"Yes, he took me on his horse over the water, and told me to wait by
the bush till he came or sent for me, but he has not come, and the
firing is over and it is dark, and I'm so hungry."

Steadfast thought the child had better come home with him, but she
declared that father would come back for her. He felt convinced that
her father, if alive, must be in Bristol, and that he could hardly
come through the enemy's outposts, and he explained to her this view.
To his surprise she understood in a moment, having evidently much
more experience of military matters than he had, and when he further
told her that Hodge was at Elmwood, and would no doubt rejoin his
regiment at Bristol the next day, she seemed satisfied, and with the
prospect of supper before her, trotted along, holding Steadfast's
hand and munching a crust which he had found in his pouch, the
remains of the interrupted meal, but though at first it seemed to
revive her a good deal, the poor little thing was evidently tired
out, and she soon began to drag, and fret, and moan. The three miles
was a long way for her, and tired as he was, Steadfast had to take
her on his back, and when at last he reached home, and would have set
her down before his astonished sisters, she was fast asleep with her
head on his shoulder.




CHAPTER XI.

THE FORTUNES OF WAR.