initial commit of ebook 21371HEADmain

1 files changed, 1902 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/21371.txt b/21371.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..579f802
--- /dev/null
+++ b/21371.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,1902 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Soldier Boy, by George Manville Fenn
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Our Soldier Boy
+
+Author: George Manville Fenn
+
+Illustrator: Victor Venner
+
+Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21371]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR SOLDIER BOY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+Our Soldier Boy, by George Manville Fenn.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+Well, this certainly is a departure from the usual Fenn style.  Suspense
+as always there certainly is, but the intended audience is much younger
+than his usual teenager one.
+
+The date is the Peninsular War, in Portugal.
+
+A British family of merchants in Portugal are unaware of the intensity
+of the nearby fighting in the vicinity.  They are at their country home,
+and go out for a few minutes, leaving their eight-year old son with the
+servants.  The French attack, slay the servants, and leave the child
+with a severe injury to the head.
+
+Later the 200th Fusiliers come by, and the corporal sees the villa, and
+goes up there to see if he can get anything useful for his men to eat.
+He sees the slain servants, and comes across the little boy, whom he
+carries back to his wife, to see if she can bring him round.
+
+The boy does recover, becomes the mascot of the regiment, and eventually
+after a battle with the French, heroically rescues the Colonel himself.
+
+The boy comes to believe that the corporal and his wife are his real
+parents.
+
+Months go by, while the boy, who does not have the faintest memory of
+his real father and mother, becomes more and more the favourite of the
+Regiment.  The Portuguese give a great party to celebrate the British
+victory, and at the Ball there are present the Trevors, the real father
+and mother of the boy.  There are touching scenes as recognition dawns.
+
+So there is quite a lot of action for a short book.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+OUR SOLDIER BOY, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+"You, Tom Jones, let that pot-lid alone."
+
+It was a big brown-faced woman who said that crossly, and a big
+rough-looking bugler, in the uniform of the 200th Fusiliers, with belts,
+buttons and facings looking very clean and bright, but the scarlet cloth
+ragged and stained from the rain and mud, and sleeping in it anywhere,
+often without shelter, who dropped the lid as if it were hot and shut in
+the steam once more, as the iron pot bubbled away where it hung from
+three sticks, over a wood fire.
+
+It was in a lovely part of Portugal, and the regiment was halting among
+the mountains after a long weary tramp; fires had been lit for cooking,
+and the men were lying and sitting about, sleeping, cleaning their
+firelocks, pipeclaying their belts, and trying to make themselves look
+as smart as they could considering that they were all more or less
+ragged and torn after a fortnight's tramp in all weathers in pursuit of
+a portion of the French army which had been always a few hours ahead.
+
+But it was easy enough to follow their steps, for everywhere they had
+plundered, and destroyed; villages and pleasant homes were burned; and
+blackened ruins, cut-up gardens and vineyards met the soldiers' eyes
+wherever the enemy had been.
+
+There had been a straggling little village by the side of the mountain
+stream, where the 200th had halted at midday after their long march
+under a burning sun, at a spot where there was plenty of fresh water,
+and it was the pot over one of these cooking fires whose lid Tom Jones
+had lifted off.
+
+"On'y wanted to smell what was for dinner," he said.  "What have you
+got, Mother Beane?"
+
+"Never you mind.  Rare ohs for meddlers, and pump-handle sauce, perhaps;
+and look here, you sir, you come when we halt to-night and I'll mend
+some of them rags.  You're a disgrace."
+
+"Ain't worse than the rest of the fellows," said Tom, grinning.  "The
+Colonel's horse went down 's morn'."
+
+"Oh, dear, dear!" cried the woman excitedly; "is he hurt?"
+
+"Broke both his knees, and bled ever so."
+
+"The Colonel?"
+
+"Now-w-w!  His horse.  Colonel only went sliding down 'mong the stones,
+and ripped his jacket sleeve right up."
+
+"Oh, that's a blessing," said the woman.  "You go to him when we camp,
+and say Mrs Corp'ral Beane's dooty and she's got a needle and silk
+ready, and may she mend his jacket."
+
+"All right, but you might tell us what's for dinner."
+
+"Wait and see.  And why don't you go and forage about and see if you
+can't find a bit o' fruit or some vegetables?"
+
+"'Tarn't no good.  Old Frog-soups clears everything."
+
+"Yes," said the woman, with a sigh, as she re-arranged her battered old
+straw bonnet cocked up as if it were a hat, and took off the old scarlet
+uniform tail coat she wore over her very clean cotton gown, before going
+to the pot, wooden spoon in hand, to raise the lid and give the contents
+a stir round.
+
+"Oh, I say, Mother Beane, it does smell good!  What's in it?"
+
+"Shoulder o' goat," said the woman.
+
+"Yah!  Don't care much for goat," said the boy.  "Arn't half so good as
+mutton."
+
+"You must take what you can get, Tom.  Two chickens."
+
+"Why, that they ain't.  I see 'em: they was an old cock and hen as we
+chivied into that burnt house this mornin', and Corp'ral shot one, and
+Mick Toole run his bay'net through the other.  Reg'lar stringies."
+
+"Never mind.  I'm cooking 'em to make 'em taste like chicken, and it's
+time they were all back to mess.  Which way did my old man go?"
+
+"Climbed up yonder.  Said he knowed there'd be a house up somewheres
+there."
+
+"And why didn't you go with him, sir?" said Mrs Corporal Beane.  "Might
+have found a melon or some oranges."
+
+"Not me," grumbled the boy.  "Frenchies don't leave nothing: hungry
+beggars.  Murd'rin' wermin.  Wish we could ketch 'em."
+
+"Ah, so do I, and it makes my heart bleed to see what we do."
+
+"Ah, but you wait a bit.  We shall ketch 'em one o' these days."
+
+"You won't.  You're too lazy."
+
+"That I ain't.  I'd ha' gone foraging 's morning, and there's an old
+boot nail made a hole in one foot, and t'other's all blisters."
+
+"Oh, my poor boy!  And I haven't finished that pair of stockings I was
+knitting for you.  Look here, you go and sit down till the men come
+back, and bathe your feet in the stream."
+
+"Did," said the boy, with a chuckle.
+
+"Ah!  Where abouts?  Not above where we get our drinking water?"
+
+"Course I didn't," said the boy scornfully.  "I ain't a Frenchy."
+
+"Ahoy-y-y-y!"
+
+The hail came from high up in a woody ravine far above their heads, and
+the boy shaded his eyes and said excitedly--"Here, look.  It's Joe
+Beane, and he's found something good.  Got it on his shoulder."
+
+"What is it?" cried Mrs Beane.  "A kid?"
+
+"No, it's a bag o' something.  It's--no, he's hid among the trees again.
+It was a bag, though--looked whitish."
+
+"It's flour," cried Mrs Beane triumphantly.  "Oh, Tom!  We'll have
+cakes to-night, and you shall carry some to the officers' mess."
+
+"Give us one if I do, Mother Beane?"
+
+"Ah, pig!  I never saw such a boy to eat."
+
+"Well, how can I help it?  I get so holler," grumbled the boy.  "It's
+'cause I'm growing."
+
+Five minutes later a tall manly-looking soldier came down the rugged
+track, with his face and hands torn and bleeding, and dropped upon his
+knees before his astonished wife and a group of half a dozen men who
+hurried up.
+
+"Oh, Joe," cried the woman, "what have you got there?"
+
+"Young shaver," panted the man.  "Found big house yonder, half burnt.
+Five dead folk, and this here."
