It was a private of the regiment, whose breast a bullet had pierced, and whose tortures seemed terrible.
But now the rest of the party came up. General Wilders dismounted, flask in hand, and the wounded lad was rewarded for his self-denial.
A surgeon, too, had arrived, and he was anxiously questioned as to the nature of young Wilders's wound.
The right leg had been shattered below the knee by a round shot; the wound had bled profusely, but the poor lad managed to stanch it with his shirt.
"Can you save it?" whispered the general.
"Impossible!" replied the surgeon, in the same tone.
"We must amputate above the knee at once," and he turned up his sleeves and gave instructions to an assistant to get ready the instruments.
The operation, performed without chloroform, and borne with heroic fortitude, was over when Hugo Wilders rode up to the spot. Anastasius recognised his brother, and answered his anxious, sorrowful greeting with a faint smile.
"What is to be done with him now?" asked the general.
"We must get him on board ship--to-night, if possible; but how?"
"We will carry him every inch of the way," said one of the bandsmen of the Royal Picts. Young Wilders was idolised by the men.
"It is three miles to the sea-shore: a long journey."
"They can march in two reliefs, four carrying, four resting," said McKay.
"You must be very careful," said the surgeon.
"Never fear! We will carry him as easy as a baby in its cot," replied one of the soldiers.
"Yes, yes! you can trust us," added McKay.
"Are you going with them?" asked the general.
"And of course I shall go too," added Captain Wilders; and the procession, thus formed, wended its way to the shore.
It was midnight before McKay and the stretcher-party were relieved of their precious charge, and when they had seen the wounded officer embarked in one of the ship's boats, accompanied by his brother, they laid down where they were to rest and await the daylight.
Soon after dawn they were again on the move making once more for the heights above the river, where they had left their regiment. Once more, too, they traversed the battle-field, with its ghastly sights and distressing sounds. It was still covered with the bodies of the dead and dying, their numbers greatly increased, for many of the wounded had succumbed to the tortures of the night. The figures of ministering comrades still moved to and fro, and men of all ranks were busily engaged in the good work.