The operation was performed at once, and although Ralph had to press his lips hard together to prevent himself from crying out, he did find it less painful than he had expected.

“There, you will do now,” the surgeon said.  “Here, my man, take that basin and a tumbler and run downstairs to the kitchen.  They will give you some broth there and some weak spirits and water.  Bring them up at once.”

Ralph took a spoonful or two of the broth, and a sip of the spirits, and then lay back and presently dozed off to sleep.  Denis had followed the surgeons out of the room.

“What instructions is there, your honor?”

“Your master is just to be kept quiet.  If he is thirsty give him some lemonade.  You can obtain that or anything else you require below.”

“And about myself, sir.  I wouldn’t speak about it but I have had nothing to eat since yesterday morning, and I don’t like leaving Mr. Conway alone even to buy myself a mouthful.”

“You will not have regular rations, but all officers’ servants and orderlies will obtain food below.  Meals will be served out at eight in the morning, one, and six.  You take down your pannikin, and can either eat your food there or bring it up here as you choose.  Breakfast will not be ready for two hours yet; but there are several others in the same plight as yourself, and you will find plenty to eat below.”

Denis took his place by his master’s bedside until he saw that he was sound asleep, then taking the pannikin from the top of the knapsack he stole noiselessly out, and in two or three minutes later he returned with the pannikin full of soup, a small loaf, and a ration of wine.

“By jabers,” he said to himself as he sat down to eat them, “these are good quarters entirely.  I should wish for nothing better if it wasn’t for the master lying there.  Lashings to eat and drink, and a room fit for a king.  Nothing to do but to wait upon his honor.  I suppose after to-day I shall be able to stale out for a few minutes sometimes for a draw of me pipe.  It would never do to be smoking here.  The master wouldn’t mind it; but I expect them doctors would be for sending me back to my regiment if they were to come in and smell it.”

After he had finished his meal, Denis took his seat by Ralph’s bedside; but he was thoroughly exhausted.  He had not slept a wink since the night before the battle, and after the fatigue of the day had been tramping all night by the side of the ambulance, which was constantly stopped by the numerous vehicles that had broken down or been overturned by the way.  After waking up suddenly with a jerk once or twice, he muttered to himself, “I will just take five minutes on the bed, then I shall be all right again,” and threw himself down on his mattress with his greatcoat for a pillow, and slept for several hours.  So heavy was his slumber that he was not even roused when the surgeons came round at ten o’clock to see how Ralph was.  He had just woke.