t
across the after-deck. Brought up at the bottom of a companion-way. He's
nothing but cuts and bruises from head to foot. But he's around on his
wobbly little pins today, just the same, trying to edge in on some sort
of a job. Couldn't keep him in bed."

Miss Clinton's eyes were full of wonder and incredulity. "I cannot
understand it," she said. "My cousin was with the American Ambulance in
France. He says that the slightest flesh wound sends a soldier to the
hospital."

"They haven't any choice in the matter. Besides, it isn't the same. Poor
devils, they may have been at it in the trenches for weeks and months. A
wound of any sort means a pleasant vacation. Still," he went on after
a moment, a faint derisive smile on his lips, "we had a big husky up in
Camp who insisted on going to bed every time he had the nosebleed."

She was looking into his blood-shot eyes, infinite pity and concern in
her own.

"Will you let me dress your hands, Mr. Percival, whenever it is
necessary? I am getting used to it now."

"It's good of you, Miss Clinton," he replied gratefully. "But I think
you'd better stick to the fellows who really need attention. Don't add
an extra ounce to your burden. You'll need all of your strength and
courage to face the demands of the next few days. Those chaps have
just begun to suffer. They're going to have a tight squeeze getting
through,--if they get through at all. You have not answered my question.
Is there anything I can do for you or your aunt?"

"No,--not a thing," she said. "We are quite all right. As Mr. Mott said,
we are all in the same boat, Mr. Percival. We've got to make up our
minds to that. We can't have the comforts and the luxuries we had day
before yesterday. Whatever is left of them, we must share with others."

"Even with stowaways," he ventured, but not fatuously.

"No one is likely to forget how our only stowaway came by his wounds,"
she said simply. "Despite your modesty, I am quite certain who it was
that carried the Chief Engineer on deck, Mr. Percival. While his clothes
were burning, too."

Percival turned his face away and many seconds passed before he spoke.

"By the way," he said at last, a trifle unsteadily, "at regular
intervals the gun up there in the bow is to be fired. You must not be
alarmed when it goes off. There is a chance that some ship may hear the
report. The British have a few warships down here, you know. They would
investigate if they got word of big g