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Show 7 Q (2 GR and marching them out. But nobody here could do any marching. Shall I take a message through for you P I'll send back help, if possible." Kneeling there, with the dying boy's head upon her arm, she looked steadily at him, and it struck him that he had never before met eyes so full of a calm and steadfast courage. " We are all right," she said, slipping a folded jacket beneath the head she was supporting ; " quite all right-doing famously ! " But the next moment she was beside him in the doorway, and had caught him by the arm. " Don't go ! " she whispered. " For God's sake, don't go ! I need help ; and you must help me." " Do you want to get out of this?" asked the young officer, speaking hurriedly, and very low. The Englishwoman looked at him. " Oh, I say, I beg your pardon ! Of course I know you wouldn't leave them. Tell me how I can help. What can I do P " " Listen," she said. "There is not a moment to lose. Did you notice the roof of this building, as you crossed the squareP There's a flagstaff and cord, all complete ; but no flag. Do you understand P No Red Cross flag. And the Germans are beginning to shell the town. You must find me a Red Cross flag, and hoist it, before you go." The young oflicer stood beside her, uncertain, perplexed; dismay in his honest eyes. " I'm awfully sorry," he said. " But I have no Red Cross flag; and, for the life of me, I don't know where to get one.'' " Then you must make one," she urged. " We have over a hundred wounded men under this roof." She shook him by the sleeve. " Can't you contrive something? Can't you think of something? Can't you make me a Red Cross flag P " The boy stood for a moment in stem thought. All the man in him awoke, eager to meet this woman's desperate need. His eye travelled slowly round the bare, unfurnished hall. At length it rested on the floor. Suddenly he started. She saw him hesitate. Then his face grew firm and purposeful. When she looked again, he was on his knees, carefully pinning the crimson strips across the white sheet. Her hand flew to her throat, striving to control an irrepressible sob. He had not recognised her, in her nurse's uniform, but at first sight she had known him, and now vividly recalled the scene of their former meeting -a sunny cricket-field in England; he, in spotless flannels, the hero of the hour, winning a match for his school eleven. She had sat beside his mother and watched her pride in the gay, handsome boy. All eyes had been bent upon him, as he hit out straight and true, made the winning stroke, and carried his bat for top score in the match. And now . . . As he knelt in his stained khaki, dying eyes watched, in the quiet calm of a strange detachment, the making of that Red Cross flag. Wounded men rolled over, raised themselves on their elbows, and smiled in grim approval. After that one choking sob she also smiled bravely back at them. Her flag was ready. He rose to his feet. " Now then ! Show me the way to the roof, please. NO!I can carry it. No need for you to touch it, Sister. This is my show." She stood beside him on the roof. As he drew the cord taut and fastened it, the breeze caught and unfurled the heavy folds of the sheet, and, slowly opening out, the Red Cross flew, clear and unmistakable, in the sunshine. She laid her hand once more upon the khaki sleeve. " God bless you," she said, a tremor of emotion in her quiet voice. " And, when you write home, don't forget to tell your mother of this thing whlch you have done." Half an hour later, as he marched his men, under cover of a wood, over the crest of the hill, the young officer stepped out for a moment into a . clearing and looked back upon the little town. German shells were falling to right and left; but above the hospital flew the Red Cross flag, brave in the breeze, bright in the gold of the sunset ; and the wounded lay beneath, sheltered by the crimson of their own life- blood. him " Give me half a sheet," he said, " and some bandages." He helped her to tear the sheet in two. At sound of the sharp rending, many eves turned their way. He spread the sheet upon the floor, and held out his hand for the bandages. By THE RT. HON. THOMAS BURT " Give me some pins," he said, huskily; "plenty of them. HEARTILY do I associate myself with you in expressions of appreciation of the Belgian people and their heroic King. f‘ Then leave the rest to me. This is my job.', All at once she knew what he was going to do ; and she, who had times Without number faced unspeakable sights without flinehing, turned away while, stooping, he dipped the bandages in the blood which lay in pools upon the floor. 100 |
