"That was two days ago," replied the nurse. "But you are all right now. We were a little worried at first, because it was impossible to tell just where or how you were hurt; but now you'll get well, so don't worry." "Will Alfred, too?" he asked eagerly. "He is mending rapidly, but his injuries are more severe than yours. Every one here is so anxious and inquires about you," remarked the nurse. "Why, who are looking out for us? Where are we? What place is this?" he asked wonderingly. "This is the town of Corbie, north of Amiens. The lieutenant of your battery was badly shaken up, but he is all right now and left this afternoon. But you must be quiet; a hospital is a bad place to be excited in," said the nurse. "Yes, I know that. We have been in the hospital before. This isn't the first time," said Ralph. "Is that you, Ralph?" said a weak voice. "That's Alfred, I know. And how are you?" asked Ralph. "All right. I thought you'd never wake up. I'm all right now," said Alfred. "Now be quiet," said the nurse soothingly. "The doctor says you must not do anything to excite yourselves." The night passed without incident. In the morning Alfred's cot was moved over adjoining the one on which Ralph lay. "Now you can talk all you want to, but sleep whenever you can," remarked the nurse, as they were comfortably fixed. "Say, Alfred, did you have any pain at all after the thing went off?" asked Ralph. "Not the slightest bit; the first thing I knew I found myself here all fixed up, and heard a band playing outside," said Alfred. "So they have a band here?" inquired Ralph. "Yes, indeed; and a dandy one, too; say, did you have anything to eat yesterday?" asked Alfred. "I don't know; and there's another thing I know; I'm mighty hungry now. When did that thing happen?" asked Ralph. "Day before yesterday; no, the day before that," replied Alfred. "Well, then, I don't think I've had anything to eat since then. My, but I'm hungry," said Ralph. "There she is; she's coming; look at that big tray," said Alfred with glistening eyes. "I thought you'd relish something about this time," said the nurse as she deposited the tray on the folding table and wheeled it near their cots. "Well, I should guess so, after not having had anything to eat for three days," said Ralph. "Why, you ate a fairly good meal yesterday noon," replied the nurse. "What? _I_ did?" said Ralph, looking at Alfred in an amused manner, and then at the nurse. He shook his head, and continued: "Well, if you say so it must be so; but I never knew it." "No; of course, you didn't remember; well, we see so many instances of this kind. It is really strange," continued the nurse, "how men will forget everything, not even know their names, and still will not forget to eat. That seems to be a law of nature,—the first law,—the one of self-preservation." "Well, even if I did eat right along this tastes as though I hadn't taken a meal for a month," said Ralph.