The officer looked at the fortifications, as he answered, "Yes, Ferguson, that's true. And I ought to be a better man than I am, I know; so thank you kindly for your advice." Then the colonel entered the hospital to ask Dr. Tam's permission to speak to Ned before he passed under the surgeon's hands; and his words were a tonic that helped the young soldier through the ordeal of having his exhausted, fevered body probed for the ball in his side. He had won his commission, and when he left hospital it would be as an officer--an ensign. Prisoners, plunder, wounded, and even the smaller guns, were all carried across the river that day, and the most daring and successful raid of the war was ended by serving out food and blankets to the people of Newark. But as soon as Canadian Niagara knew of the capture of the fort, another raid had been made. The militia and Indians had crossed the river and flung themselves furiously on the enemy's countryside. Fortunately the people had all fled up to Buffalo, but Lewiston, Youngstown, and three other villages below the Falls were fired, and everything found was carried off. Very unwillingly the raiders obeyed Murray's signal for their recall to their own side of the river. He expected the force from Buffalo would be coming down to cut them off, but the Americans made no attempt to cross the river. After nearly two weeks of delirium and fever, Ned awoke in a wonderfully comfortable bed, in Betty's house in Newark, which had been requisitioned as a hospital, and the first thing he saw was Ferguson being carried in, his drawn face showing that he was suffering greatly. "It is an answer to prayer," said the Methodist faintly, "God is very good to me." "Cook was carrying a kettle of boiling water across the yard, and slipped down, and threw it all on a sentry's feet, which sentry was Ferguson, sir," one of the bearers explained to Dr. Tam, as he dressed the badly scalded feet. "It was a special providence," murmured Ferguson, "We had orders to go up the river, and crossing above the Falls, drive off the enemy's troops, which our scouts say, are badly disorganized and with no decent officers, and burn Black Rock and Buffalo. I had a struggle in my mind as to what I should do. It was not Christian to commit these greater enormities in retaliation for what we had suffered; so I cast my burden on the Lord, and He opened this way of escape." Ned made no response, and the Methodist added--"Did you quit belonging to us, because you thought religion was too unfashionable to profess, when you were called an officer and a gentleman?" "You had no right to say that to me," Ned cried, adding instantly, "No, no, but a man has wronged me, and I cannot forgive him, which you will not think Christian." CHAPTER X How Vere Came to Newark, and Bee Consented to be Betrothed to Him.