“Safe! safe!” I said faintly.

“Thank God we were in time!” cried my father. “But my boy—wounded?”

“I—don’t know, father,” I gasped, as everything seemed to turn round, and then something blacker than the night came over me, and I knew no more for some time.


Chapter Fifty Three.

“His old wound, colonel. Broken out with the exertion, perhaps from a blow,” some one was saying when I opened my eyes, and saw the softly glittering stars over my head. Then all came back with a flash, and I tried to rise, but a hand was pressed on my chest.

“How’s Brace?” I said quickly.

“Bad; but I have hopes,” said Danby. “Lie still.”

“But, father,” I said excitedly; “you can hold the place now?”