to cheer up Roby?"

"Yes, sir; I've been to cheer him up a bit," said Dickenson.

"That's right. Getting on nicely, isn't he?"

"Ye-es."

"What do you mean with your spun-out `yes'?"

"I thought he seemed a little queer in the head yet."

"Oh yes, and that will last for a while, no doubt. But he's mending
wonderfully, and I'm beginning to hope that there will be no need for
the operation: nature is doing the work herself."

"That's right, sir," said Dickenson dryly. "I'd encourage her to go
on."

The doctor smiled.

"Going to see Lennox?"

"If I may."

"Oh yes, you may go now. He's getting on too: picking up strength.
Don't let him talk too much, and don't mention a word about that report
of Roby's."

"Certainly not," said Dickenson; and the doctor passing on, the young
officer entered the next hut, to find his friend looking hollow-eyed and
pulled down, the nerves at the corners of his eyes twitching as he
slept.

Dickenson sat down upon a box watching him, and it was as if his
presence there acted upon the patient, who, at the end of a few minutes,
opened his eyes and smiled.

"How strange!" he said, holding out his hand.

"What's strange?"

"I was dreaming about you. How long have you been there?"

"Five or ten minutes."

"How are things going on?"

"Pretty quiet."

"No news of relief?"

"Not the slightest. We seem to be quite forgotten out here in this
corner."

"Oh--no," said Lennox; "we're not forgotten. The country is so big, and
our men are kept busy in other directions."

He turned as he spoke to got into an easier position, and then winced,
uttering an ejaculation indicating the pain he felt.

"Why didn't you speak, and let me help you?" said Dickenson.

"Because I want to be independent. It was nothing. Only my neck; it's
awfully sore still."

Dickenson winced now in turn. A chill ran through him, and his forehead
contracted with pain; but Lennox did not grasp the feeling of horror and
misery which ran through his friend.

"I shall be precious glad when it's better," continued Lennox. "Did I
tell you how it got in this state?"

"No. Don't talk about it," said Dickenson shortly.

"Why not? I'm all right now. Have I been raving at all?"

"Not that I have heard."

"I wonder at it, for until this morning I've felt half my time as if I
were in a nightmare."

"Look here; the doctor said that you were to be kept perfectly quiet,
and that I was not to encour