"Nothing serious, I hope ?" "No, I think not; but it's confoundedly painful.

It was a French lancer did it.

Fortunately one of the men bayoneted him at the very instant he struck me, and it was only the head of the lance that went through my arm.

Still, it made a hole big enough to be uncommonly painful; the more so because it gave it a frightful wrench as the man dropped the lance.

However, there is nothing to grumble at; and I may consider myself lucky indeed to have got off with a flesh wound when so many good fellows have fallen." "Yes, considering the number engaged, the losses have been terribly heavy," the major said.