g into the Brunford vernacular, which
he had been trying to correct lately.

"Ay, Tom, it's me; tha'st done a good neet's work to-neet."

Tom's brain was clearer now; he knew where he was; knew, too, that he
had succeeded. Something was still hammering at his temples, and his
head was aching terribly, but he didn't mind; his heart was light.

"You have done well, Pollard." It was Major Blundell who spoke.

"Was what I got any good, sir?"

"Good! I should think it was."

"And Captain Waterman, have you got him?"

"That's all right, Pollard, he's safe enough," replied the Major.

"Thank you, sir," said Tom, "I don't care now."

What happened after that Tom didn't remember. He had a confused idea
that he was carried down a long line of trenches, and that he heard
cheering words during his journey. But nothing was plain to him,
except a burning sensation in his left arm and in his right shoulder;
for the rest he was faint, sick, and weary.

"You are feeling better now, are you not, Pollard?" It was the doctor
who spoke.

"Yes, sir, I am feeling all right," replied Tom; "there is not much the
matter with me, is there?"

"You are simply a miracle," replied the doctor, "only a couple of flesh
wounds, that's all. You have lost a great deal of blood, of course,
but you will soon be as fit as a fiddle again. I wonder that a hundred
bullets did not go through you!"

"They came mighty near," was Tom's reply.

"You must be removed from here at once," said the doctor, "this
region's too unhealthy for you."

An hour later Tom found himself away from the screech of shells.

As he reflected afterwards, it seemed to him a miracle that he had not
been killed. No sooner had he mastered the German and seized the paper
than bullets showered upon him like rain, and yet beyond these two
slight flesh wounds he was wholly untouched. It was true he was very
stiff and sore, but he knew that he would soon be as well as ever.

On the evening of the same day Colonel Blount came to see him.

"Pollard, my lad," said the colonel, "I felt I must come to see you.
You have rendered the British Army and your country a great service,
and you will get your reward."

"Thank you, sir, but I never thought about reward," said Tom simply.

"I'm sure you didn't," replied the colonel, "but this job's not at an
end yet, my lad."

"No, sir," said Tom, mistaking his meaning, "we have got a stiff job
before we lick the Germans."

"I