"Well, lad," Tim, his mouth drawn with pain, tried to laugh--tried to "bluff it out" so Jeb would not suspect the truth, "I'm thinkin' thot life's wan domn hole after anither! First, mind ye, 'tis the swimmin' hole, thin the shell hole, thin a hole in me leg, an' next we know 'tis a stay-for-keeps hole in the ground! W'ot a divil av a hole the ould world is, after all! But me leg'll be all right in a fortnight, lad," (oh, Tim, you beloved liar!) "an' thin I'll be back wid the b'ys twict as strong as iver!" "That's mighty fine news," Jeb laughed. "But I hope to go back with you now!" "I'm not goin' now," Tim cried angrily. "I've swore 'tis not a step I take till I've said 'God bless ye' to thot angel nurse!" "There, there, Tim, keep quiet! Haven't I promised that you could?" Bonsecours smiled at him. "Thin w'ot's the lad sayin' about takin' me now?" "Oh, I only meant when you are ready, Tim," Jeb did his part to quiet the excited little sergeant; then, to the doctor, he added quickly: "I want to go back with the ambulance, that's all. The Americans landed yesterday, and----" "But," the surgeon gasped at this unusual request, "Barrow needs you!" "I guess he doesn't, so awfully much," Jeb flushed. "If you can possibly arrange it for me, I'll be greatly obliged. I've--I've just got to get in the ranks, Doctor! I can't explain what I mean--but it's those children! Why, if each of the ten million American fellows who registered for our New Army could see only a part of cruelties I've seen, they'd break their necks getting over here!--and they wouldn't go back, either, not even for Christmas, till the last of these German High-in-Command was in prison, or dead! I'm only asking for a chance to make good----" "Cut thot out," Tim called huskily. "It hur-rts me leg!" Bonsecours laughed but, still protesting, said: "I can't keep the ambulance waiting!" "You won't have to; I'm ready now." "But your kit----?" "Is on my back, sir." Two big orderlies came in and picked up the stretcher, whereupon Tim grew again excited. "Put me down, ye little runts," he yelled, "afore I git up an' smash----" "There, there," Bonsecours hastily interposed; saying to them: "Take this brave fellow to Dug-out Three--he wants to see Nurse Marian. I'll be right after you." But the instant they had left he turned to Jeb, asking sharply: "Do you realize what your leaving means?" "I think I do, sir." "You would deliberately put upon me the responsibility of sending you?" "Why, yes," Jeb answered, somewhat perplexed. "Then I refuse!" the surgeon snapped. "I refuse, until you bring me word that your little nurse friend from America desires it!"