of the company were sprawling, and in less than a minute I was in a dead
sleep.



CHAPTER XIV.


THE TALLY OF DEATH.

Day was breaking, and the first grey light had just begun to steal
through the long thin slits in the walls of our barn, when someone shook
me hard by the shoulder, and up I jumped. I had the thought in my
stupid, sleepy brain that the cuirassiers were upon us, and I gripped
hold of a halbert that was leaning against the wall; but then, as I saw
the long lines of sleepers, I remembered where I was. But I can tell
you that I stared when I saw that it was none other than Major Elliott
that had roused me up. His face was very grave, and behind him stood
two sergeants, with long slips of paper and pencils in their hands.

"Wake up, laddie," said the Major, quite in his old easy fashion, as if
we were back on Corriemuir again.

"Yes, Major?" I stammered.

"I want you to come with me. I feel that I owe something to you two
lads, for it was I that took you from your homes. Jim Horscroft is
missing."

I gave a start at that, for what with the rush and the hunger and the