“Bruton? I don’t know. Tired out, I suppose.”
“What!” said the General; “didn’t you know?”
“Nothing; only that we have all been working like slaves to put that fire out.”
“Great heavens, Preston, didn’t you hear?”
“Hear?” cried the colonel, excitedly; “is he wounded?”
“Not wounded, but badly hurt, I fear. Didn’t you see a man fall from the roof right into the flames?”
“Yes, but—”
“It was Bruton.”
“Ah!”
I felt as if I should have dropped, but at that moment, as I was trying to get over the horrible feeling of sickness, and to make my way to the place the doctor had been forced to take as his temporary hospital, I felt a thrill of delight run through me, for a voice exclaimed—