Fix Bay'nets, by George Manville Fenn. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

ON THE MARCH. 

Trrt--trrt--trrt. Just that little sound, as the sticks flirted withthe drumheads to keep the men in step; for Her Majesty's 404th Fusilierswere marching "easy. " So it was called; and it meant with the mensmoking, and carrying their rifles as they pleased--shouldered, at thetrail, slung muzzle up or muzzle down. But, all the same, it was amiserable fiction to call it marching easy, for it was impossible tomake that march anything but hard. Why? Because of the road. 

No; that is a fiction, too. It is absurd to call that stony shelf ofrock, encumbered with stones of all sizes, full of cracks and holes, aroad. It was almost in its natural state, with a smooth place here andthere where it had been polished in bygone ages by avalanches of ice orstones. 

But the sun shone brightly; the scenery was glorious, and grew in placesawe-inspiring, as the regiment wound up and up the pass, and glimpses ofsnow-capped mountain and glowing valley were obtained. 

To any one perched on high, as were a few scattered goats, the regiment, with its two mounted officers, its long train of mules, ambulance, andbaggage-guard, and the native attendants, must have looked like a colonyof marauding ants on their march, so wonderfully was everything dwarfed;even the grand deodar cedars growing far down the precipitous slopesbelow the track, which were stately trees, springing up to a hundred anda hundred and fifty feet, looking like groups of shrubs in the clear, pure air. 

It was as much climbing as marching, and, as Bill Gedge said, "all aginthe collar;" but the men did not seem to mind, as they mounted higherand higher in the expectation of finding that the next turn of thezigzag was the top of the pass. 

"Here, I say, " cried the owner of the just-mentioned name, a thin, wiry-looking fellow, whom so far drill and six months in the North-westTerritory of Her Majesty's Indian dominions had not mademuscular-looking; though, for the matter of that, he did not differ muchfrom his companions, who in appearance were of the thorough East-endCockney type--that rather degenerate class of lads who look fifteen orsixteen at most when twenty. Stamina seemed to be wanting, chestslooked narrow, and their tunics covered gaunt and angular bodies, whiletheir spiked white helmets, though they fitted their heads, had ratheran extinguisher-like effect over the thin, hollow-cheeked, beardlessfaces. 

Defects, all these, that would naturally die out; but at the time nowunder consideration any newspaper writer would have been justified incalling them a regiment of boys. 

But, boy-like, it did not trouble them, for, apparently as fresh as whenthey had started hours before, they seemed to be revelling in thewonderful air of the mountain region, and to be as full of antics as aparty of schoolfellows out for a day. Songs had been sung, each with aroaring chorus; tricks had been surreptitiously played on the "pass iton" principle--a lad in the rear tilting the helmet of the file in frontover his eyes, or giving him a sounding spank on the shoulder with theabove admonition, when it was taken with a grin and passed on right awayto the foremost rank; while the commissioned officers seemed to bepeculiarly blind and deaf so long as their lads marched well, and therewas no falling-out of done-up fellows waiting for the ambulance toovertake them for the rest of the march. 

"Here, I say, " cried Private Gedge, "I ain't a-going to drop no coppersin no blessed hats when that there band comes round. They don't 'arfplay. "

"Don't keep _on_, " said the file on his left. 

"Play? Yah! Why, we might jest as well have a dozen of themtom-tomming niggers in front saying `Shallabala' as they taps the skinswith their brown fingers. "

"You are a chap, Bill, " said another. "Talk about yer Syety for Crueltyto Hanimals! Why, yer orter be fined. It's all I can do to keep windenough to climb up here, let alone having to blow a brasstraction-engine, or even a fife. "

"Gahn! They're used to it. They don't half play. Pass the word on for`Brish Grannydiers. '"

Bang--bang--bang--bang! Four distinct beats of the big drum, which weretaken up by the echoes and repeated till they died away in the distance, in company with volleys of notes in a spirited crash from the brassinstruments far in front, as the band struck up a rattling march, whoseeffect was to make breasts swell, heads perk up, and the lads pullthemselves together and march on, many of them beginning to hum thefamiliar melody which had brightened many a long, up-country tramp. 

