“Left of them?”
“Yes. They were set on fire about nine o’clock, and the smoke is rising thickly still.”
I uttered an angry ejaculation.
“Bah! never mind them. We can soon have better ones built.”
He led me to where there was some bread and a little meat, and as I went among the trees I could see that we had sentries stationed, while the rest of the men lay about resting or smoking, while the doctor was seated by Sergeant Craig, whose arm lay upon a folded coat.
I felt no appetite. The heat beneath the trees was terrible, and I was stiff and sore with the previous day’s exertions; but I ate a little in obedience to Brace’s wish, and he sat watching me.
“Go on, my lad,” he said.
“I cannot,” I replied.
“You must. You will want all your strength for to-night’s work. Eat.”
I went on again with the bread tasting like chaff, and the meat tainted, but at last I turned away in utter disgust.