"Have you not a hand-barrow?"
"Well, if it comes to that, such a thing can be found, like the water, if a crownpiece or two——"
"Quite right," said the captain; "you shall not lose by your kindness. Here is more money—only, get the litter."
Ten minutes after the litter was found.
The wounded man was laid on a pallet; the two fellows took up the shafts and the mournful party proceeded towards the military hospital escorted by the young officer, the lantern in hand, by the disfigured head.
A dreadful thing was this night marching over the blood-stained ground, among the stiffened and motionless remains, against which one stumbled at every step, or wounded wretches who rose only to fall anew and called for succor.
In a quarter of an hour they crossed the hospital threshold.