"Talk about telly-phoning, Billy; they heered you without. "

"Yes, that's your style, " cried the first speaker, bursting out with avery good imitation of Punch in one of his vocal efforts, andsupplementing it with a touch of the terpsichorean, tripping along instep with a suggestion of a nigger minstrel's jig. 

Marching easy does not mean free and easy: and this was too much for oneof the sergeants of the company, a tall, gaunt, particularly bony-facedfellow, frowning and full of importance, but almost as boyish of aspectas those who bore no chevrons on their sleeves. 

He came up at the double, unnoticed by the dancer, and tried to range upalongside; but the rocky shelf was for some minutes not wide enough. Consequently he had time to grow redder in the face and more angry. 

At last, though, he was in a position to speak. 

"Here, you, sir, " he shouted; "drop that. You're not on a cellar flapnow. Recollect where you are. "

Private Gedge gave a start, and squinted horribly for the benefit of hiscomrades right and left, as he pulled himself together, jerked his rifleover from one shoulder to the other, and marched on with his body stiffas a rifle-barrel. 

"You're too full of these monkey-tricks, sir; and if there's any more ofthem I shall report you. "

Private Gedge squinted more horribly than ever, as he marched on now asstiffly as if being drilled--too stiffly to satisfy the sergeant, whokept close behind. 

"March easy, sir! march easy!" he cried importantly, and the offenderdropped his rigidity, the result being that the sergeant returned to hisplace in the rear of the company, while Private Gedge relieved hisfeelings in a whisper. 

"Yah! Gee up! Gee! Who wouldn't be a sergeant? Bless his heart! Ilove him 'most as much as my mother dear--my mother dear--my gee-yentlemother deear. "

He sang the last words, but in a suppressed voice, to the greatamusement of his fellows. 

"Oh, I say, I wish I warn't a swaddy, " he whispered. 

"Why?" asked the lad on his left. 

"So as to give old Gee one on the nose, and then have it out with him. I'd make him warm. It's this sort o' thing as makes me hate it all. The orficers don't mind us having a bit of a lark to make the march golight. They takes no notice so long as we're ready for 'tention and 'llfight. It's on'y chaps like Tommy Gee as has got his stripes that comesdown upon you. Why, I was singing and doing that plantation song on'yyesterday, and Mr Bracy and Cap'en Roberts come along, and they bothlaughed. Bet sixpence the Colonel would have looked t'other way. --Oh, Isay, ain't I hungry! Is it much farther?"

"I dunno, " said another; "but ain't the wind cold up here?"

"Band's done again, " said Gedge. "That was a short un. I s'pose if Iwas to cry `Hongcore' old Gee 'd be down upon me again. "

Ten minutes later the men had something more substantial to think aboutthan music, for the shelf-like track came to an end in a great naturalamphitheatre, whose walls were dwarfed mountains streaked with rifts andravines which glistened white and sparkling as they scored the greengrassy slopes, while the floor of the great hollow was a beautiful meadthrough which a fairly rapid torrent ran. 

The halt was called upon a tolerably smooth level, arms were piled, andwith the celerity displayed in a regiment on the march, the campkitchens were formed, the smoke of fires rose, and videttes being thrownout after the fashion observed in an enemy's country, the men were freefor a couple of hours' halt for rest and refreshment, to their greatdelight. 

Pending the efforts of the regimental and camp follower cooks, some ofthe men began to roam about within bounds; and the group to whichPrivate Gedge was joined made for one of the little ravines whichglistened white in the sunshine, and the joker of the company soon madehis voice heard. 

