door, and I could breathe the fresh
air then. I am being quite stuffercated like this."

"Yes, the hut is dreadfully hot," said Pen with a sigh. "There are six
other poor wounded fellows lying here."

"Six other wounded fellows lying here! Whatcher talking about?"

"Only this, Punch," said Pen, with his lips close to the boy's ear.
"You were carried to the little camp where those French came from that
made us prisoners, and there you were put in an ambulance wagon with six
more poor fellows, and the mules dragged us right away to a village
where a detachment of the French army was in occupation. Do you
understand?"

"I think so. But you said something about doctors."

"Yes. There are several surgeons in this village, and wounded men in
every hut. There has been fighting going on, and a good many more
wounded men were brought in yesterday."

"Halt!" said Punch in a quick, short whisper. "Steady! Did we win?"

"I don't know, but I think not. I've seen nothing but wounded men and
the doctors and the French orderlies. The French officer was very nice,
and let me stay with you in the ambulance; and when we came to a halt
and I helped to carry you and the other wounded into this hut, one of
the doctors ordered me to stop and help, so that I have been able to
attend to you as well as the others."

"Good chap! That was lucky. Then this ain't our hut at all?"

"No."

"What's become of that gal, then?"

"She escaped somewhere in the darkness," replied Pen.

"And what about that Spanish beggar? Ah, I recollect that now. He
brought the French to take us prisoners."

"I haven't seen any more of him, Punch, since they led him away."

"Serve him right! And so I've been lying here in this hut ever since?"

"Yes, quite insensible, and I don't think you even knew when the French
surgeon dressed your wound and took out a ragged bit of the cartridge."

"Took out what?"

"A piece of the wad that was driven in, and kept the wound from
healing."

"Well, you have been carrying on nice games without me knowing of it!"
said the boy. "And it hasn't done me a bit of good."

"The doctor says it has. He told me yesterday evening that you would
soon get right now."

"And shall I?"

"Yes, I hope so."

"So do I. But it does seem rum that all this should be done without my
knowing of it."

"Well, you have been quite insensible."

"I suppose so. But where are we now, then?"

"I don't know, Punch, excep