“Who is it?” asked the nurse.
Velo looked at the face, and spoke before the doctor could reply.
“I know him,” he said. “His name is John Smith.”
The doctor was working rapidly with restoratives.
“John Smith?” he repeated. “This is the Prince of Teck’s oldest son, and his brother was killed an hour ago. We must keep this fellow alive,” he went on, doggedly. “First time I met him he was just an hour old. He won’t go out of this world yet if I can help it!”
The boys went outside and for a moment sat down on the ground to rest.
“What do you suppose made him do that?” said Velo musingly.
“Do what?” asked Zaidos.
“Why,” said Velo, “I asked what his name was one night and he said John Smith. I think that old doctor is making a mistake.”
“What does it matter?” said Zaidos. “He would make just the same effort to save the plain John Smiths as he would to save the princes of the world.”