "Oh, it's all coming back now. The
French came, and knocked over that Spanish chap, and I thought that they
were going to take me away and shoot me. Why, they didn't, then!
That's all right. Yes, I remember now. My head was all in a muddledum.
I got thinking I was never going to see you any more. When was it--
just now?"

"No, Punch, it was two nights ago, and the doctor thought--"

"The doctor? Why, you have been my doctor. I say--"

"Don't get excited. Lie quite still, and I will tell you."

"Ah, do. I am all in a muddle still; only you might turn me round, so
that I can look straight out of the