+
+"Oh, Joe!" cried the woman, taking her husband's burden from him,
+sinking upon her knees, and laying the head of a handsome little fellow
+of about eight against her breast, to begin rocking herself to and fro
+and sobbing bitterly.  "Oh, the wicked cruel wretches!  To go and murder
+a poor little boy like this!  Look at his face!  Look at his hair, half
+burned off, and the rest all blood.  Oh!  If you were men you'd ketch
+and kill some of 'em for this."
+
+A low growl arose from the soldiers around, and Tom Jones sniffed, drew
+his bugle round from where it hung at his back, and dropped two silent
+tears in its mouth.
+
+"You Tom," cried Mrs Beane, "don't stand sniffing and snivelling there
+like a great bull calf.  Take the tin dipper and fetch it full of clean
+water.  Oh, Joe, Joe!  It's too late.  The poor little darling's dead."
+
+"Warn't when I fun' him," said the corporal.  "He'd crep' away a bit,
+and he moved one hand."
+
+"Yes, and he's warm still," cried the woman excitedly.  "Here, you men,
+clear off.  You go and serve out the mess, Joe.  Never mind me."
+
+"But you'll want a bit o' dinner, missus; and I found two ripe melons up
+in the garden there, but I left 'em behind."
+
+"Don't talk to me about melons and dinners," cried the woman angrily.
+"Go and get your own, all of you; and how much longer's that boy going
+to be?"
+
+Not many minutes before he appeared, not with the tin dipper but a whole
+bucketful of clear cold water, forgetting all about his sore feet; and
+while the men went and sat round the iron pot of savoury hotch-potch,
+Tom Jones stayed behind to help bathe and bandage the head of the
+handsome little fellow upon whose sunburned face more than one hot tear
+fell, as loving hands made him up a temporary bed of great-coats in the
+shade.
+
+"Oh, Tom, Tom!" sobbed the big rough coarse woman, as she knelt there at
+last after doing all she could, "many's the time that I've prayed that I
+might have a little boy to call my own; but Heaven knows best, and he
+might have lived to die like this."
+
+"He ain't a-going to die," said Tom, sniffing again.
+
+"He is--he is; and no doctor near!"
+
+"No," said Tom, with another sniff; "he's miles away, along o' them poor
+wounded chaps we left behind."
+
+"I can do nothing, nothing more--and he's somebody's bairn!"
+
+"Yes," said the boy hoarsely, "and the Frenchies killed 'em, for Joe
+Beane telled the men as the sight he see was horrid."
+
+"Hush!  Ah, look," whispered the woman, and she bent over the poor
+little victim, who wailed faintly, "Oh, don't--don't--Ah!"
+
+Then he lay silent and motionless, as his rough nurse softly laid her
+hand upon the fire-scorched forehead.
+
+"Why, that there ain't Portygeeze," whispered Tom, staring.
+
+"Well, old gal, what about him now?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know, Joe; I don't know.  He just spoke a little."
+
+"Poor little nipper.  All right, my gal; you'll bring him round."
+
+Tom had ceased sniffing and had turned to give a long stare at the men
+grouped round the pot, to see that they had done eating and were
+lighting their pipes.
+
+"Might ha' arxed a pore chap to have had a bit, corporal," he said.
+
+"Ay, we might, lad; but then you see we was all so hungry we mightn't,
+and you're only a boy."
+
+"Yes, that's it," grumbled Tom, wrenching his bugle round and giving it
+a vicious polish with his sleeve.  "Allus the same; on'y a boy; just as
+if I could help that!"
+
+"And such a hungry sort o' boy; holler all through.  It's a waste to
+give you good food.  That there stoo was evvinly."
+
+Joe turned away from Tom's sour puckered face, to bend over the
+insensible little patient with a look full of pity, as he wiped his
+mouth with the back of his hand.
+
+"I should just liked to have been there, missus, with my bay'net fixed
+when they cut that little fellow down.  Here, I'll sit and have a pipe
+and keep the flies off him, while you go and pick a bit.  The boys
+wouldn't touch a morsel till I'd put aside some for you and Tom."
+
+That night the 200th was still marching on where they were to camp in
+the mountains, while on a rough kind of litter formed of a long basket
+strapped upon the back of a mule, with a couple of great-coats and a
+blanket for bed, lay the poor child whose life Mrs Beane was trying to
+save.
+
+It was a long and a weary forced march, for scouts had brought in news
+which made the officers hope to come in touch of the retreating army
+before morning, for the news had spread, and during the night the
+Colonel and officers found opportunities for coming and asking Mother
+Beane about her little patient.
+
+But there was always the same reply, and Colonel Lavis did not have his
+uniform mended, neither were any stitches added to Tom Jones's new
+worsted stockings, for the corporal's wife had all her work to do to try
+and save her patient's life, and the shake of the head she gave at
+daybreak told more forcibly than words or the bitter tears she shed,
+that she had given up all hope.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+The 200th was in high glee to a man, which is including about twenty men
+who were wounded not so badly but that they could shout "Hurrah!"  For
+there was a brush with the retreating French, who were driven from the
+strong camp they had formed, and the little patient had, to use Mrs
+Beane's words, "begun to pick up a bit."
+
+During the next week of marching and counter-marching the wounded boy
+began to pick up a good many bits, for the doctor had rejoined the
+regiment, and he did something to the little fellow's head where beneath
+the cruel cut he had received the bone was dinted in, and from that hour
+the change was wonderful.  In another week he delighted Mrs Corporal
+Beane by watching her constantly with wondering eyes, and suddenly
+asking her who she was.
+
+In her motherly delight she told him "Mother Beane," and he began
+calling her mother directly, while in another week Corporal Joe had
+taught the patient to call him Dad, and wondering began.
+
+"Haven't you asked him?" said Joe.
+
+"Yes, as much as I dared, old man, but I'm afraid to do much, because it
+seems to muddle his poor dear head, and he wrinkles up and tries to
+think, but he can't."
+
+"But don't he remember who cut him down?" said Joe.
+
+"No."
+
+"Nor yet about the house bein' set a-fire?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, did you ask him his name?"
+
+"Yes, and he only shook his head."
+
+"Did you ask him who his father and mother was?"
+
+"Yes, but he didn't know."
+
+"Well, it's ama-a-azin'," said Joe.
+
+But it was true.  The boy's life had been saved just when it had been
+ebbing away, but that was all.  With the cruel blow which struck him
+down all recollection of the past was cut away, and the boy had, as it
+were, to begin life all over again, not as a little child, for he could
+talk and chat merrily; but the dark cloud which came down so suddenly
+had shut everything else away.
+
+"Well, it's ama-a-azin'," said Joe to his wife, "and it seems to me as
+we found him and saved him alive and all as belonged to him was killed
+dead, why, he must belong to us.  What do you say to keeping him?"
+
+"Oh, Joe, if we only could!" cried his wife.
+
+"Ah, if we on'y could," said Joe thoughtfully.
+
+"I know," cried Mrs Corporal; "I'll ask the Colonel next time I take
+him his washing back."
+
+"You just don't," said Joe; "because if you do he'll say as you
+mustn't."
+
+"Oh!" sighed Mrs Corporal; "that's just what I'm 'fraid of."
+
+They were very silent as they sat by the camp-fire that night in an
+orange-grove, with the big stars peeping down at them, and Tom Jones,
+who took a great interest in what was said, sat and waited for ever so
+long, and then being tired out with the long day's tramp, lay down to
+listen, and dropped off fast asleep, just as Joe Beane said
+thoughtfully:--
+
+"Look here, missus, if I was on'y a private instead of being an officer
+I should say something, but as I am full corporal, why, I can't."
+
+"Just think you are a private, Joe, and say it," whispered his wife.
+
+"Shall I?" he said slowly.
+
+"Yes, Joe, dear, do.  He's such a nice boy."
