"Poor youngster, whoever sent her out for water? Seems to me she's
earned a rest. Here, sister, help me, will you?"

Then Maria's soft voice came to her.

"Lucia dear, don't look like that!" she cried excitedly. "Here, senor,
put her on the bed, so."

She felt herself being lifted ever so gently, and then the soothing
comfort of a mattress and a pillow stole over her and she fell sound
asleep.

She did not wake up until late in the afternoon. The sun was setting
and the long ward was in deep shadow. She opened her eyes for a minute
and then closed them again. She was too blissfully comfortable to make
any effort.

She was conscious first of all of a strange quiet. The guns seemed to
have very nearly stopped, there was only a faint rumble in the
distance, and an occasional sputter from the guns near by.

The enemy had retreated beyond, far into the hills, and for the time
being Cellino was safe. Lucia guessed as much and smiled to herself.

People tiptoed about the room near her, and she could hear their voices
indistinctly. She did not try to hear what they said, she was too
tired to think. She snuggled closer in the soft pillows and sighed
contentedly, but before long a voice near her separated itself from the
rest, and she heard: