Blaine at last threw down the magazine he was reading and glared at his
partner, who moved with more difficulty when he changed his reclining
position for one less unbearable.

"What's got into you, Buck?" said Blaine impatiently. "Why don't you
go to sleep? Afraid you'll dream of that pretty girl what picked you
up?"

"Little good I get dreaming of her, Lafe! But wasn't it queer? Just
as soon as you got straight and I was out of danger, off they
went-bang! Durn it! They was both here yesterday while the Doe and
Sawbones were at work. My, how that girl could smile -- and exclaim!"

"That was one thing she could do, Buck." Blaine grinned. "All her
exclaiming was in good Yankee English -- real United States."

"And what have we got waiting on us now? Ugh!" Buck made a painful
face, but whether caused by his thought or by having to change his
position again was not at first apparent.

A middle-aged, rather homely, yet kindly nurse entered and puttered
round them both. At last she inquired in rather lame English:

"Will Monseurs, so lately promoted for their gallantry -- will they
have anything more? I shall be delight to --"

"No, no, Madame," broke in Buck, while Blaine furtively grinned. "We
are doing finely-finely -- ouch!"