+
+"Ay, he is, missus."
+
+"And I love him a'ready."
+
+"Well, I won't go so far as love him, 'cause I don't like boys, but I
+like him because he's such a good, happy-looking little chap, and how
+anyone as calls himself a man could have--"
+
+"Yes, yes, you've said that before, Joe," whispered his wife pettishly.
+"Tell me what you'd say if you warn't a corporal."
+
+"Why, I'd say nothing," said Joe.
+
+"Oh, how can you be so stupid as to go on like that!  I thought you'd
+got something sensible in your head."
+
+"So I have," said Joe gruffly, "on'y you're in such a hurry.  I should
+say nothing to nobody, and go on just as if he warn't here."
+
+"Oh, Joe, dear, would you?"
+
+"Yes, that's what I should say.  We could manage right enough, and if at
+last the Colonel should come with: `Hallo there!  What boy's that?'--
+why, we could tell him then, and if he said: `Send him away'--"
+
+"Yes, and what then, Joe?" cried Mrs Corporal excitedly.
+
+"Why then," said Joe, "we should have to obey orders."
+
+"Ah, and he mightn't say that, Joe, as he's such a nice little fellow."
+
+"Course, he mightn't," replied Joe.
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated Mrs Corporal Beane, and she said no more.  But at the
+next halting-place she began to think: and the result of her thinking
+was that she got hold of an old uniform suit and by working very hard
+every time the regiment halted she contrived to cut the suit down till
+it roughly fitted the little invalid, braiding it like the drum and
+bugle boys', and making a little military cap as well, so that by the
+time he was able to trot along in the rear of the regiment he did not
+seem out of place.
+
+"Joe," said Mrs Corporal one morning, "look at him; don't he look
+splendid?  He's our soldier boy now, and I shall call him Dick."
+
+"All right," said the corporal; "Dick ain't bad, but you might ha'
+called him Joe the second."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+It was quite six weeks after Dick had been found, and he was weak still,
+but that only troubled him by making him feel tired, and at such times
+there was always a ride ready for him on the top of a pack carried by a
+mule.
+
+And there he was happy enough, for he was rapidly growing into being the
+pet of the regiment, and first one of the men brought him fruit, and
+some one thing and some another; but Mrs Corporal was always pretty
+close at hand to take care that he was not spoiled or made ill, and
+Corporal Joe said over and over again to his wife, that it was
+"ama-a-azin'."
+
+"What's amazing, Joe?" she said one day.  "What do you keep saying that
+for?"
+
+"'Cause it is," he said.
+
+"Yes, but why, Joe?"
+
+"'Cause ever since I found that there boy you've been as proud as a
+peacock with two tails."
+
+"And enough to make me," said Mrs Corporal tartly.  "There never was
+such a boy before.  Look at him!" and she pointed to where the little
+fellow, in full uniform, was perched on a mule-pack, and the baggage
+guard with fixed bayonets marched close beside.
+
+"Yes," said Joe drily, as he screwed up his face; "I've been a-looking
+at him a deal.  His coatee fits horrid."
+
+"That it don't," said Mrs Corporal; "and it was the best I could do out
+of such old stuff."
+
+"Well, it weer old," said her husband; "but it's all crinkles and
+creases, and that boy puzzles me."
+
+"Why?  How?"
+
+"'Cause you'd think after he'd seen his people killed and the house
+burnt about his ears he'd ha' been frightened like; but he don't seem to
+mind nothing about it, not a bit."
+
+"Ah, it is strange," said Mrs Corporal; "but there couldn't be a braver
+nor a better little chap."
+
+"That there couldn't," said the Corporal proudly; "but I think I've
+found out what's the matter with him.  That crack on the head made him
+an idjit."
+
+"For shame, Joe!" cried his wife.  "He's as clever and bright a little
+fellow as ever stepped."
+
+"So he is, missus; but he puzzles me.  It's ama-a-azin'."
+
+The boy puzzled Tom Jones the bugler boy too, who whenever he got a
+chance came alongside of the mule or baggage wagon in the rear, and let
+the little invalid earn his bugle on condition that he did not try to
+blow it, and Tom made this an excuse for solemnly asking the same
+questions over and over again.
+
+"I say, who's your father?"
+
+"Corporal Joe Beane," said the boy promptly; "I say, Tom, mayn't I have
+a blow now?"
+
+"What?  No, of course not.  You don't want to send the men at the double
+up a hill like this."
+
+"Why not?  I should like to run too, only I so soon get tired."
+
+"You shall have a blow some day.  But I say, who's your mother?"
+
+"Mrs Corporal Joe Beane," was the prompt reply, and the boy drummed the
+mule's sides to make it go faster, but without effect.
+
+"Well, where did you live before Joe Beane found you?"
+
+"I don't know," said the boy, shaking his head, and Tom Jones stared
+hard with his mouth open before asking his next question.
+
+"I say, how's your head?"
+
+"Quite well, thank you," said the boy; "how's yours?"
+
+Tom scratched his as if he did not know.
+
+"Look here," he cried, after a pause, as a happy thought crossed his
+mind, and without pausing to state how his own head was, he fired off
+another question:--"I say, who did you live with before we found you?"
+
+"I don't know," said the boy, looking at him wonderingly, and as if he
+felt amused by his companion's questions.  "You ask mother."
+
+"Here!  Quick," whispered Tom.  "Give me my bugle."
+
+"Shan't.  I want it," replied the boy coolly.
+
+"But you must.  Here's the Colonel and half the officers reined up at
+the side to see us go by."
+
+He snatched the bugle away as he spoke and threw the cord over his
+shoulder, drawing himself up smartly, and keeping step with the guard.
+
+Mrs Corporal Beane had caught sight of the group of officers they were
+approaching, and with her heart in her mouth as she called it, she
+hurried up to the side of the mule, catching up to it just as they came
+abreast of the Colonel, a quiet stern-looking officer whose hair was
+sprinkled with grey.
+
+Nothing escaped his sharp eyes, and he pressed his horse's side and rode
+close to the baggage mule.
+
+"What boy's that, my good woman?"
+
+"Mine, sir," said Mrs Beane huskily.
+
+"Indeed?  Is that the little fellow who was found in the burned
+village?"
+
+"Yes, sir," faltered the woman, as she gazed in the Colonel's stern
+frowning countenance.
+
+"Humph!" he ejaculated, and drew rein for the rear of the regiment to
+file past.
+
+"And now my poor boy will be sent away, Joe," said the agitated woman
+that night; but Joe said nothing, not even when he felt his wife get up
+and go to where the little fellow was sleeping soundly, and he heard her
+utter a curious sobbing sound before she came to lie down again.
+
+But no orders were given next day for the boy to be sent to the rear,
+nor yet during the next week, during which the men were still hunting
+frogs, as they called it--frogs which took such big leaps that the
+toiling British soldiers could not come up to them.
+
+"Oh, if they only would let us," Joe used to say every night when he
+pulled off his boots to rest his feet.  "It's my one wish, for we must
+give 'em a drubbing, or we shall never have the face to go back to old
+England again."
+
+Joe had his wish sooner than he expected.
+
+It was in a wild mountainous part of the beautiful country, so full of
+forest and gorge that there was plenty of opportunity for the French to
+hide their force on the mountain slopes of a lovely valley and let the
+English regiment get well past them before they attacked.
+
+The result was a desperate fight which lasted a couple of hours before
+the 200th managed to extricate themselves with the loss of many killed
+and wounded, and in spite of every man fighting like a hero, they were
+beaten and had to suffer the miseries of a retreat as well as a defeat.
