You
have sprained the ankle, or something, and it is swollen."
Daisy said nothing, and the Captain went on very carefully and
tenderly to cut the boot off.
It was a very necessary proceeding. The foot was terribly
swollen already. Again the Captain mused, looking from the
child's foot to her face.
"How is the pain now?"
"It aches a good deal."
He saw it was vastly worse than her words made it.
"My little soldier," said he, "how do you suppose I am going
to get you down the hill, to where we left our carriage?"
"I don't know," said Daisy. "You can't carry me."
"What makes you think so?"
"I don't _know_," said Daisy, — "but I don't think you can." And
she was a little afraid, he saw.
"I will be as careful as I can, and you must be as brave as
you can, for I don't see any other way, Daisy. And I think,
the sooner we go the better; so that this foot may have some
cold or hot lotion or something."
"Wait a minute," said Daisy, hastily.
And raising herself up to a sitting position, she bent over
her little head, and covered her eyes with her hand. The
Captain felt very strangely. He guessed in a minute what she
was about; that in pain and fear, Daisy was seeking an unseen
help, and trusting in it; and in awed silence the young
officer was as still as she, till the little head was raised.
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