“No, sir,” said the poor fellow feebly; “I didn’t mean that. It was, shall I be a goner?”
“Oh, nonsense—nonsense! Humph! poor fellow! he has fainted.”
“Is his wound serious, Doctor?” said Bracy huskily.
“Never you mind. You lie still and wait. Well, there. Yes, the hurt is a very bad one. I don’t think he’ll die; but the bullet is in a dangerous place, and I dare not try to extract it to-day.”
A short time after poor Gedge was lying in a state of stupor upon the bed he had previously occupied, and the Doctor was examining the young officer’s wounds.
“Very bad, Doctor?” asked Bracy.
“Bad enough, sir. I don’t like this exit so close to the vertebrae.—That hurt?”
“No; it feels dull and cold just there.”
“Raise that hand a little.”
“Can’t, Doctor; I’m so tightly bandaged.”