+
+But the 200th did not fall back many miles before the major of the
+regiment halted the main body of the men on the slopes of a rocky mount
+which he determined to hold and to give the scattered and wounded a
+chance to return, so a stand was made.  For there was no hiding the
+fact; the poor 200th had been badly beaten, as an English regiment might
+reasonably be when every man was surprised and called upon to fight six,
+mostly hidden from him by rocks and trees.
+
+The enemy did not follow their advantage, so that the English had the
+whole of that night to rest and refresh, though there was not much of
+either, for upon the roll of the companies being called a hundred brave
+men did not answer; many were wounded; and, worst misfortune of all, the
+Colonel was among the missing, and had been seen last fighting like a
+hero as he tried with a small company of men to save the baggage and
+ammunition.
+
+"And our poor boy, Joe," sobbed Mrs Corporal that night, as she sat by
+the watch-fire, "trampled down and killed, just as I had begun to love
+him as much as if he had been my own."
+
+"Cheer up, old lass," said Joe, wincing as he spoke, for a bullet had
+ploughed a nasty furrow in one arm; "we don't know yet that he isn't all
+right.  Prisoner, perhaps.  Let's wait till morning, and see."
+
+Mrs Corporal sobbed, and of course waited, with the men under arms all
+night and expecting an attack.
+
+But the night passed away without any alarm, and soon after sunrise in
+the beautiful chestnut wood, about fifty of the missing crawled back
+into camp, but there was no news of the Colonel, none of Dick, and poor
+Mrs Corporal Beane had another terrible trouble on her mind as she
+nursed and held water to her husband's feverish lips, for in the
+terrible fight at the surprise brave stout-hearted Joe Beane had been
+shot close to the Colonel's side, and he remembered seeing that officer
+wave his sword, and hearing him cry, "Forward, my lads; this way," but
+he could recollect no more.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+Dick could remember every thing that took place then, though all that
+had occurred before he was hurt still remained blank.  He remembered the
+crashing volleys fired from both sides of the gorge, and the way in
+which the long line of the marching regiment faced both ways and fired
+again, before making a brave charge forward, led by their officers, to
+fight their way through the enemy in front, but only to be beaten back,
+withered as their formation was by the terrible fire on all sides.  He
+remembered this, and how all of a sudden, as the mule he rode was
+carried along in the crowd, and he clung tightly to the bundle with
+which it was loaded, the poor beast suddenly stood still, uttered a
+strange squeal, and then reared up so that Dick was nearly jerked off.
+But the poor animal, which had been pierced through the lungs by a
+bullet, came down again on all-fours, and then dashed off at full gallop
+towards the clouds of smoke in front, bore off to the left as some
+dimly-seen men stabbed at it with their bayonets, and tore on over rock
+and bush, higher and higher up the side of the gorge, with Dick still
+clinging tightly to the ropes of the bundle, till all at once it uttered
+a shrill cry, reared up again, and then fell, throwing the boy down
+among the tangled growth, rolled over, once kicked out its legs for a
+few moments, and then lay perfectly still.
+
+Dick lay as still for a few minutes, feeling too much startled to move.
+Then he managed to crawl out of the rocky rift into which he had been
+thrown, and stood up, all ragged, with his red coatee split up the back,
+and one sleeve torn out at the shoulder.
+
+For a few minutes he stood listening to the shouting and firing far
+below and watched the smoke curling up; his face was all puckered up,
+and he rubbed himself where he was pricked and scratched.  Then he
+examined his damaged clothes, and lastly he climbed up to where the mule
+lay, on its side with its heels higher up the slope than its
+stretched-out neck and head.
+
+"Poor old fellow!" he said.  "Did the shooting frighten you?  Come on,
+get up."
+
+But the mule did not stir, and the boy knelt down by it to raise its
+head a little, but only to let it sink back, and shrink away, in
+horror--the poor animal, who had always been ready to eat grass or
+pieces of unripe melon from his hand, lay dead, pierced by the bullet,
+and bayonetted in three places by the French.
+
+And now the tears which the little fellow had manfully kept back began
+to flow fast, and he knelt down by the poor beast's side, feeling
+stunned.
+
+And as he knelt there the firing went on, but in a scattered way, as the
+200th fell back with the enemy in full pursuit, the boy turning at last
+to watch the progress of the fight far below and seeing the scarlet
+coats of his friends growing more and more distant in the smoke, and the
+blue uniforms of the French as they crowded after them, till the reports
+of the muskets grew faint; and the echoes from high up on either side of
+the gorge more soft till they died away.
+
+Dick's first idea was to hurry off, but there was only one way, and that
+was down the wooded ravine; but he could not go that way, for the place
+between him and his friends was swarming with the French soldiers, and
+he shuddered at the thought of trying to get through them.  He had of
+late seen and heard so much of their cruel acts.
+
+What should he do?
+
+He had hardly asked himself this question when he heard a shout, and his
+heart leaped--it was his friends coming back.
+
+No; he could see below him the uniforms of the French soldiers, and
+their bayonets flashing in the golden light of the sinking sun, and in
+fear he shrank back among the thick bushes and hid below the place where
+he had been thrown, to lie listening as the voices came nearer, a peep
+or two that he stole showing that the enemy were spread out low down by
+the rugged track, evidently very busy, and it seemed to the boy that
+they were hunting for him to kill him.
+
+He grew more and more sure of this as the voices came nearer, but at
+last he realised the truth--that the men were searching amongst the
+bushes for the wounded and dead.
+
+This went on for an hour, and Dick's courage rose as he saw them
+carrying man after man down to the track, men in red and men in blue,
+and bearing them away, with the voices growing fewer and fewer.
+
+"And it will soon be dark," the boy said to himself, "and then I can go
+back and find mother and father."
+
+Just then he heard shouts again, and he shrank back beneath the bushes,
+to listen, not understanding a word; but the voices came nearer and
+nearer and Dick's heart sank, for there was a shout and two men ran up
+to within a dozen yards of where the boy lay.
+
+"They can see me, and are going to shoot," he thought, and he shut his
+eyes and shivered, and thought of the corporal and his wife.
+
+But no shot was fired; no bright keen bayonet plunged through the
+bushes; and taking courage the boy raised his head and peered upward
+towards where two French soldiers were busy doing something, and another
+came and joined them, to stand talking and laughing.
+
+Then the boy grasped the fact that they had seen the mule, and were
+cutting the ropes and opening the pack to see if there was anything
+worth taking.
+
+At last the notes of a bugle came echoing up the ravine from side to
+side.
+
+The soldiers immediately rose from where they were busy, shouldered
+their muskets, and began to descend the slope, while Dick lay listening
+to the crackling and brushing sounds as they forced their way through
+the bushes.  There was another bugle call, and some time after another,
+sounding quite faint, and as the boy crept out of his hiding-place at
+last, to find the contents of the mule's pack, the belongings of the
+corporal's mess for the most part scattered about the ground, he looked
+keenly in search of danger!
+
+And how still it was!  Not a sound--even the cry of a bird; only a faint
+silvery rippling tinkle somewhere near; a sound which set the boy
+creeping, to find it low down between some rocks slippery with green
+moss which grew all about a tiny pool, into which after lying flat upon
+his chest he plunged his lips, and drank again and again to quench his
+thirst.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+That long, deep draught of sweet, cool water seemed to send fresh life
+through Dick, and he rose up, thinking that it would be easy now to get
+down to the track and find his way back to his friends, but he shook his
+head.
+
+No, he said, the Frenchmen would be about, and he might lose his way in
+the dark.  Better wait a bit.
