a while.

"Not so bad as some," was the answer.

"Bad enough."

"I will call the doctor or Colonel Battersby," said the sergeant. "I had
orders to report."

"Wait a minute, Sergeant, it can't be three yet."

"It is, nearly."

"There is something you can do for me."

"I will do anything in the world for you, Captain."

"Thanks--you will be with me all night, won't you?"

"Yes, till daylight."

"Well, I'll tell you later--after the doctor comes."

"He's here now."

So the communication was delayed.




  CHAPTER XXXIII.


Half an hour later, the Sergeant again had charge of the Captain. He was
weak and pallid, but his mind was clear, and he fixed his eyes on the
Sergeant's face.

"Now, I can tell you," he said at last, with some difficulty.

"You had better not," returned the man. "The doctor says you must sleep
before youa sweeping courtesy, she replied:

"Your request is granted, sire." Although what in the world he could
mean by such an invitation she could scarcely imagine.

Captain Cummings gave the Colonel a sharp glance and bit his lip. Helen
noticed it and so did the senior officer.




  CHAPTER XXXVI.


Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to
gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes
scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock. The women had
been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had
arranged to go with them. For a while all laughed and chatted and picked
the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered,
they drifted apart, each working on in silence.

Helen's pail was almost full, and she was