"Awake, Gil?" said a voice by me, and I started up to see that Brace was
seated close by me, with his elbow upon his knee and his chin resting in
his hand.
"Yes," I said. "Have I been asleep long?"
"About seven or eight hours, my lad."
"Oh, why didn't you rouse me?" I cried.
"Because there was no work for you to do, and it was better for you to
have a good long rest ready for when I want you. Come and have some
breakfast--such as it is."
"Can't I wash first?" I asked.
He laughed.
"No, my lad. There is the river below us yonder, and you can see the
barracks, what is left of them."
"Left of them?"
"Yes. They were set on fire about nine o'clock, and the smoke is rising
thickly still."