+
+But it was so horribly lonely, and the stillness made him shiver as if
+he were cold, and obeying a natural instinct to be near something, he
+climbed back to where the dead mule lay, dragged a blanket from where
+the French soldiers had tossed it, and threw it over him.  Then he crept
+close to the mule's side, to sit watching the light die out on the tops
+of the mountains and the stars begin to come out.  His head began to
+sink sidewise, nodded once or twice, and in spite of the darkness and
+the horror of his situation he fell fast asleep, to begin dreaming of
+Mother Beane, of the camp-fire and the cooking, and Tom Jones the bugle
+boy making a horrible noise on his copper horn, as he would sometimes in
+play: and then he started into wakefulness, to crouch there listening,
+for the hoarse sound sounded again from somewhere below.
+
+The boy shuddered, for he knew it was not the note of the bugle, but a
+horrible long-drawn cry, faint and strange, and the cold drops began to
+gather on his forehead, for it sounded like the howling of a wolf, such
+a cry as he had heard Mother Beane talk about when telling him and Tom
+Jones about her adventures over the camp-fire.  He listened and
+shuddered as the cry came again out of the darkness: and then the
+frightened feeling passed away.
+
+"'Tisn't a wolf," he said, and he started to his feet.  "Where are you?"
+he shouted, wishing that he had not spoken in his excitement, for he
+felt that it might be a French soldier.  Then he began to feel his way
+slowly through the bushes, for it was no enemy who replied, but someone
+English calling out from the thick darkness of the night that terribly
+stirring word,--Help.
+
+Dick had only one thought then, a thought which overmastered fear.
+Someone was in trouble and wanted help.  It must be a wounded soldier,
+some one of his many friends who had chatted to him as he rode, for
+everyone in the regiment had a kind word to say.
+
+"Hoi!  Where are you?" he shouted, and the voice answered from very
+near: but the bushes were thick, the rocks many, and the darkness deep,
+so that it was some time before Dick could reach the spot and pass his
+hands over someone lying there.
+
+"Water."
+
+That was the only answer to his question, "Who is it?"
+
+Dick remembered the terrible thirst brought on by his own excitement,
+and the delicious draught of water from the little pool, as he eagerly
+turned away, wondering whether he could find the water again in the
+dark.
+
+"Of course I can," he said to himself the next minute, for he had only
+to listen to the musical trickling sound, and find the way by his ears.
+But the next trouble was not so easy to get over.  What was he to fetch
+the water in?
+
+He laughed softly to himself.  The mule had been loaded with things
+belonging to the corporal's mess, and he felt certain that he could find
+a tin.
+
+But he had first of all to find out where the dead mule lay, no easy
+task in a strange place, and in the dark: but he tried and tried again,
+twice over finding himself near the pool, and it was not until he had
+passed near it over and over again that he kicked against something
+thrown away by the French soldiers, and the rest was easy.  The next
+minute he was upon his knees searching about among the tumbled-together
+things, till to his great joy he touched the very article he wanted, and
+armed with this he sought for and found the little pool, filled the tin,
+and started upon the difficult task of carrying the water down a slope
+amongst rocks and trees and roots and creepers which seemed to be frying
+to trip him up.
+
+At last after trying for long enough he stopped short in despair,
+feeling completely lost.  Half the water had been spilt, and he had
+called again--"Where are you?" but there was no reply.  And now a
+terrible feeling of dread came over him again, as the thought took
+possession of his mind that the wounded man was dead.  So strong was
+this that it took away all the courage which had helped him so far, and
+in the poor fellow's misery and despair he felt that the only thing to
+do now was to sit down and let the tears run while he waited till it was
+morning.
+
+But that was not to be, for just when his courage was at its lowest ebb
+he started and nearly dropped the tin, for from out of the darkness
+close by there was a piteous moan, and as he sought cautiously for the
+place from whence it came, he was helped by a low muttering as of
+someone saying a prayer very slowly.  And it was, for he heard the
+words, "Thy will be done," and sank upon his knees by the sufferer's
+head without spilling another drop.
+
+Dick did not speak, but waited for the prayer to be finished: but there
+was no farther sound, and he whispered gently: "I've brought the water."
+
+Still there was no sound, and the boy began to think that he had come
+too late.
+
+He spoke again and again, but there was no reply, and after feeling
+about a little he dipped his fingers in the tin and let a few drops fall
+upon the poor fellow's dry lips.  Then more and more, as he found they
+moved.  Then he scooped up as much as his little hand would hold, guided
+it carefully and held it there so that a few drops trickled between the
+man's lips and the others ran over his face and neck, with a strangely
+reviving effect.  For there was a low sigh or two, and he could hear the
+sound repeated of his patient trying to swallow, after which his mouth
+opened widely, so that he was able to pour in more water, which now was
+swallowed with avidity.
+
+All this had such a reviving effect that suddenly to Dick's great
+delight there was a hoarse whisper--
+
+"More--more.  Water--water."
+
+This was responded to at once, and after a few more tiny portions had
+been poured between the sufferer's lips a hoarse voice said:--
+
+"Heaven bless you, it has saved my life."
+
+"Can you sit up a little and drink?" said Dick eagerly.
+
+"I don't know--I'll try."
+
+There was a faint rustling, a piteous groan of pain, and then:--
+
+"Now quick.  I can do no more.  Water."
+
+By touch Dick found that his companion had raised himself on one elbow,
+and he guided the tin to his lips with one hand, passing the other round
+the poor fellow's head to try and support him, as he drank eagerly till
+the last drops were drained from the tin.
+
+"Like life--like life," was sighed, and Dick felt his patient sink down
+again with a sigh of content.
+
+"Shall I fetch some more?" said the boy.
+
+"Not yet.  Tell me.  Who are you?  Is it a woman?"
+
+Dick laughed in his great joy at hearing the words.
+
+"No," he said: "it's only me."
+
+"You?  Who are you?"
+
+"Dick.  Mrs Corporal Beane's Dick."
+
+"Oh, my boy, my boy, you have saved my life," moaned the sufferer,
+catching the little fellow's hand and pressing it to his fevered lips.
+
+"But who are you?" said the boy.  "I don't know your voice."
+
+"Don't you, my brave little fellow?  Yes, you do--the Colonel, Colonel
+Lavis."
+
+"Oh," said Dick wonderingly, "and did somebody shoot you?"
+
+"Yes.  I was hit twice.  I crawled away among the bushes and rocks after
+I fell, and then all was dark, and I was trying to creep to where I
+could hear water.  But tell me, my brave lad.  They drove the Frenchmen
+off?"
+
+"No," said Dick sadly, and as he told all he knew the Colonel groaned
+again and again and to Dick's horror he heard him mutter to himself:--
+
+"Better that I had died--better that I had died than suffer this.  The
+defeat--the shame."
+
+Then all was still in the darkness, the fear began to creep into Dick's
+breast again, and he gently stretched out his hand to touch the
+Colonel's, when to his great joy his hand was seized: then another hand
+touched it, and he felt it kissed and then held fast, drawing him
+forward so that he half lay across the wounded man's breast, and could
+feel the beating of his heart, lying thinking there till he heard a low
+sigh or two, followed by a steady regular breathing as if he slept.
+
+And at last, utterly wearied out, sleep came to the boy as well, and he
+lay dreaming there, keeping what might have been the chill of death from
+a brave man's breast, till the sun rose again and was beating down
+warmly upon the back of Dick's head, when he opened his eyes to stare
+wonderingly at the stained and blackened face so close to his.
+
+Dick did not dare to stir for fear of awakening the Colonel again: but
+he was not asleep, for after a time he opened his eyes and smiled
+pleasantly.
+
+"The fortune of war, little comrade," he said.
+
+"Yes, sir," said Dick, and he stared at him, wondering that the stern,
+fierce officer who ordered the men about so could look so pleasant.
+
+"That's right," said the Colonel: "we have been successful many times.
