"Captain Roby, sir. Keeps off his head, sir. Going on awfully. Doctor Emden says it's due to the bullet striking his skull." "Dangerous?" said Dickenson anxiously. "Oh no, sir; but he keeps on saying things that it's bad for the men to hear; and that Corporal May, he's nearly as bad. He thinks he's worse. He's within hearing, and every time the captain says anything, Master Corporal May begins wagging his head and crying, and tells the chaps about him that it's all right." "Poor fellow! There, I'll go and see them before I lie down." "No, sir; please, don't," said the sergeant earnestly. "You've done quite enough for one day." "Confound it, man! don't dictate to me," cried Dickenson testily. "Certainly not, sir. Beg your pardon, sir; but we've got a heavy job on to-night, and it's my duty to warn you as an old soldier." "What do you mean?" "I mean, sir, that I've had twenty years' experience, and you've had two, sir. A man can only do so much; when he has done that and tries to do more, he shuts up all at once. I don't want you to shut up, sir, to-night. I want you to lead us to where we can find Mr Lennox." "Of course, sergeant. I know you always mean well. Don't take any notice of my snappish way." "Not a bit, sir," said the man, smiling. "It's only a sign that, though you don't know it, you're just ready to shut up." "But, hang it all, man!" said the young officer, with a return of his irritable manner, "I only want to just see my brother officer for a few minutes." "Yes, sir, I know," said the sergeant stubbornly; "but you're better away. He's right off his head, and abusing everybody. If you go he'll say things to you that will upset you more than three hours' sleep will wipe out." "Oh, I know what you mean now--what he said before--about my being a coward and leaving him in the lurch." "Something of that sort, sir," replied the sergeant. "Poor fellow! Well, perhaps it would be as well, for very little seems to put me out. It was the shock of the explosion, I expect. There, sergeant, I'll go and lie down." "I'll bring you a bit of something to eat, sir, when I come. There's plenty now." "Ah, to be sure; do," said the young man. "But I could touch nothing yet. Remember: as soon as it is quite dark." "Yes, sir; as soon as it is quite dark." Dickenson strode away, and the sergeant uttered a grunt of satisfaction. "Poor fellow!" he muttered. "It would have made him turn upon the captain. Nobody likes to be called a coward even by a crank. It would have regularly upset him for the work. Now then, I'll just give those two fellows the word, and then pick out the ponies. Next I'll lie down till the roast's ready. We'll all three have a good square meal, and sleep again till it's time to call Mr Dickenson and give him his corn. After that, good-luck to us! We must bring that poor young fellow in, alive or dead, and I'm afraid it's that last."