She had just come on deck after a long and trying session in assisting Doctors Gys and Kelsey to care for the injured, a session during which Beth and Patsy had also stood nobly to their gruesome task.  There were eleven wounded, altogether, in their care, and although some of these were in a critical condition the doctors had insisted that the nurses needed rest.

“It is Dr. Gys who deserves credit for fitting the ship,” replied Mr. Merrick, modestly, to Maud’s enthusiastic comment, “and Ajo is responsible for the ship itself, which seems admirably suited to our purpose.  By the way, how is Gys behaving now?  Is he still shaking with fear?”

“No, he seems to have recovered his nerve.  Isn’t it a terrible affliction?”

“Cowardice?  Well, my dear, it is certainly an unusual affliction in this country and in these times.  I have been amazed to-day at the courage I have witnessed.  These Belgians are certainly a brave lot.”

“But no braver than the German we brought with us,” replied Maud thoughtfully.  “One would almost think he had no sensation, yet he must be suffering terribly.  The doctor will amputate the remnants of his foot in an hour or so, but the man positively refuses to take an anaesthetic.”

“Does he speak English or French?”

“No; only German.  But Captain Carg understands German and so he has been acting as our interpreter.”

“How about the Belgian we picked up on the road?”

“He hasn’t recovered consciousness yet.  He is wounded in the back and in trying to get to the rear became insensible from loss of blood.”

“From what I saw I wouldn’t suppose any Belgian could be wounded in the back,” remarked Uncle John doubtfully.

“It was a shell,” she said, “and perhaps exploded behind him.  It’s a bad wound, Dr. Gys says, but if he regains strength he may recover.”

During this conversation Patsy Doyle was lying in her stateroom below and crying bitterly, while her cousin Beth strove to soothe her.  All unused to such horrors as she had witnessed that day, the girl had managed to retain her nerve by sheer force of will until the Red Cross party had returned to the ship and extended first aid to the wounded; but the moment Dr. Gys dismissed her she broke down completely.

Beth was no more accustomed to bloodshed than her cousin, but she had anticipated such scenes as they had witnessed, inasmuch as her year of training as nurse had prepared her for them.  She had also been a close student of the daily press and from her reading had gleaned a knowledge of the terrible havoc wrought by this great war.  Had Patsy not given way, perhaps Beth might have done so herself, and really it was Maud Stanton who bore the ordeal with the most composure.