+But let's see, Dick, you were brought into camp wounded."
+
+"Yes," said Dick.  "My head was very bad."
+
+"Of course.  I remember all about it.  How was it you were injured?"
+
+Dick shook the head that had been hurt.
+
+"You don't know?  But you speak well.  Who are your father and mother?"
+
+"Corporal Beane and Mrs Corporal."
+
+The Colonel looked at the boy curiously.
+
+"Yes," he said at last: "so I remember hearing.  Well, Dick, you were
+wounded, and we helped you: now it is my turn and you have helped me."
+
+"Yes," said Dick.
+
+"I am thirsty, my boy: will you fetch me some water?"
+
+"Yes," said Dick, seizing the tin.
+
+"But look carefully round: the enemy may be holding the ground."
+
+"Would they kill us if they saw us, sir?"
+
+"I hope not, boy: but if I can bear my wounds I'll keep in hiding, for
+my brave lads must make an effort to find us soon."
+
+"I'll mind," said Dick, and he took a long look round, and then crept on
+hands and knees to the spring, looked at it longingly, but forebore to
+drink, and filling the tin he bore it to the Colonel, who lay just as he
+had left him.
+
+"Can you lift my head, boy?" he said.  "Set down the tin."
+
+Not an easy thing to do without spilling the water, but Dick succeeded,
+and then managed with the Colonel's help to raise him a little so that
+he could reach the water, of which he drank with avidity and was once
+more lowered back, to lie faint and giddy for a few minutes, but he
+recovered soon and said he was better, speaking so freely and kindly to
+the boy that Dick took courage.
+
+"I say," he said: "you've got such a dirty face."
+
+"Have I, Dick?" said the Colonel, smiling.  "Yes, it's all over
+gunpowder, and all bloody.  Shall I wash it?"
+
+"Please, Dick, my boy," said the Colonel, and Dick took the tin to the
+spring as carefully as before, after looking up and down the great
+ravine, filled it, and this time had a good draught himself, and felt
+hungry as he took the refilled tin back, set it down by the Colonel's
+head, and then began to purse up his lips and think what he should do.
+
+He was not long making up his mind, and tearing the lining out of his
+damaged sleeve to soak in the water and use for a sponge.
+
+"But I haven't a towel," he said.
+
+"There's a clean handkerchief in the breast pocket of my coat," said the
+Colonel, smiling.  "Take it out."
+
+"That hurt you?" said Dick, after unbuttoning the uniform and taking out
+the carefully folded handkerchief just as Mrs Corporal Beane had
+brought it to him from the wash.
+
+"Yes, but not very much," said the Colonel.  "Go on, it will be cool and
+refreshing."
+
+He was in great pain, but he lay smiling with a very kindly, fatherly
+look at the clever little fellow, as Dick carefully washed away the
+stains, having to go over the officer's face twice before it was quite
+clean, after which he dried it, and knelt there looking at the bright
+sword which was hanging by its golden knot to the Colonel's right arm.
+
+"Shall I take that off before I wash your hands?"  The Colonel nodded
+and smiled in the same fatherly way as the boy unloosed the sword-knot,
+laid the weapon close by and then washed and dried the wounded man's
+hands.
+
+"I say," said Dick then, "I can tear this handkerchief when it's dry.
+Shall I tie up your cuts?"
+
+"No," said the Colonel sadly: "they must wait till the Doctor comes,
+Dick, if he ever does.  They are not cuts, my boy, but bullet-holes, and
+they have ceased to bleed.  Now what is to be done next?"
+
+"Get up, and let's find the men."
+
+"No, boy," said the Colonel sadly.  "I could not move.  We must wait.
+But you are hungry.  Were there any rations on the mule?"
+
+"No," said Dick, shaking his head: "they were on the other mule.  We
+must wait: but I am so hungry.  Aren't you?"
+
+"No," said the Colonel sadly, and his eyes wandered round, but he looked
+in vain.  They were in a wild ravine, and not so much as a berry was in
+sight.
+
+"We must wait, Dick," he said at last.  "Surely they will come in search
+of us soon."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+The sun shone down hotter and hotter, and all was still but the
+twittering of a bird at times.  Dick took the blanket he had wrapped
+about him overnight and spread it over two pieces of rock so as to form
+a screen, propping it a little with a broken bough or two.  So long as
+he was busy doing little things for the Colonel, Dick did not seem to
+mind so much, but just when the sun was highest and it was hotter than
+ever in the valley, the poor Colonel grew more feverish.  He asked for
+water often, and then all at once the boy felt frightened, for the
+wounded man began to talk and mutter wildly: then he began to shout to
+his men to come on and charge, and at last poor Dick broke down.
+Hunger, misery, loneliness and the heat, were too much for him: the wild
+nature of the Colonel's words, and his fierce look when he felt for and
+waved his sword, making the little fellow shrink away and go and sit
+behind a stone, his head aching, and the terrible solitude there amongst
+the mountains seeming more than he could bear.
+
+But as the evening came on and a soft breeze sprang up, a change came
+over the wounded man, and Dick heard himself called.
+
+He crept back to the Colonel's side, and the wounded man took his hand,
+and he said, "Can you be brave and strong?"
+
+"No, sir," faltered the boy, with his lip quivering, "but I'll try to
+be."
+
+"That is being brave, my boy.  Now look here, I have been asleep, and
+dreaming wild things, but I am cool and calm now.  Listen to me.  You
+are faint and hungry, and you must not stay here any longer.  You must
+go."
+
+"But I can't leave you all alone, sir."
+
+"You must, my boy.  Here is what I want you to do.  Throw the blanket
+over me and fill the tin with water."
+
+The boy did this and felt better, for it kept off the feeling of misery.
+
+"That is good," said the Colonel.  "Now start off at once down the
+valley, and if you see any of the French soldiers before you, strike off
+to left or right and try and get by them, and don't go down to the track
+again till they are left behind."
+
+"And then find our men, sir?" cried the boy excitedly.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And tell them where you are, and bring some back to carry you to your
+tent?"
+
+"Yes," said the Colonel, smiling.
+
+"But suppose I can't find them, sir?"
+
+"Then--" said the Colonel, looking sadly at the boy, before closing his
+eyes, "then--we won't talk about that, my boy: a brave little fellow
+like you must find them."
+
+"Yes, I'll try," said Dick eagerly.  "When shall I go?"
+
+"Now," said the Colonel, and the boy dashed off at once among the rocks
+and bushes, but in five minutes he was back again.
+
+"What, boy, do you give it up?"
+
+"No," said Dick stoutly.  "I was in such a hurry I didn't say good-bye,
+sir--and--and--"
+
+"Well, what?" said the Colonel, smiling, for the little fellow stopped.
+
+"I was afraid!"
+
+"Afraid?"
+
+"You'd think I didn't mind, and wanted to get away and leave you."
+
+"But you do not, my boy?"
+
+"Only to find someone to help you."
+
+The Colonel caught his hand and drew him down closer and closer till he
+could kiss him, when the tears started to Dick's eyes and he flung his
+arms round the wounded man's neck and clung to him and kissed him in
+return.
+
+"Now go, Dick," said the Colonel.  "I have just such a little fellow at
+home in England, and I want to see him again."
+
+"Have you?" cried Dick eagerly: "then I will find our men so that you
+shall."
+
+"Hah," sighed the Colonel as Dick started off, and he watched the boy
+till he disappeared.  Then he sighed again, drew the blanket more over
+him and closed his eyes, and as the sun went down and the darkness fell
+he sank into a deep sleep.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+It was just beginning to get dusk the next evening and the sentries
+about the little hill where the 200th lay had been doubled.  For the
+French regiments not many hundred yards away had crept in closer, and
+were so placed that the English were surrounded, and their case was very
+desperate, for though they had plenty of water their provender was
+getting low, and the scouts sent out had reported to the Major that it
+looked as if an attack was going to be made.
