Sutherland, instead of noting this down, looked at his friend in sad surprise, thinking that weakness had caused his mind to wander. "Ye forget, serjint," he said softly, "that Miles an' Airmstrang are baith deed." "No, lad; no one can say they are certainly dead." "Aweel--we canna exactly say it, but when ye consider o' the born deevils that have gotten haud o' them, we are entitled to _think_ them deed ony way." "They are reported as `missing,' that is all, and that is enough for me. You write down what I tell you, lad. Now, have you got it down?" "Ay, fifty to each." "There may be some interest due on the account," said the sergeant thoughtfully; "besides, there may be a few things in my kit that I have forgotten--and it's not worth while dividing such trifles between them." "Weel, weel, ye've only to mak yin o' them yer residooary legitee, an' that'll pit it a' richt." "True, my lawyer. Let it be so," said Hardy, with a short laugh at the thought of making so much ado about nothing. "Make Miles my residuary legatee. And now, be off, draw it out fair, an' leave me to rest, for I'm a trifle tired after all this legal work." The will thus carefully considered was duly made out, signed, and witnessed, after which Sergeant Hardy awaited with cheerful resignation whatever fate should be appointed to him. His strong frame and constitution, undamaged by youthful excess, fought a vigorous battle for life, and he began slowly to mend; but the climate of Suakim was so bad for him that he was finally sent down to the hospital at Alexandria, where, under much more favourable circumstances, he began to recover rapidly. One of the nurses there was very kind to him. Finding that the sergeant was an earnest Christian, she had many interesting talks with him on the subject nearest his heart. One day she said to him with unusual animation: "The doctor says you may go down to the Soldiers' Institute that has recently been set up here, and stay for some time to recruit. It is not intended for invalids, you know, but the ladies in charge are intimate friends of mine, and have agreed to let you have a room. The Institute stands on a very pleasant part of the shore, exposed to the fresh sea-breezes; and there are lots of books and newspapers and games, as well as lectures, concerts, prayer-meetings, Bible-readings, and--" "Ay, just like Miss Robinson's Institute at Portsmouth," interrupted Hardy. "I know the sort o' thing well."