"Oh, I say, " he cried. "Only look! Here yer are, then. Here's yerhoky-poky. Here's yer real 'apenny ices laid on free gratis fornothing. Here yer are, sir; which 'll yer 'ave, strorbry or rarsbry?The real oridgenal 'stablishment, kep' by Billi Sneakino Pianni Organni. Who says hoky-poky?"

"Why, 'tis real ice, Bill, " said one of the men. 

"Snow, " said another. 

"Gahn!" cried Private Gedge, scooping up a couple of handfuls. "It'shailstones, that's what it is. You on'y get snow atop o' the highmountains. "

"But it is snow, my lad, " said a voice from behind, and the partystarted round, to see that a couple of their officers had followed tolook at the glittering rift which ran right up hundreds of feet. "We'repretty high now. "

"How high, sir?" said Gedge, saluting. 

"We're at the top of the pass now, " said the young officer who hadspoken; "ten thousand feet above the sea. "

"Why, that's higher than the top of Saint Paul's, sir, " said one of themen. 

"Top o' Saint Paul's, " cried Gedge scornfully. "Why, it's higher thanthe Monniment atop o' that. Higher than 'Amstead, ain't it, sir?"

"Yes, " said the young officer, smiling. --"Don't straggle away, my lads. Keep close in. "

The speaker strolled away back with his companion towards where thenative servants were busily preparing the mess meal, and their menlooked after them. 

"Ain't them two chummy?" said one. 

"They jest are, " said Gedge. "That Captain Roberts aren't a bad sort;but Mr Bracy's the chap for my money. He looks as if he could fight, too, if we had a row with the niggers. "

"Oh, I don't know, " said another superciliously; "you can't never tell. Some o' them nice-looking dossy chaps ain't up to much. They can talk, but they talk too fast. How could he know we were ten thousand foothigh? Why, that must be miles, and that's all stuff. "

"What do you know about it, stoopid?" cried Gedge fiercely. "Miles. Why, of course it is. Ain't we come miles this morning?"

"Longwise, but not uppards. "

"Not uppards? Why, it's been sich a gettin' upstairs ever since westarted this morning. Don't you be so jolly ready to kick again' yourorficers. Mr Bracy's a reg'lar good sort; and if we comes to a set-towith the niggers he'll let some of yer see. I say, though, think weshall have a row?"

"You bet! I heered Sergeant Gee say we should be at it 'fore long, andthat these here--what do they call 'em?"

"Dwats, " said one of the men. 

"Yes, that's it, " cried Gedge. "That's right. I remember, because Isaid to myself if we did we'd jolly soon give 'em Dwat for. "

Just then a bugle rang out, and the men doubled back for the lines, where, thanks to the clever native cooks, a hastily prepared meal wasready and made short work of, the keen mountain air and the long marchhaving given the men a ravenous appetite. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

THE COLONEL. 

"Well, Colonel, " said Dr Morton as the officers sat enjoying theirlunch, breathing in the crisp mountain air and feasting their eyes atthe same time upon the grand mountain scenery, "I must confess to beinga bit lazy. You may be all athirst for glory, but after our ride thismorning pale ale's good enough for me. I'm not a fighting man, and Ihope when we get to the station we shall find that the what you may call'em--Dwats--have dissolved into thin air like the cloud yonder fadingaway on that snow-peak. If, however, it does come to a set-to, here Iam, my dear boys, at your service, and I'll do the best I can. "

"Thank ye, Doctor, " came in chorus from the officers; "but the less thebetter. "

"We shall have something to do, for certain, " said the Colonel, akeen-looking, deeply bronzed man of fifty, "for these hill-tribes willnever believe in England's strength till they have been well thrashed;but a fight does not mean for certain that we shall want the doctor'shelp afterwards. "

"So much the better, " said that gentleman, laughing. "But, as I said, here I am if you want me, and I've got as well-arranged an ambulanceas--"

"Oh, I say, Doctor, don't talk shop, " cried the young officer spoken ofas Captain Roberts, a handsome, carefully dressed young fellow of sevenor eight and twenty. "They're regular curs, are they not, sir--theseDwats?" he added, turning to the Colonel. 

