ess towards
where the fires were burning brightly, and after being challenged again
and again, the sergeant led them to the front of a tent, out of which a
couple of officers, evidently high in command, came quickly, and were
about to hurry away, but stopped for a few moments to listen to the
sergeant's report.

"You are sure they have no despatch upon them?"

"Certain, sir. They have been searched twice."

"Let them be detained," said the officer, sharply.

The sergeant marched them off to a large tent, and into this the two
prisoners were ushered, to find themselves in company with some half a
dozen French soldiers, one of whom lay wounded and in pain upon a truss
of straw at the side, the dim light from a lanthorn swinging from the
tent pole striking strangely upon the man's pallid face.

"There you are," said the sergeant, cheerfully, "and I just give you
both warning; there are about a dozen men on duty about this tent with
orders to shoot down anyone who tries to escape. Eh, what say?"

"We shall not try to escape; sir," said the Doctor, quietly; "but that
boy--he has been tramping about for hours without food, and is nearly
starved."

"Eh? Poor little chap! Hungry?"

"Yes, sir, dreadfully, and so is Dr Martin."

"Well, we English don't starve our prisoners, even if they are French.
Wait a bit and I'll see what I can do," said the sergeant, with gruff
good nature, and he went off, leaving the other prisoners to stare
gloomily at the new-comers for a few minutes and then turn their backs
to begin talking together, while the Doctor pressed close to his charge
and tried to cheer him up.

"It will all come right," he whispered. "We shall soon be able to send
a message to the Captain, and he will have us sent safely away. Are you
very hungry now, Phil?"

"Dreadfully," was the reply. "Do you think the sergeant will be very
long?"

"Oh no! He seemed too friendly."

But the sergeant seemed to Phil as if he had forgotten all about the
prisoners, for the time glided slowly on, while weariness began to
deaden poor Phil's hunger pains, and he grew drowsy, nodding off twice,
but starting up again when the French prisoners spoke more loudly or a
sharp challenge was heard outside.

But the sergeant was a man of his word, and just as Phil was dozing off
again, and the lanthorn seemed to be dying out, he suddenly entered the
tent with a loaf under his arm and a piece of cold boiled bacon and a
knife.