Then there seemed a slight quiver, and as I listened still, a faint throb.

He lived still! How I longed for help to come! And before long it came.

Two soldiers of Charlie's regiment came out of the fort and walked straight towards us.
"It was close to the breach he dropped," said one.
"Come on, then," said the other, "and we may be in time." They were not long in finding the object of their search, and leant eagerly over him.
"He's dead, poor fellow!" said the first; "shot right through the heart!" "So he is," said the other.

"It must have--wait a bit!" cried he, in sudden excitement.

"Feel here, Tom, quick! he's alive yet! Oh, if we could only get hold of a doctor!" "Is there one about at all ?" "Not that I know of, unless the Major knows what to do." Just then there came up a gaunt man, in an undress uniform, who, seeing that they knelt over a wounded man, said,-- "Is he alive ?" "It's all he is, sir," replied one of the men; "and we're wondering how to get a doctor to him." "Let me see," said the stranger, approaching the body.
He knelt beside it and gently removed the coat from the wound.
"It looks as if he must be shot through the heart.