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Jerry did go, and nursed his master after wounds received in struggles with the Hill Tribes, and, after fever, too; but never was Sir Richard Frayne so near death as upon that day when he was borne back to Ratcham upon a hurdle and the truth came out. "Ah!" Jerry used to mutter sometimes over his pipe, "that was a narrow squeak.
"Now then," said the doctor, "the poor fellow ought to be taken over to Ratcham to the military hospital; but you had better get a door, and we'll lay him on that and you will carry him to the Seven Steers. It isn't above a mile, is it?" "Mile an harf, sir," said Joe. "Well, he must be carried there. To-morrow the people at Ratcham will send an ambulance to fetch him. Now, then, a light door."
No: every cad does that. I'll take my dearly beloved, sanctified cousin for a model, and be very good and saving. I won't waste all old Draycott's military teaching; it would be a pity!" "What do you mean?" cried Richard. "To go over to Ratcham and take the shilling. Perhaps I shall rise from the ranks." "Go and think about what I've said, and come back when you get cool.
It was all very simple and unadventurous, but everyone seemed to enjoy it the men whose march had only been from Ratcham and those whose dusty clothes told of the many long miles they had tramped since early morn. The crowd was greater than ever when the town was reached again, the 205th's band leading them and making the streets echo to the strains of "The British Grenadiers."
"Yes; but it is impossible for the men to carry him all the way to Ratcham. If you would drive on and give notice at the barracks, they would send their ambulance and take him at once to the hospital." "The hospital?" said the girl piteously. "What a fool I am!" thought the young doctor, whose sympathies were aroused by this great display of interest; "I am throwing away an interesting patient."
No; he must sleep at Ratcham that night, and make for Quitnesbury in the morning. There was a cavalry depot there; and if he failed again, he could go on to Ranstone.
Reaching forward, he caught it up, drew back and disappeared through the drooping hops, passing from one alley to another, till he elected to walk straight on to a coppice on the other side; here lighting his cigar afresh, he began to walk back toward Ratcham at a slow steady pace, and without meeting a soul; neither did he hear the barking of the dog again.
"From London. I know!" "Nonsense! he lives in Ratcham. It is only meant for a pleasant little surprise." "To find the plate gone, eh!" "I tell you we were going to play a tune or two!" "Then where's your organ?" "Absurd!" "Fiddles, then?" "Fiddles nonsense! Here are our instruments." Dick unbuttoned the loose overcoat and brought out the two flutes.
"Rather worse than an accident, I'm afraid," said the doctor, raising his hat in a combination of respect and admiration for the speaker. "A young soldier has been found injured by a bullet." "And you are taking him to Ratcham?" "No; to the neighbouring public-house. But, may I ask, are you going into Ratcham?"
"But you say you know what is in that note?" "Oh, yes!" "You've read it?" "Not that." "What do you mean?" Jerry took a closely-folded newspaper from his pocket. "Ratcham, Dolchester, and Froude Magnet, sir Richard Smithson," he read, and then doubling it closely, held it out, pointing to a paragraph. "My eyes swim. I don't understand what you mean, Jerry." "Shall I read it, sir?" "Yes."
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