not, and we had to help him, and then roughly bandage his shoulder, where he had received a horrible cut.
I trembled as I helped, and forgot my own pains.
He noticed my trembling and laughed.
“Bah, Sep!” he said; “this is nothing. I’m afraid some of our poor fellows there are worse. Ah, who’s that? Be ready, men; we must retreat, we are not in fighting trim.”
For we could see a dark figure coming up after us, and it seemed to be an enemy; but directly after half a volley was fired at the figure, and we saw it drop and roll over.
“Down!” said my father with a groan. “Oh, if we were only fresh and strong! But they are six to one, my lads, and it would be madness.”
“Look, father!” I cried pointing; “they are going back.”
That was plain enough, and that they were going rapidly in answer to shouts of recall. So, encouraged by this, we were about to run down and help the man who had been shot, when by the glow of the fire we saw him rise up on his knees, and directly after there were a couple of flashes and reports, as he fired his pistols after the retreating foe, and then began to crawl up towards where we were.
“Why, it’s Bigley, father,” I said excitedly. “Ahoy!”