As Jack gazed up and saw Sergeant Barrymore bending over him, his thoughts went back to that Sunday afternoon, nearly eighteen months ago, when once before he had lain beside a river, with Sergeant Barrymore tending him. Then with a rush came back the recollection of the skirmish. ‘Poor Tom!’ said Jack, ‘was he saved after all?’ ‘Yes, and is still alive, thanks to you. He is being attended to by the doctors; but whether he’ll live or not I can’t say. But we’d best get you along to the doctor and have your cut properly bandaged.’ Putting up his hand, Jack found his head was tied up in a pocket-handkerchief. ‘Your cap saved you,’ said the sergeant, ‘else that slice above the ear would have been serious.’ Jack had also received a prick from a lance on his thigh, which, though bleeding profusely, was not very painful. He, however, insisted on remaining at his duty, and with Barrymore’s help went on to their camping-ground. Will was loud in his praises of Jack’s gallantry. ‘You ought to get your commission,’ he said. ‘If some blessed officer had done what you’ve done he’d have got a step in the regiment, half-a-dozen letters after his name, and I don’t know what all.’ ‘Never mind, Will, old boy; get me a drink of coffee from somewhere, and any one can have the letters and the promotion.’ Pearson and Brandon had just succeeded in roasting some green coffee-beans, and soon Jack had a pannikin of the hot beverage, to which a little drop of rum had been added. The drink did Jack much good and he soon felt better. In the evening he went up to the hospital-tent with Will and inquired about Tom Gallon. The gray-headed, kind-eyed Scot who was regimental surgeon shook his head. ‘He may live,’ he said; ‘but his soldiering days are over. His left arm ‘s smashed and must come off above the elbow, and he’s got a nasty dig in his back. Providing we can keep off fever, he may pull round; but I’m afraid’----- ‘Poor Tommy!’ said Jack. ‘I should like to see him once, doctor, before it’s too late.’ ‘Impossible; any excitement would be fatal. By the way, are you the trumpeter who saved him?’ ‘I stood by him till our men returned.’ The doctor shook Jack warmly by the hand. ‘You performed a brave deed,’ he said. ‘I heard of the affair from Captain Norreys, who’s bringing it to the notice of Lord Raglan. But what’s wrong with your head?’ Jack replied that he had received a slight cut, which the doctor insisted upon dressing, besides the prod in his leg, making Jack relate how he had saved Gallon the while.