eemed to have been battered by striking
against the stones amongst which he had been driven in his rush through
the horrible subterranean channel of the stream; but otherwise he looked
as peaceful as if he were asleep.

The captain stopped short, gazing at him, while Dickenson dropped
lightly down till he was beside his comrade, and sank gently upon one
knee, to bend lower, take hold of the right hand that lay across his
chest, and then--"like a girl!" as he afterwards said--he unconsciously
let fall two great scalding tears upon his comrade's cheek.

The effect was magical. Lennox's eyes opened wildly, to stare blankly
in the lieutenant's face, and the latter sprang to his feet, flinging
his helmet high over his head as he turned to the line of waiting men
above him and roared out hoarsely:

"Hurrah! Cheer, boys, cheer!"

The shout that rang out was deafening for so small a detachment, and two
more followed, louder still; while the next minute discipline was
forgotten and the men came bounding down to group about the figure
staring at them wildly as if not yet fully comprehending what it all
meant, till the lookers-on began shaking hands with one another in their
wild delight.

Then Dickenson saw the light of recognition dawn in his comrade's face,
a faint smile appear about his mouth and the corners of his eyes, which
gradually closed again; but his lips parted, and as Dickenson bent lower
he heard faintly:

"Not dead yet, old man, but,"--His voice sounded very faint after he had
paused a few moments, and then continued: "It was very near."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

ALL ABOUT IT.

The men forgot their thirst in the excitement of the incident, and as
soon as Lennox showed signs of recovering a little from the state of
exhaustion in which he lay, every one volunteered to be his bearer. But
before he had been carried far he made signs for the men to stop, and
upon being set down he took Dickenson's arm, and, leaning upon him
heavily, marched slowly with the men for the rest of the way towards the
colonel's quarters.

They were met, though, before they were half-way, their slow approach
being seen and taken for a sign that there was something wrong; and
colonel, major, doctor, and the other officers hurried to meet them and
hear briefly what had occurred.

"Why, Lennox, my lad," cried the doctor after a short examination, "you
ought to be dead. You must be a tough one. There, I'll see what I can
do for you