Said I must get a requisition and fill it up and get it signed at Head-quarters. I told him the men were dying meanwhile. He could do nothing without a requisition signed at Head-quarters. I asked him to lend me some stoves. He couldn't. I asked him to sell me some. He wouldn't. I told him those men's deaths would lie at his door. He said if I would get a requisition, etc., etc. So then I--well, I told him what I thought of him and all the rest, in good hot sailor-talk, and came away.'" "I asked him if he could find room for one more on his ship, and told him about you, and, like a good fellow, he said, 'Send 'em both along and I'll make room for 'em.' So you're all right, Jim, and Jolly will make you comfortable, I know." "It's awfully good of you, sir," said Jim once more. "I'm sorry we're such a bother to you." "It's not every man can boast of two such young warriors, you see. On the whole I'm inclined to think Providence served us well in making me an ally, eh?" "Your people are very much better off than ours, sir," said Jack. "Our camp is like London on a foggy day." "And ours is like Paris," laughed the Colonel. "You see we understand the art of war better than you do, and, candidly, I think your officers are much to blame for the little interest they take in their men. Here we are all _bons camarades_, whereas your men are left entirely to themselves." "We mix in the trenches," said Jack in defence. "Of necessity, I suppose, since the space is limited. But even there you don't mix as we do." "Your music alone is worth coming for," said Jim. "It did me as much good as the doctor almost." "Yes; I notice a lot of your men come across to hear it whenever they get the chance. Great mistake shutting up your bands. The men always like music, and expect it." "You don't think I'll miss anything by going, sir?" asked Jim anxiously. "You'll gain a great deal more than you'll miss, my boy. I shouldn't wonder if we have a fairly quiet time here now." "And you'll see to my horse?" "He shall have every attention, I promise you." CHAPTER LV RETRIBUTION The following day saw Jim joggling down the miry way to Balaclava Harbour on a French mule-cacolet. He had said good-bye to the others in camp, and begged his father not to venture down into the inferno again. So the Colonel sent his own servant in charge of him, with full instructions where to find the boat Captain Jolly had promised to have waiting. The hopeless confusion in the little harbour appalled Jim, and the dank misery of the rows of wounded men awaiting shipment, with ill-bound wounds, cold blue faces, and heavy hopeless eyes, chilled him to the heart. And suddenly a familiar face caught his eye, and he stopped the mule and sat up. "Why, Seth, old chap! I'm sorry to see you like this"--for Seth's left leg was gone, and the roughly bandaged stump stuck out forlornly along the ground. "My fightin's done, Mester Jim. 'Twere a shell took it off in the battery."