And then there was a sudden rending，blinding，terrifying crash that sent the world into a thousand shrieking echoes.A huge shell had fallen not fifty feet away，plowing its way through the earthworks above.Its explosion sent timbers，abandoned gun—carriages，everything，flying through the air.And one great piece of wood caught Patsy a glancing blow on the back of her head as she crouched over the woundedBelgian.With a weak cry she toppled over，not unconscious，but unable to raise herself.
Another shell crashed down a hundred yards away，andthen one closer that sent the sand spouting high in a blinding cloud.She raised herself slowly and glanced back toward Doctor Gys.He stood，his face ashen with fear，hiding behind the shelter of the other hill.He looked up as she stirred；a cry of relief came to his lips.
"Wait！"he called，bracing up suddenly."Wait and I willget you."Bending his head low he sprang across the unprotected space.He stopped with a sudden jerka and then came on.
"You were hit！"cried Patsy as he bent over her.
"It is nothing，"he answered brusquely."Hold tight around my neck.""Now—"another shell scattered sand over them—"we must get away from here."Breathing thickly，he staggered across the open，dropping her with a great groan behind the protection of the ridge.
"The man you were helping，"he gasped."I must bringhim in.""But you are wounded—"Patsy cried.
He straightened up—his hand clutched his side—there came across his disfigured features a queer twisted smile—he sighed softly and slowly sank in a crumpled heap.A clean littlepuncturea in the breast of his coat told the whole story.Patsy felt herself slipping.All grew dark.
It was Ajo who found her and carried her back to the ambulance，where Dr.Kelsey and Nanette were presently able to restore her to consciousness.Then they returned to the Arabella，grave and silent，and Patsy was put to bed.Before morning Beth and Maud were anxiously nursing her，for she had developed a high fever and was deliriousb.
The days that succeed were anxious ones，for Patsy'snerves had given away completely.It was many weeks later that the rest of them met on deck.
"It's the first of February，"said Uncle John."Don't yousuppose Patsy could start for home pretty soon？""Perhaps so，"answered Maud."She is sitting up to—day，and seems brighter and more like herself.Have we decided，then，to return to America？""I believe so，"was the reply."We can't keep Ajo's ship forever，you know，and without Doctor Gys we could never make it useful as a hospital ship again.""That is true，"said the girl，thoughtfully."Now thatAndrew Denton，with his wife and the countess，have gone to Charleroi，our ship seems quite lonely.""You see，"said Ajo，taking part in the discussion，"we've never been able to overcome the suspicious coldness of these Frenchmen，caused by Elbl's unfortunate escape.We are nottrusted fully，and never will be again，so I'm convinced our career of usefulness here is ended.""Aside from that，"returned Uncle John，"you three girlshave endured a long period of hard work and nervous strain，and you need a rest.I'm awfullya proud of you all；proud of your noble determination and courage as well as the ability you have demonstrated as nurses.You have unselfishly devoted your lives for three strenuousb months to the injured soldiers of a foreign war，and I hope you're satisfied that you've done your full duty.""Well，"returned Maud with a smile，"I wouldn't think of retreating if I felt that our services were really needed，but there are so many women coming here for Red Cross work—English，French，Swiss，Dutch and Italian—that they seem able to cover the field thoroughly.""True，"said Beth，joining the group."Let's go home，Uncle.The voyage will put our Patsy in fine shape again.When can we start，Ajo？""Ask Uncle John.""Ask Captain Carg.""If you really mean it，"said the captain，"I'll hoist anchorto—morrow morning."
