Evening star., 1930-06-26
Continued From Yesterdays Star }


got one quickly"
He turned a wooden case on its side
and sat down near the bed. For 9
time there was no sound but the rum
bic of the guns and the cracking OF
rife fire. Presently Raleigh spoke again
in a wondering voice.
"Why-how did I get down here?"
"A couple of men brought you down. y
Something hit me in the back
knocked me clean over-sort of winded
me. Yes, I remember that. I'm all
right now"
Stanhope leant forward to check his
attempt 10 riSe!s STEADY, old boy" he
urged. Better Just lie quietly for a
bit"
Raleigh argued with the petulance OF
an invalid. III be better if get up
8 and walk about. 1t happened once
BEFORE at Rugger. DFyou remember in
the junior cup final? I got Kicked. 1t
soon wore of. lit just makes you
numb for bit"
The noise of the guns became so in
sistent that it caught his attention.
what's that rumbling noise?" he
asked.
''The guns are making a, bit of a
row"
"our guns?"
'No. Mostly THEIRS
The two in the dugont listened to it
in the awed silence of 2ittle boys ex-
cited and alarmed by thS rumble. and
echo of thunder at night. It was
exhilarating as we'll as terrifying, and
the pale gray of the dawn Was stabbed
by sharp flashes of light. Stanhope
knew that he ought to be Sup there
with his men. But how badly was
Jimmy hit? Could he be left alone?
He turned to him. and found Ethat ne
was trying to speak.
What is it, Jimmy?" he asked,
ct say, Dennis" came the uneasy
reply. tit hasn't gone through. has
it? 1t only just hit me-and knocA ed
me DOWN."
1t was so hard to deceive Jimmy "IGs
gone through just bit. old chap"
Il won't have to-to go on lying
here?"
Good Lord, no. I'm going to have
you taken away. Down to the dressing
station-then hospital-then home.
You've got a Blighty one, Jimmy. Home
again, my lad. Just think of that!"
HomeI That meant a few weeks in
clean wards, without any mud, and
a few weeks sick leave in Alum Green.
Perhaps he would be able to get sent
to Madges hospital at Bournemouth.
Luck had brought him to Dennis COM
pany; why shouldn't it take him to
Madge's ward2
SIdIlI1Ope. UOOs Was I1AUlAlI4& "a C0u06S
and Alum Green.
You'll be able to write and tell me
If there are still trout in the Highland
he said.
But one couldn't go. home and leave
Dennis out here. 1t was absurd to go
back after three or four days. Raleigh,
stirred uneasily. st can't be sent down
the line just for knock in the bach" !"
he protested. I'm certain III be better
H-if I get up"
He tried TO raise. himself on. his
elbows, but collapsed with sudden
cry. "Oh, God 1t does hurt!" There
was a new note of fear in his voice.
TITS bound to hurt, Jimmy" Stanhope
told him quietly. 1t was almost as
that friendly, comforting assurance Of
his
What's on my legs? Something hold
ing them down"
TITS all right old chap. It's just the
shock-numbed them a. Bit"
Silence fell between them again. The
dim light of the dawn, creeping down
the dugout steps. made the. flickerfng
candles pale. Stanhope wondered what
he had better do He ought to be out
there with the men, but he could not
leave Jimmy like this. The stretcher-
bearers must be along in a minute now.
TITS awfully decent of you to bother,
they were friends again each knew 50
much of what the other was thinking.
''I feel rotten lying here, with every
body else up there. Trotter-good old
Trotter-and the others"
ITS not your fault, Jimmy"
so damn sily-getting hit so soon.
1s.there-just a drop of water?"
"Rather!" Stanhope Jumped to his
feet, thankful 10 be active again. It
didn't seem sof beastly when he could
be doing something to help. Here we
are!" He poured some water into q
mug on the table, and brought it over
to. Raleigh. Got some tea. leaves in
It," he announced cheerfully. "D'you
mind?"
NO that's all right"
Stanhope put his arm gently under
the boys head, and propped him up
while he drank
Il say, Dennis" Raleigh continued,
don't you wait if-if you want to, be
getting on"
ITS quite all right, Jimmy. Be-
sides, they'll be taking you down the
line in no time now"
Can you stay for a bit, them"
"Of course I can"
Thanks awfully.'
Silence again in the dugout-there
wasn't anything to be said. Stanhope
sat with his hand on RaleighS arm.
The war had fallen away from them,
and they were schoolboys together
again, facing something they did not
quite understand and trying not to
think about it. Words would only have
spoiled things, for Stanhope could not
have kept his pretense of confident
optimism.
But presently Raleigh spoke again,
his voice very faint. Gould we have
light?" he asked. "It's-it,s so fright
fully dark and cold"
Sure. I'll fetch a candle and anoth-
er blanket"
He brought the two candles that were
burning on the table over as near the
bed as he could, and fixed two more in
empty whisky bottles. Then he went
in search of a blanket There was
nothing on Osborne's bed. except some
old brown paper with which some one
had tried to minimize the, sharp dis
comfort Of the wire netting, so he
stopped and went into the dugout which
had been occupied by Trotter, HILBERT
and Jimmy himself.
1t was very still while he was away
The only movement was that Of tht
candles, f1inching at the explosion oi
every shell; the only noise, except from
the trenches, was a tiny Sound-some-
thing between a sob and a moan
which came from Raleigh,
Stanhope hurried back with TIVE
blankets over his arm. He put ont
been sitting, and carefully spread tht
other over the wounded boy.
1T that better, Jimmy?" he asked
cheerfully, ''or would you like another
one?"
There was no reply.
Jimmy :" He picked up 9
candle from the table. and brought il