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first； and hear what he says。〃
〃Yes； I think you can move him；〃 the surgeon of the ward said。
〃He has got a nasty wound； and the ticket with him said that three
ribs were badly fractured； but I made no examination； as he said he
would be fetched the first thing this morning。 I only put on a fresh
dressing and bandaged it。 The sooner you get him off the better； if
he is to be moved。 Fever is setting in； and he will probably be
wandering by this evening。 He will have a much better chance at
home； with cool rooms and quiet and careful nursing； than he can
have here； though there would be no lack of either comforts or
nurses； for half the ladies in the town have volunteered for the
work； and we have offers of all the medical comforts that could be
required were the list of wounded ten times as large as it is。〃
A stretcher was brought in； and Vincent was lifted as gently as
possible upon it。 Then he was carried down…stairs and the
stretcher placed in the carriage； which was a large open one；
and afforded just sufficient length for it。 Mrs。 Wingfield took her
seat beside him。 Dan mounted the box beside the coachman。
〃I will be out in an hour； Mrs。 Wingfield；〃 Dr。 Mapleston said。 〃I
have to go round the ward again； and will then drive out at once。
Give him lemonade and cooling drinks； don't let him talk。 Cut his
clothes off him； and keep the room somewhat dark； but with a free
current of air。 I will bring out some medicine with me。〃
The carriage drove slowly to avoid shaking； and when they
approached the house Mrs。 Wingfleld told Dan to jump down and
come to the side of her carriage。 Then she told him to run on as
fast as he could ahead； and to tell her daughters not to meet them
upon their arrival； and that all the servants were to be kept out of
the way； except three men to carry Vincent upstairs。 The lad was
consequently got up to his room without any excitement； and was
soon lying on his bed with a sheet thrown lightly over him。
〃That is comfortable；〃 he said； as his mother bathed his face and
hands and smoothed his hair。 〃Where are the girls； mother？〃
〃They will come in to see you now； Vincent； but you are to keep
quite quiet you know； and not to talk。〃 The girls stole in and said a
few words； and left him alone again with Mrs。 Wingfield。 He did
not look to them so ill as they had expected； for there was a flush
of fever on his cheeks。 Dr。 Mapleston arrived in another half…hour；
examined and redressed the wound； and comforted Mrs。 Wingfield
with the assurance that there was nothing in it likely to prove
dangerous to life。
〃Our trouble will be rather with the effect of the shock than with
the wound itself。 He is very feverish now； and you must not be
alarmed if by this evening he is delirious。 You will give him this
cooling draught every three hours； he can have anything in the way
of cooling drinks he likes。 If he begins to wander； put cloths
dipped in cold water and wrung out on his head； and sponge his
hands with water with a little eau de Cologne in it。 If he seems
very hot set one of the women to fan him； but don't let her go on if
it seems to worry him。 I will come round again at half past nine
this evening and will make arrangements to pass the night here。
We have telegrams saying that surgeons are coming from
Charleston and many other places； so I can very well be spared。〃
When the doctor returned in the evening； he found； as he had
anticipated； that Vincent was in a high state of fever。 This
continued four or five days； and then gradually passed off； and he
woke up one morning perfectly conscious。 His mother was sitting
on a chair at the bedside。
〃What o'clock is it； mother？〃 he asked。 〃Have I been asleep long？〃
〃Some time； dear；〃 she answered gently； 〃but you must not talk。
You are to take this draught and to go off to sleep again； when you
wake you may ask any questions you like。〃 She lifted the lad's
head； gave him the draught and some cold tea； then darkened the
room； and in a few minutes he was asleep again。
CHAPTER VII。 THE MERRIMAC AND THE MONITOR。
IT WAS some weeks before Vincent was able to walk unaided。
His convalescence was somewhat slow； for the shock to the system
had been a severe one。 The long rail…way journey had been
injurious to him； for the bandage had become somewhat loose and
the broken pieces of bone had grated upon each other； and were
much longer in knitting together than they would have been had he
been treated on the spot。
As soon as he could walk he began to be anxious to rejoin his
troop； but the doctor said that many weeks must elapse before he
would be ready to undergo the hardships of campaign。 He was
reconciled to some extent to the delay by letters from his friends
with the troop and by the perusal of the papers。 There was nothing
whatever doing in Virginia。 The two armies still faced each
other； the Northerners protected by the strong fortifications they
had thrown up round Washington…fortifications much too
formidable to be attacked by the Confederates； held as they were
by a force immensely superior to their own； both in numbers and
aims。
The Northerners were indeed hard at work； collecting and
organizing an army which was to crush out the rebellion。 General
Scott had been succeeded by McClellan in the supreme command；
and the new general was indefatigable in organizing the vast
masses of men raised in tho North。 So great were the efforts that
in a few months after the defeat of Bull Run the North had 650；000
men in arms。
But while no move had at present been made against Virginia
there was sharp fighting in some of the border states； especially in
Missouri and Kentucky； in both of which public opinion was much
divided； and regiments were raised on both sides。
Various operations were now undertaken by the Federal fleet at
points along the coast； and several important positions were taken
and occupied； it being impossible for the Confederates to defend
so long a line of sea…coast。 The South had lost rather than gained
ground in consequence of their victory at Bull Bun。 For a time
they had been unduly elated； and were disposed altogether to
underrate their enemies and to believe that the struggle was as
good as over。 Thus； then； they made no effort at ail corresponding
to that of the North； but as time went on； and they saw the vastness
of the preparations made for their conquest； the people of the
Southern States again bestirred themselves。
Owing to the North having the command of the sea； and shutting
up all the principal ports； they had to rely upon themselves for
everything； while the North could draw arms and ammunition and
all the requisites of war from the markets of Europe。 Foundries
were accordingly established for the manufacture of artillery； and
factories for muskets； ammunition； and percussion caps。 The
South had； in fact； to manufacture everythi