“No, I’m not dead—­I’m not going to die.”

Willings gave an exclamation of surprise.

“Well, there’s grit for you,” said the other surgeon.  “We’ll take him next.”

“Straighten him out there, won’t you?” said Crittenden, gently, as the two men stooped for him.

“Don’t put him in there, please,” nodding toward the trench behind the tents; “and mark his grave, won’t you, Doctor?  He’s my bunkie.”

“All right,” said Willings, kindly.

“And Doctor, give me that—­what he has in his hand, please.  I know her.”

* * * * *

A tent at Siboney in the fever-camp overlooking the sea.

“Judith!  Judith!  Judith!”

The doctor pointed to the sick man’s name.

“Answer him?”

But the nurse would not call his name.

“Yes, dear,” she said, gently; and she put one hand on his forehead and the other on the hand that was clinched on his breast.  Slowly his hand loosened and clasped hers tight, and Crittenden passed, by and by, into sleep.  The doctor looked at him closely.

He had just made the rounds of the tents outside, and he was marvelling.  There were men who had fought bravely, who had stood wounds and the surgeon’s knife without a murmur; who, weakened and demoralized by fever now, were weak and puling of spirit, and sly and thievish; who would steal the food of the very comrades for whom a little while before they had risked their lives—­men who in a fortnight had fallen from a high plane of life to the pitiful level of brutes.  Only here and there was an exception.  This man, Crittenden, was one.  When sane, he was gentle, uncomplaining, considerate.  Delirious, there was never a plaint in his voice; never a word passed his lips that his own mother might not hear; and when his lips closed, an undaunted spirit kept them firm.

“Aren’t you tired?”

The nurse shook her head.

“Then you had better stay where you are; his case is pretty serious.  I’ll do your work for you.”

The nurse nodded and smiled.  She was tired and worn to death, but she sat as she was till dawn came over the sea, for the sake of the girl, whose fresh young face she saw above the sick man’s heart.  And she knew from the face that the other woman would have watched just that way for her.

XIII

The thunder of big guns, Cervera’s doom, and truce at the trenches.  A trying week of hot sun, cool nights, tropical rains, and fevers.  Then a harmless little bombardment one Sunday afternoon—­that befitted the day; another week of heat and cold and wet and sickness.  After that, the surrender—­and the fierce little war was over.

Meantime, sick and wounded were homeward bound, and of the Crittendens Bob was the first to reach Canewood.  He came in one morning, hungry and footsore, but with a swagger of importance that he had well earned.