+
+So the wounded had been placed together behind a rough wall built of
+pieces of rock, and the men stationed, all hungry and desperate, ready
+to meet the enemy when they came and drive them back.
+
+"And oh, dear!  It's weary work," said Mrs Corporal, who had had
+nothing to cook for the men, but made up for it by acting as nurse and
+helping the wounded.
+
+She was kneeling down by Corporal Beane when she spoke, and had been
+trying to comfort him, for he had done nothing but growl because the
+doctor said he must not think of getting up, and as she talked to him
+she said suddenly: "Oh, if I could only know what has become of my boy."
+
+She stopped short, for at that moment a shot was fired, and Corporal
+Beane sat up and reached for his musket.
+
+"Here they come," he cried.  "I don't care what the doctor says--I won't
+lie here.  Give me my cartridge-box, old woman: I'm going to fight."
+
+There was another shot, close at hand, and then a shrill voice rang
+out:--"Oh, don't shoot--don't shoot!"
+
+"_My boy Dick_!" shouted Mrs Beane, and she rushed out, as torn and
+bleeding, the boy staggered up between two of the men, and the next
+minute was surrounded by the officers, but could not speak for
+exhaustion: but he made signs for water, drank some thirstily, and one
+of the sentries stated to the Major that he had seen something crawling
+up towards his post and fired.
+
+"And then I see it, and fired too, sir," said the other.
+
+"Poor boy," cried the Major.  "Where are you hurt?"
+
+"I don't know--everywhere.  I'm scratched, and I tumbled, and my knees
+are sore.  But do go directly, oh!  Do go, or he'll be dead."
+
+It was some time before in his weak, half-starved state the poor boy
+could make them understand, for he had completely broken down: and it
+was not until he had swallowed a little biscuit soaked in wine, as he
+lay with his head in Mrs Beane's lap, that he at last told hysterically
+of how he had managed to crawl by the French outposts and reached his
+friends.
+
+His last words were, "Why don't you go?--the Colonel--you'll be too
+late."
+
+There was silence for a few minutes, all present watching the little
+messenger as he lay back insensible in Mrs Beane's arms.
+
+Then the Major walked away: the men were formed up in a hollow square:
+and he addressed them and told them that their Colonel was lying wounded
+and dying away yonder, on the slope of the ravine, and he called for
+volunteers to fetch him in.
+
+They stepped forward to a man, and a strong company was told off under
+one of the captains, the doctor being of the party, and the men carrying
+a litter ready for their load.
+
+"But we must have the boy for a guide," said the Major.
+
+There were difficulties in the way, and Mrs Corporal Beane was
+consulted, for it was evident that Dick was in too exhausted a state to
+be moved, and she said so as she paused for a few moments in the task of
+giving him food, a little at a time.
+
+"No, I'm not, sir," said the boy, to the great surprise of all present.
+"I can't walk, but if father came too he could carry me on his back, and
+I'll show you the way."
+
+There was a moment's silence, and Mrs Corporal sobbed.
+
+"He's wounded badly, my dear," she said, kissing him: "but I'm as stout
+and strong as father is, and I'll go and carry you."
+
+"With every man of us to help you," cried the Captain, and in half an
+hour's time, aided by the darkness, the little party stole out of the
+fortified camp, and by great good fortune passed with Dick's guidance
+beyond the enemy's lines.  Then every effort was made, and soon after
+daybreak the spot where the disastrous fight had been was reached.
+
+It was a sad group which surrounded the motionless figure lying covered
+with a blanket, which the doctor removed and knelt down; Dick struggling
+to the other side, while the Captain and his men waited to hear the
+worst.
+
+"We are not too late," said the doctor, rising: and after administering
+stimulants, the words proved true, for the Colonel opened his eyes,
+looked wildly round, and then smiled as his gaze rested upon Dick, who
+was holding his hand.
+
+"Thank you, Dick, boy," he said, in a faint whisper.  "I knew you
+would."
+
+The cheer which rose from the men made the rocks echo again, and the
+Captain turned from grasping his old friend's hand, and said sharply:--
+
+"Silence in the ranks--no, I mean, another cheer, my lads."
+
+And it was given.
+
+A short halt was made by the pool, while stimulants were administered
+again to the Colonel, and Mrs Beane insisted on Dick having more, the
+men eating their scanty rations by the pool.  Then the wounded man was
+carefully laid in the litter so that Dick could lie there too, with his
+head the opposite way: the men raised their poles, and the march back
+was begun.
+
+It was just after dark that evening that they were proceeding very
+cautiously, when there was a sudden outburst of firing.
+
+The Captain needed no telling what was going on, for the long expected
+attack was being made upon the weakened regiment upon the hill.  He did
+not hesitate, but pressed on with his little band, quite unnoticed by
+the attacking force, coming upon their rear in the darkness just as they
+were receiving a check from the brave defenders of the camp, and the
+Captain poured in volley after volley so unexpectedly that the French
+broke, and began to retreat before their foes.  The Major, grasping what
+had occurred, turned his defence into a brave attack, and the result was
+that in a few minutes the enemy was in full retreat, and soon after,
+this in their confusion became a rout.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+In a month's time, in spite of weakness, the Colonel had sufficiently
+recovered to resume the command of his regiment, and Dick was the hero
+and idol of the men.
+
+But poor Mrs Corporal Beane was jealous and unhappy--jealous because
+the Colonel made so much of Dick; unhappy on account of the Corporal,
+whose recovery was very slow.  But the Colonel, she owned, behaved very
+well to her.  He said that he would not interfere much, as he looked
+upon herself as the boy's mother, but sooner or later they would find
+out who Dick's parents were, and that he should stay with the regiment,
+but he must be looked after well.
+
+"As if he could be looked after better," Mrs Corporal said to her
+invalid husband.  "I do look after you well, Dick, don't I?"
+
+"Yes, mother; of course you do," said the boy.
+
+"And love you too; and you love me and father, don't you?"
+
+"Why, you know I do," said the boy, laughing, "and Colonel Lavis sent
+for the tailor this morning, and I was measured for a new uniform like
+the men in the band."
+
+"Bless us and save us!" cried Mrs Beane.  "Well, that is handsome of
+him, but like a drummer, Dick, not with gold lace?"
+
+"Yes, scarlet and gold," said the little fellow proudly; "and I'm to
+learn to play."
+
+It would be a long story to tell of the terrible fights the 200th were
+in all through that terrible Peninsular War: but Dick was with the
+regiment and through it all, not fighting, but with the doctor and the
+men whose duty it was to look after the wounded, and many were the
+blessings called down upon the head of the brave boy, who seemed to bear
+a charmed life, as he ran here and there with water to hold to the lips
+of the poor fellows who were stricken down.
+
+But all things have an end, the bad like the good, and in the days of
+peace the 200th were being feasted at one of the towns by the Portuguese
+gentry and some of the English merchants who had been nearly ruined by
+the war.
+
+Dick was in it all, for he was strong and well as could be--happy too as
+a boy, but his memory was still a perfect blank about the past.  He
+could recall everything which had happened since he was nursed back to
+health and strength, but nothing more; and poor Corporal Joe, who was
+never likely to be able to join the ranks again, and only too grateful
+at being allowed to act as the Colonel's servant, never mentioned to the
+boy the day when he found him up at the burning house.
+
+"Only set him thinking about them murdering camp-followers, missus, and
+make him unhappy, and we don't want that, do us?"
+
+"No, Joe, dear," she cried; "I should think we don't."
