Denis now called to one of the parties who were moving about with
stretchers. Ralph was lifted on to it and carried to the village of
Waterloo where he was placed in an ambulance wagon which, as soon as
it was full, started for Brussels.
The fighting was now over, and Denis asked leave to accompany his
master. The rout of the enemy had been so thorough and complete that
it was not thought probable any serious resistance could be offered to
the advance of the allied armies to Paris, and he therefore obtained
leave without difficulty to remain with his master. Ralph suffered
from exhaustion rather than pain on the journey to Brussels, and
several times became almost unconscious. At four o'clock in the
morning the ambulance stopped at a handsome house that its owner had
placed at the disposal of the authorities for the use of wounded
officers. He was carried upstairs and placed in bed in a room on the
second story. Denis at once proceeded to install himself there. He
brought down a mattress from a room above, laid it in the corner,
throwing his greatcoat over it, then as soon as he thought the shops
were open he hurried out and bought a kettle and saucepan, two cups
and tumblers, a small basin, and several other articles.
"There, your honor," he said as he returned. "Now we have got
iverything we need, and I can make soups and drinks for your honor,
and boil myself a tater widout having to go hunting all over the house
for the things to do it with.
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