We knew it and they knew it, and there was nothing to be done.

Their wounds would fester and be hot with fever.
Their clotted bandages would clot still more and grow stiffer and harder with each dragging hour.

Those who lacked overcoats and blankets--and some there were who lacked both--would half freeze at night.

For food they would have slops dished up for them at such stopping places as this present one, and they would slake their thirst on water drawn from contaminated wayside wells and be glad of the chance.

Gangrene would come, and blood poison, and all manner of corruption.