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〃Can't see berry well； sah； too much smoke。 But dey in do same
place still。〃
〃Look round； Dan； and see if there are any fresh troops coming
up。〃
〃Yes； sah； lot of men coming ober de hill behind。〃
〃That's all right； Dan。 Now you can see about this bathing my
side。〃
As soon as the battle was over Major Ashley rode up to where
Vincent and five or six of his comrades of the cavalry were lying
wounded。
〃How are you getting on； lads？ Pretty well I hope？〃 he asked the
surgeon as he dismounted。
〃First rate； major；〃 one of the men answered。 〃We all of us took a
turn as soon as we heard that the Yanks were whipped。〃
〃Yes； we have thrashed them handsomely；〃 the major said。 〃Ah；
Wingfield； I am glad to see you are alive。 I thought when you fell
it was all over with you。〃
〃I am not much hurt； sir；〃 Vincent replied。 〃A flesh wound and
some ribs are broken； I hear； but they won't be long mending I
hope。〃
〃It's a nasty wound to look at；〃 the major said； as Dan lifted the
pad of wet linen。 〃But with youth and health you will soon get
round it； never fear。〃
〃Ah； my poor lad； yours is a worse case；〃 he said as he bent over a
young fellow who was lying a few paces from Vincent。
〃It's all up with me； major；〃 he replied faintly； 〃the doctor said he
could do nothing for me。 But I don't mind； now we have beaten
them。 You will send a line to the old people； major； won't you；
and say I died doing my duty？ I've got two brothers； and I expect
they will send one on to take my place。〃
〃I will write to them； my lad；〃 the major said； 〃and tell them all
about you。〃 He could give the lad no false hopes； for already a
gray shade was stealing over the white face； and the end was close
at hand； in a few minutes he ceased to breathe。
Late in the evening the surgeons； having attended to more urgent
cases； came round。 Vincent's wound was now more carefully
examined than before； but the result was the same。 Three of the
ribs were badly fractured； but there was no serious danger。
〃You will want quiet and good nursing for some time； my lad；〃 the
principal surgeon said。 〃There will be a train of wounded going
off for Richmond the first thing in the morning； and you shall go
by it。 You had better get a door； lads；〃 he said to some of the
troopers who had come across from the spot where the cavalry
were bivouacked to see how their comrades were getting on； 〃and
carry him down and put him in the train。 One has just been sent
off； and another will be made up at once； so that the wounded can
be put in it as they are taken down。 Now I will bandage the wound；
and it will not want any more attention until you get home。〃
A wad of lint was placed upon the wound and bandaged tightly
round the body。
Remember you have got to he perfectly quiet； and not attempt to
move till the bones have knit。 I am afraid that they are badly
fractured； and will require some time to heal up again。〃
A door was fetched from an out…house near； and Vincent and two
of his comrades； who were also ordered to be sent to the rear； were
one by one carried down to the nearest point on the railway； where
a train stood ready to receive them； and they were then laid on the
seats。
All night the wounded kept arriving； and by morning the train was
packed as full as it would hold； and with two or three surgeons in
charge started for Richmond。 Dan was permitted to accompany
the train； at Vincent's urgent request； in the character of doctor's
assistant； and he went about distributing water to the wounded； and
assisting the surgeons in moving such us required it。
It was night before the train reached Richmond。 A number of
people were at the station to receive it； for as soon as the news of
the battle had been received； preparations had been made for the
reception of the wounded； several public buildings had been
converted into hospitals； and numbers of the citizens had come
forward with offers to take one or more of the wounded into their
houses。 The streets were crowded with people； who were wild
with joy at the news of the victory which； as they believed； had
secured the State from any further fear of invasion。 Numbers of
willing hands were in readiness to carry the wounded on stretchers
to the hospitals； where all the surgeons of the town were already
waiting to attend upon them
Vincent； at his own request； was only laid upon a bed； as he said
that he would go home to he nursed the first thing in the morning。
This being the case it was needless to put him to the pain and
trouble of being undressed。 Dan had started as soon as he saw his
master carried into the hospital to take the news to the Orangery；
being strictly charged by Vincent to make light of his injury； and
on no account whatever to alarm them。 He was to ask that the
carriage should come to fetch him the first thing in the morning。
It was indeed but just daybreak when Mrs。 Wingfield drove up to
the hospital。 Dan had been so severely cross…examined that he had
been obliged to give an accurate account of Vincent's injury。
There was bustle and movement even at that early hour； for
another train of wounded had just arrived。 As she entered the
hospital she gave an exclamation of pleasure； for at the door were
two gentlemen in conversation； one of whom was the doctor who
had long attended the family at the Orangery。
〃I am glad you are here； Dr。 Mapleston； for I want your opinion
before I move Vincent。 Have you seen him？〃
〃No； Mrs。 Wingfield； I did not know he was here。 I have charge of
one of the wards； and have not had time to see who are in the
others。 I sincerely hope Vincent is not seriously hurt。〃
〃That's want I want to find out； doctor。 His boy brought us news
late last night that he was here。 He said the doctors considered
that he was not in any danger； but as it seems that he had three ribs
broken and a deep flesh wound from the explosion of a shell； it
seems to me that it must be serious。〃
〃I will go up and see him at once； Mrs。 Wingfield； and find out
from the surgeon in charge of his ward exactly what is the matter
with him。〃 Dan led the way to the bed upon which Vincent was
lying。 He was only dozing； and opened his eyes as they came up。
〃My poor boy；〃 Mrs。 Wingfleld said； struggling with her tears at
the sight of his pale face； 〃this is sad indeed。〃
〃It is nothing very bad； mother；〃 Vincent replied cheerfully；
〃nothing at all to fret about。 The wound is nothing to the injuries
of most of those here。 I suppose； doctor； I can be moved at once？〃
Doctor Mapleston felt his pulse。
〃Yen are feverish； my lad； but perhaps the best thing for you would
be to get you home while you can be moved。 You will do far better
there than here。 But I must speak to the surgeon in charge of you
first； and hear what he says。〃
〃Yes； I think you can move him；〃 the surgeon of