Part 28 (1/2)

When the boy came in on his crutches, he found a soldierly figure awaiting him. He saluted, and the tall corporal returned the salute. The deep eyes of the man met the clear, bright ones of the child, and the corporal said to the major:

”I am ordered to report to you, sir, that the enemy is encamped on the opposite sh.o.r.e, and is preparing to attack.”

Half an hour afterward Mrs. Thornd.y.k.e came anxiously to the door of the study. Hearing cheerful voices within, she knocked, and was bidden to enter.

Her first glance was at little David's face. To her surprise, she saw there neither fear nor nervousness, only an excited s.h.i.+ning of the eyes and an unusual flus.h.i.+ng of the cheeks. The boy rose to meet her.

”I'm ready, mammy,” he announced in his childish treble. ”Uncle Arthur says I've got a chance to prove I'm a soldier's son and a Thornd.y.k.e, and I'm going to do it. The enemy's encamped over in the hospital, and I'm going to move on his works to-day. I'm going over with my staff. This is Corporal Thornd.y.k.e, and Colonel Chester Thornd.y.k.e and Captain Stephen Thornd.y.k.e and Lieutenant Stuart Thornd.y.k.e are my staff. And the corporal has promised that they'll go with me in uniform. I'm going to wear my uniform, too--may I?”

The oddness of the question, made in a tone which dropped suddenly and significantly from the proud address of the officer to the humble request of the subaltern, brought a very tender smile to Mrs.

Thornd.y.k.e's lips, as she gave her brother a grateful glance. ”Yes,” she said, ”I think you certainly ought to wear your uniform. I'll get it ready.”

”I may be taken prisoner over there,” the little soldier pursued, ”but if I do, Uncle Ar--the corporal says that's the fortunes of war, and I must take it as it comes.”

Downstairs, presently, David, under a flag of truce, met the opposing general and his staff. The bluff-looking Englishman with the kind manner made an excellent general, David thought.

They detained him only a half-hour, but when he left them it was with the understanding that his army should move forward at once and attack upon the morrow. It seemed a bit unusual, not to say unmilitary, to David, to arrange such matters so thoroughly with the enemy, but his corporal a.s.sured him that under certain conditions the thing was done.

There being no other part of the ”Charge” that would fit, David said over to himself a great many times on the way to the hospital the opening lines:

”Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward.

All in th' valley of Death Rode th' six hundred....”

As he went up the hospital steps, tap-tapping on his crutches because he would not let anybody carry him, the situation seemed to him much better. He stopped upon the top step, balanced himself upon one crutch, and waved the other at his staff--and at the ”Six Hundred,” pressing on behind.

”Forward, th' Light Brigade!

'Charge for th' guns!' he said....”

”What's the little chap saying?” Uncle Chester murmured into the ear of Uncle Arthur, as the small figure hurried on.

”He's living out 'The Charge of the Light Brigade,'” Arthur answered, and there was no smile on his lips. Uncle Chester swallowed something in his throat.

It may have been a common thing for the hospital nurses and doctors to see a patient in military clothes arrive accompanied by four other military figures--the uniforms a little mixed; but if they were surprised they gave no sign. The nurse who put David to bed wore a Red Cross badge on her sleeve--hastily constructed by Doctor Wendell. This badge David regarded with delight.

”Why, you're a real army nurse, aren't you?” he asked happily.

”Of course. They are the kind to take care of soldiers,” she returned.

And after that there was a special bond between them.

When they had finished with David that night he was rather glad to have Corporal Thornd.y.k.e say to him that there was a brief cessation of hostilities, and that the men were to have the chance for a few hours'

sleep.

”But you'll stay by, won't you, Corporal?” requested the major sleepily.

”Certainly, sir,” responded the corporal, saluting. ”I'll be right here all night.”

The corporal at this point was so unmilitary as to bend over and kiss him; but as this was immediately followed by a series of caresses from his mother, the major thought it best not to mind. Indeed, it was very comforting, and he might have missed it if it had not happened, even though he was supposed to be in the field and sleeping upon his arms.

The next morning things happened rather rapidly.