"Take them both round to the stables, and put them in spare stalls, Mike. I will get leave off parade for both of us, and ask the surgeon to dress your wounds properly."
Then he went up to the colonel, who was just entering the barrack yard.
"Colonel O'Brien," he said, "I must ask your leave off parade, for, as you see, I am scarcely in a condition to take my place with my company."
"So it would seem, Mr. Kennedy. You have been in trouble, I see. Nothing serious, I hope?"
"Nothing at all, sir, as far as I am concerned. It is merely a graze from a pistol ball."
"Well, I must hear about it, afterwards."
"I must also ask leave off parade for Callaghan, my servant, sir. He is hurt a good deal more than I am, though not, I hope, seriously."
The colonel nodded. "I will send the surgeon to your quarters, and he will see to you both."
As Desmond left the colonel, his two chums came up.
"Why, Kennedy, what on earth have you been doing to yourself? This is what comes of gallivanting about after dark. When we came round, yesterday evening, to go out with you as usual, you were not in. There was nothing very unusual in that, for these evening walks of yours are often prolonged; but we called again, on our return at eleven o'clock, and found you were still absent. This looked serious. We came round again at six this morning, for we were anxious about you, and learned you had not been in all night, and, on enquiring, heard that Callaghan was also absent.