The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-06-11

where she had left him, TO see how il
went with this man whom she was SO
careful should never know that which
he had owed to her. 1t went well with
him, thanks to her. Care and strength
ening nourishment and the skill OF her
attendance had warded OF all danger
from his wound.
How goes the day. III. Victor? So
you got sharp scratches, | hear? All.
that was a splendid thing we had yes
terdayl When did you go down? We
charged together she cried gayly to
him. Then her voice dropped sudden
IL, with an indescribabie sweetness
and change of tone. $50 you suffer
stilli" she asked softly. E.
Coming close up to where be lay on
the straw, she saw the exhausted Ian
guor of his regard, the heavy darkness
under his eyelids, the effort with which
his lips moved as the faint words came
broken through them.
Not very much, my dear, l thank
you. I shall be fit for harness in a day
or two Do not let them send me into
hospital. I shall be perfectly-well-
SOON"
Cigarette swayed herself upon the
wheel and leaned toward him, touching
and changing his bandages with clever
hands.
'aThey have dressed your wound i'll.
Whose doing is thatr"
'It 10 nothing. l have been half cut
A. >tonoo I1f1ro rA- Thfc sc a mara
bngatelle. 1t is only
THAT 1t hurts you to breathe? !
know. Have they given you anything
to eat this morning.
mo. Everything is in confusion.
We
She did not stay for the conclusion
of his sentence. She had darted off
quick as a swallow. OF the few hun
dreds that had been left after the ter
rife onslaught of the past day some
were employed far out thrusting their
own dead into the soil: others were re-
moving the tents and all the equipage
OF the camp; others were busted with
the wounded. of whom the greatest suf-
ferers were TO be borne to the nearest
hospital that nearest many leagues
away over the wild and barren coun-
try, while those who were likely TO be
ngain soon ready for service were to be
escorted to the headquarters of the
main army. Among the latter Cecil
had ~passionately entreated to be mum
bered- His prayer vas granted TO the
man who had kept at the head of his
chasseurs and borne aloft the tricolor
through the whole Of the war tempest
on which the da wn had risen and which
had barely lulled and sunk by the set
ting of the sun. ~Chateauroy was away
with the other five of his squadrons.
and the zouave major. the only officer
Of any rank who had come alive through
the conflict. had himself visited BERTHE
and given him warn words of eulogy
and ven of gratitude that had soldier
ly sincerity and cordiality in them.
your conduct was magnificent" he
had said. as be had turned away. st
shall be my care that 1t is duly re-
ported and rewarded"
Cigarette was but a few seconds
absent: she soon bounded back like
the swift little chamois she was. bring
ing with her a huge bowlful of red
wine with bread broken in 1t.
This Is the best | could get" she
said: at is better than nothing. 1t
will strengthen you"
what have you had yourself. little
one?"
"Ah. bah! Leave off thinking for
others: ! breakfasted long ago." she
answered him. fShe had only eaten a
biscuit well nigh as hard as a fint.)
Take there. | will hold it for you"
She pcrehed herself on the wheel
like u bird or a twig; she had a birds
power OF alighting and sustaining her
self on the most difficult and most
airy elevation: but Cecil turned his
eyes on the only soldier In the cart
besides himself. one OF the worst men
in his reglment-a murderous. sullen,
black browed. evil wretch. filter for
the bench of the convict galley than
for the ranks of the cavalry.
"Giye half to Zackrist," he said. u
know no hunger. and he has more
need OF It,
"Zackristi That Is the man who stole
Jour lance and accouterments. and got
you into trouble by taking them to
pawn In your name. a year or mora
ago"
well. what of that? He is not the
less hungry"
"Wbat OF that? Why. you were going
TO be disgraced for the affair. because
you would not tell of him. II vlreaou
had not found out the rights of the
matter In timer"
what has that to do with it,"
This. NJ. ~victor-that you are a
fool"
Il dare cay I an. But that does not
make Zackrist less hungry"
He took the bowl from her hands.
and emptylng n little Of 1t into the
wooden cup that hung to her belt. kept
that for himself. and. stretching his
arm across the straw. gave the bowl to
Zackrist. who had watched it with
The longing. rayenous eyes of a starv-
ing wolf. and seized 1t with rabid
hyidity.
A smile passed over Cecils face.
amused despite the pain he suffered.