Dick remembered the terrible thirst brought on by his own excitement,
and the delicious draught of water from the little pool, as he eagerly
turned away, wondering whether he could find the water again in the
dark.
"Of course I can," he said to himself the next minute, for he had only
to listen to the musical trickling sound, and find the way by his ears.
But the next trouble was not so easy to get over. What was he to fetch
the water in?
He laughed softly to himself. The mule had been loaded with things
belonging to the corporal's mess, and he felt certain that he could find
a tin.
But he had first of all to find out where the dead mule lay, no easy
task in a strange place, and in the dark: but he tried and tried again,
twice over finding himself near the pool, and it was not until he had
passed near it over and over again that he kicked against something
thrown away by the French soldiers, and the rest was easy. The next
minute he was upon his knees searching about among the tumbled-together
things, till to his great joy he touched the very article he wanted, and
armed with this he sought for and found the little pool, filled the tin,
and started upon the difficult task of carrying the water down a slope
amongst rocks and trees and roots and creepers which seemed to be frying
to trip him up.
At last after trying for long enough he stopped short in despair,
feeling completely lost. Half the water had been spilt, and he had
called again--"Where are you?" but there was no reply. And now a
terrible feeling of dread came over him again, as the thought took
possession of his mind that the wounded man was dead. So strong was
this that it took away all the courage which had helped him so far, and
in the poor fellow's misery and despair he felt that the only thing to
do now was to sit down and let the tears run while he waited till it was
morning.
But that was not to be, for just when his courage was at its lowest ebb
he started and nearly dropped the tin, for from out of the darkness
close by there was a piteous moan, and as he sought cautiously for the
place from whence it came, he was helped by a low muttering as of
someone saying a prayer very slowly. And it was, for he heard the
words, "Thy will be done," and sank upon his knees by the sufferer's
head without spilling another drop.
Dick did not speak, but waited for the prayer to be finished: but there
was no farther sound, and he whispered gently: "I've brought the water."
Still there was no sound, and the boy began to think that he had come
too late.
He spoke again and again, but there was no reply, and after feeling
about a little he dipped his fingers in the tin and let a few drops fall
upon the poor fellow's dry lips. Then more and more, as he found they
moved. Then he scooped up as much as his little hand would hold, guided
it carefully and held it there so that a few drops trickled between the
man's lips and the others ran over his face and neck, with a strangely
reviving effect. For there was a low sigh or two, and he could hear the
sound repeated of his patient trying to swallow, after which his mouth
opened widely, so that he was able to pour in more water, which now was
swallowed with avidity.
All this had such a reviving effect that suddenly to Dick's great
delight there was a hoarse whisper--
"More--more. Water--water."
This was responded to at once, and after a few more tiny portions had
been poured between the sufferer's lips a hoarse voice said:--
"Heaven bless you, it has saved my life."
"Can you sit up a little and drink?" said Dick eagerly.
"I don't know--I'll try."