Part 40 (2/2)

It was late the following day that the lad was aroused by the sound of voices at his bedside. One voice he recognized as Hal's, the other came to him later. It was the voice of Stubbs.

Chester opened his eyes, and gazed at the little war correspondent.

The latter spoke first.

”The sleeper awakes,” he said to Hal. ”See, Chester thinks it's time to get up, and I'm not a bit sure he isn't right. He's been in bed for four days now. That's longer than I ever slept.”

”I'm not so weak I can't get out of here and pull, your nose,” declared Chester, sitting up.

Anthony Stubbs grinned.

”I feel pretty safe right here,” he said.

”What's the matter with me, anyway?” demanded Chester. ”h.e.l.lo there, Hal. What's the trouble with you? You seem to be pretty well bunged up.”

”Guess neither of us is going to die,” said Hal with a smile. ”The doctor tells me that we both have holes in our heads, and that we have a few pieces of sh.e.l.l in our legs and bodies. He says we are about the luckiest pair he ever saw.”

”How long does he figure we must stay in bed;”' Chester wanted to know.

”He said something about thirty days,” said Stubbs, with another grin.

”Then he's barking up the wrong tree,” Chester declared. ”I don't feel exactly lovely, but I know I'm not going to stay here a month. Any broken bones, Hal?”

”No; and neither have you, according to the doctor. He said that we should be able to get about in a week or two.”

”Well, that's a little better,” Chester grumbled. ”What do you mean by telling me a month, Stubbs?”

”I didn't say he said a month,” Stubbs protested. ”I said the doctor said something about thirty days, and so he did. He said that most men would have to lie in bed thirty days with your wounds, but that he felt you would be able to leave the hospital sooner because of a pair of remarkably fine const.i.tutions.”

”I think you were trying to have a little fun with me, Stubbs,” Chester declared.

”You know I wouldn't joke with a sick boy,” said Stubbs.

”No, I don't know it, either, Stubbs; and when I get out of here, I shall make it a point to get even with you.”

”To get even?” Stubbs exploded. ”You listen to me. You're even and a long ways ahead right now. In fact, you're so far ahead that I couldn't get even with you in a life time. However, when you get well, I'm going to have a try.”

”You'd better not fool with me, Stubbs,” said Chester. ”I'm liable to get out of here right now and have a little bout with you.”

”Well,” said Stubbs, ”I can lick you now.”

Chester grinned.

”Guess you're right,” he said. ”Maybe I had better postpone it. By the way, did the attack succeed?”

”Did it?” exclaimed Stubbs enthusiastically. ”I rather think it did.

The French have advanced from four to five miles into the enemy's lines; and I overheard a man say if it had not been for your work in bottling up the enemy underground the French would have been surprised and hurled back.”

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