Suddenly he heard the sound of voices a little way in front of him, and a thrill of joy shot through him.  He was paid at that moment for all his suffering.  How lucky that he had steeled himself to the task of crawling back to his comrades!  Soon he would be with the boys again. They would give him water.  They would bind up his leg.  His head would stop aching.  The hours of torture would be over.