Page:On to Pekin.djvu/342

310 "So I believe. But he'll pull through, won't he?"

"Yes, he'll pull through," put in another voice, and a surgeon strode up. "Can I do anything for you, lieutenant?"

"I don't know that you can. I think after I have had a wash-up I'll feel better."

The surgeon wished, however, to do all he could, and gave Gilbert a dose of medicine to counteract the effect of the smoke which the young lieutenant had inhaled. Inside of half an hour Gilbert felt quite like himself once more, though somewhat shaky in the lower limbs.

Nuggy Polk had been taken to a neighboring building, which had been transformed into a temporary hospital for such of the prisoners as were sick. When Gilbert got there, he found the young man in a doze; and he was advised not to disturb him.

"He has been sick, and this affair has made him worse," said the prison doctor, in broken English. "Better let him rest." And Gilbert agreed.

An hour later found the acting captain of Company A at the home of the Bartletts, where a warm welcome awaited him. He found Amos Bartlett in