+
+And so the time had nearly come for the remnant to march to the port and
+embark for England, when a farewell party was given to the officers by a
+Mr and Mrs Trevor, the principal merchant and his lady, and out of
+compliment the Colonel and officers sent the band up to the mansion to
+play in the garden during dinner, Dick being told that he might go with
+the musicians to see the sight.
+
+Everyone of note was there, and the sight was grand in the lit-up
+grounds.  There was feasting and speech-making and thanks given to the
+brave men who had saved the country from the oppressor, and the Colonel
+returned thanks.
+
+It was just then that the band-master turned to Dick and said:--
+
+"Go up to the Colonel and ask him if we shall play the dance music now."
+
+The band was stationed by one of the open windows, and Dick, in his best
+uniform, had only to step in and go round behind the Colonel's chair to
+whisper to him.
+
+"Ah, Dick, my boy," he said.  "Dance music?  Yes.  Stop; I'll ask our
+hostess.  By the way, Mrs Trevor," he said, turning to the tall,
+sad-looking lady at whose side he was sitting, "let me introduce to you
+the greatest man in our corps, the brave little fellow who saved my
+life."
+
+Mrs Trevor turned smilingly round, when a sunburned gentleman on her
+other side gave utterance to a gasp and sprang from his chair.
+
+"My dear madam," cried the Colonel, "are you ill?"
+
+For Mrs Trevor uttered a wild cry, as, to the astonishment of all, the
+little fellow in scarlet and gold sprang to her side and threw his arms
+about her neck.
+
+"_Oh, mother_!  Why, father," he cried, "do you live here?"
+
+The boy's memory of the past had come back like a flash of light, and as
+he caught at Mr Trevor's hand he suddenly turned pale, shivered, and
+clapped his hands to the scar upon his head, for the horror of the scene
+before he was struck down by one of a gang of French camp-followers came
+back to him with terrible vividness.
+
+The banquet was nearly at an end when this scene took place and after
+warm congratulations from the visitors, they had the good taste to hurry
+away, and the band was dismissed, the Colonel only stopping with the boy
+to help him relate how he was retained in the regiment.
+
+He heard in return an explanation from Mr Trevor, who told how it was
+that the burned house was their country villa among the mountains, where
+in ignorance of danger being near, the boy was left with the servants
+for a few hours, the father and mother returning to find only smoking
+ruins and the traces of a horrible massacre having taken place.  So
+convinced were they that their son had perished in the fire with the
+servants that no search was made, and the Trevors fled, glad to escape
+with their lives, Mr Trevor having a hard task to restore his wife to
+reason after the terrible shock.
+
+To them their child was dead, and they had felt that they would never
+thoroughly recover from the dreadful blow.
+
+"But you see, Colonel, one never knows what is in store, and it is not
+right to despair.  Now, how can we thank you enough for all that you
+have done?"
+
+"I don't want thanks," said the Colonel.  "I ought to thank you for all
+that he so bravely did for me; and besides, Dick, boy, there was someone
+else who--"
+
+He stopped, for a servant entered the room.
+
+"I beg pardon, sir, but there's a woman and a soldier outside.  I told
+them you were engaged, but the woman said she would see you."
+
+"A woman and a soldier?" cried Mr Trevor--"will see me?"
+
+"I know," cried Dick excitedly, "it's mother and father--I mean--I--"
+
+He too stopped short, and looked from one to the other.  "I mean," he
+cried bravely, "my other father and mother, who saved me and brought me
+back to life."
+
+"Where is he?" cried an angry voice in the hall.  "I will see him.
+Dick, my darling Dick!"
+
+Mrs Trevor turned white, and a pang shot through her, as she saw her
+newly-recovered son rush to the door, throw it open and call out
+loudly:--"Here I am, mother: this way."
+
+"Oh, my darling!" cried Mrs Corporal: "I've just heard--Oh, what does
+it mean?  I--I beg your pardon, my lady, and you too, sir, and Colonel,
+but--but they've been telling me--"
+
+"Yes, it's all true," cried Dick, interrupting her.  "Mother dear, this
+is my other mother, and father dear, this is Corporal Joe."
+
+"Oh--oh--oh!" sobbed Mrs Corporal wildly; "after all this time, and me
+getting to love him and look upon him as my own!  Oh, my lady, my lady,
+you never would be so cruel as to take him away?  It would be so wicked,
+so hard upon us now."
+
+"My own boy?" said Mrs Trevor gently, as Dick stood gazing wildly from
+one to the other.
+
+"But for us never to see him again," cried Mrs Corporal fiercely, and
+she caught the boy by the arm.  "Don't say you won't love us still, Dick
+dear!"
+
+"Why should he say such cruel words to one who has been a second mother
+to him,--to one who brought him back to life?  And why should you never
+see him again?  We are going to England too, and while we have a home it
+shall be yours as well."
+
+Mrs Trevor took the rough woman's hand, leaned towards her, and kissed
+her cheek.
+
+"For saving my darling's life," she said softly, and then burst into
+tears.
+
+Poor Mrs Corporal's anger melted at this, and she caught Mrs Trevor's
+hand in hers and kissed it again and again.
+
+"Oh, my dear lady," she sobbed; "I'm a wicked, selfish woman, and he is
+your own flesh and blood.  Come with you to be where I could always see
+the dear, brave, darling boy?  Oh, I'd go down on my knees and be
+thankful, but I can't leave my poor man.  I wouldn't if he was strong
+and well, and now he's wounded and broken and got to leave the
+regiment--no, not if we had to beg our bread from door to door.  Kiss
+me, my darling boy, once more, and then--oh Joe, my man, I can't bear
+it!  Take me away, take me away."
+
+Joe, who had stood back stiffly in the background near where Dick's
+father was whispering with Colonel Lavis, took two steps to the front
+with a painful limp, saluted the company, and caught his half-blind wife
+in his arms.
+
+"It's quite right, my lass," he said huskily, "and--from my heart, my
+lady, I say thank God the dear lad's coming to his own.  Don't mind what
+the missus said--she--she, you see, loved him, and--good-bye, Master
+Dick, my lad--good--"
+
+"Stop," said Mr Trevor, stepping towards him with his eyes moist, and
+clapping the invalided soldier on the shoulder.  "Corporal, your Colonel
+says that you are as brave and true a man as ever stepped.  I feel that
+it must be so.  While I live the wounded soldier to whom we owe so much
+shall never want a home.  Dick, as they call you--Frank, my boy, what do
+you say to this?"
+
+"Say?" faltered the boy, as he stood trembling, and then he could not
+speak.  The next moment he had rushed to his mother to kiss her
+passionately, giving her a look that seemed to say, "Don't think I shall
+not love you more than ever;" and then he ran and caught Joe's hand,
+holding it fast for a moment, before flinging his arms about poor Mrs
+Corporal's neck, to whisper something in her ear which made the poor
+woman wipe away her tears.
+
+"Hah!" cried the Colonel huskily, "this is peace indeed."
+
+That night mother and father stole hand in hand into the room next their
+own, where their son lay sleeping peacefully.  They did not bend down to
+kiss him lest he should start awake, but they knelt by his side in
+thankfulness for the great joy which filled their hearts, before
+thinking sadly of those to whom they owed so much.
+
+Strangely enough, just about the same time Mrs Corporal rose from her
+knees and said:--
+
+"There, Joe, old man, I won't cry another drop, for I feel now that it's
+right and what should be.  But just in here somewhere there's a little
+place where he'll always seem to be--our soldier boy to the very end."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Soldier Boy, by George Manville Fenn
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR SOLDIER BOY ***
+
+***** This file should be named 21371.txt or 21371.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/3/7/21371/
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.