“Look out for the lantern,” she called, and threw the hay down to him. She brought, in all, seven large bundles and was starting for the eighth, when, by a special act of Providence, the flooring gave again, and she made an excellent imitation of Aladdin’s shute on the previous evening. By good fortune, however, she landed on the soft hay and was not hurt beyond a few scratches. “Did you notice,” she said, with a little gasp, “that I didn’t scream?” “You aren’t hurt, are you?” said Aladdin. “No,” she said; “but--do you realize that we can’t get out, now?” She made a bed of the hay. “You crawl over on that,” she said. Aladdin bit his lips and groaned as he moved. “It’s really broken, isn’t it?” said the girl. Aladdin lay back gasping. “You poor boy,” she said. XXVI The girl borrowed Aladdin’s pocket-knife and began whittling at a fragment of board. Then she tore several yards of ruffle from her white petticoat, cut his trouser leg off below the knee, cut the lacings of his boot, and bandaged his broken leg to the splint she had made. All that was against a series of most courteous protests, made in a tearful voice. When she had done, Aladdin took her hand in his and kissed the fingers. “They’re the smallest sisters of mercy I ever saw,” said he. She made no attempt to withdraw her hand. “It was stupid of me to fall through,” she said. “Isn’t there any possible way of getting out?” “No; the walls are stone.” “O Lord!” said Aladdin. “I’m glad I repented before I fell through,” said the girl. “So am I,” said Aladdin. “What were you doing in our stable?” said the girl. “I got lost, and came in for shelter.” “You came to the house first. I heard you knocking, and saw you from the window. But I wouldn’t let you in, because my father and brother were away, and besides, I knew you were a Yankee.” “It was too dark to see my uniform.” “I could tell by the way you rode.” “Is it as bad as that?” “No--but it’s different.” The girl laid her hand on Aladdin’s forehead. “You’ve got fever,” she said. “It doesn’t matter,” said Aladdin, politely. “Does your leg hurt awfully?” “It doesn’t matter.” “Did any one ever tell you that you were very civil for a Yankee?” “It doesn’t matter,” said Aladdin. She looked at him shrewdly, and saw that the light of reason had gone out of his eyes. She wetted her handkerchief with the cold, filthy water spread over the cellar floor and laid it on his forehead. Aladdin spoke ramblingly or kept silence. Every now and then the girl freshened the handkerchief, and presently Aladdin fell into a troubled sleep. When he awoke his mind was quite clear. The lantern still burned, but faintly, for the air in the cellar was becoming heavy. Beside him on the straw the girl lay sleeping. And overhead footsteps sounded on the stable floor. He remembered what the girl had said about the people who would kill him if they found him, and blew out the lantern. Then, his hand over her mouth, he waked the girl.