"Certainly not, " replied the latter gravely. "They are decidedly abrave, bold, fighting race. Tall, dark, big-bearded, just such fellowsas hill-tribes are; restless, pugnacious fighting-men, always engaged inpetty warfare with the neighbouring chiefs, and making plunderingexpeditions. "

"I see, sir, " said the Captain; "like our old Border chieftains used tobe at home. "

"Exactly, " said the Colonel; "and each chief thinks he is one of thegreatest monarchs under the sun. England is to them, in theirignorance, only a similar nation to their own, and the Empress alady-chief. "

"We shall have to teach them better, " said the Major, a gentleman withan eyeglass and a disposition to become stout. "We shall soon do it. Agood sharp lesson is all that's wanted. The only difficulty is that, though they are as a rule always busy cutting one another's throats, assoon as one of the tribes is attacked they all become friends and helpone another. "

"Save us trouble. "

"What's that, Bracy?" said the Colonel. 

"Save us trouble, sir, " said the young man, laughing; "we can thrashhalf-a-dozen of the tribes together. "

"With a regiment of raw boys?" said the Major, frowning so fiercely thathe shot his glass out of his eye and replaced it angrily. 

"Look here, Graham, you and I are going to quarrel. "

"What about, sir?"

"Your bad habit of depreciating our lads. "

"Yes, " said the Doctor, nodding his head sharply. "You do, Major, andit isn't good form to cry bad fish. "

"But it's true, " said the Major sharply. "The War Office ought to beashamed of itself for sending such a regiment of boys upon so arduous atask. "

"The boys are right enough, " said the Colonel. "What do you say, Bracy?"

"I say of course they are, sir. "

"Yes, because you're a boy yourself, " said the Major in a tone whichmade the young man flush. 

"I wish I had some more boys like you, Bracy, my lad, " said the Colonelwarmly. "Graham's a bit touched in the liver with the change from warmweather to cold. He doesn't mean what he says--eh, Morton?"

"That's right, Colonel, " said the Doctor. "I have my eye upon him. He'll be asking for an interview with me to-morrow, _re_, as the lawyerssay, B. P. And B. D. "

"Hang your B. P. S and B. D. S!" said the Major hotly. "I mean what I say, Colonel. These boys ought to have had three or four years in Englandbefore they were sent out here. "

"But they are sent up into the hills here where the climate is glorious, sir, " cried the Doctor, "and I'll answer for it that in a year's timethey will have put on muscle in a wonderful way, while in a couple ofyears you'll be proud of them. "

"I'm proud of the lads now, " said the Colonel quietly. 

"I'm not, " said the Major. "I feel like old Jack Falstaff sometimes, ready to say, `If I be not ashamed of my soldiers, I'm a soused gurnet. 'They're boys, and nothing else. "

"Nonsense, " said the Colonel good-humouredly. "I've seen some service, and I never had men under me who marched better or more cheerfully thanthese lads have to-day. "

"And not one fell out or came to me with sore feet, " said the Doctorstoutly. "Boys? Well, hang it all! they're not such boys as there werein the old 34th. "

"What do you mean?" said the Major, shooting his eyeglass again. 

"In the Peninsular War, sir, " said the Doctor; "a regiment of boys, whose ages were from fourteen to sixteen, and they behaved splendidly. "

"That's right, " said the Colonel, nodding his head. 

"Oh yes, " cried the Major superciliously; "but they had only the Frenchto fight against. Any English boy could thrash a Frenchman. "

"Don't despise the French, Graham, " said the Colonel quietly. "They area very brave and gallant nation; and as to our lads, I certainly agreethat they are very young; but when, as the Doctor says, they have beenout here a bit, and put on more muscle--"

"But, hang it all, sir!" cried the Major, "they didn't come out here toput on muscle, but to fight. And as to your 34th, our fellows haven'tgot to fight Frenchmen, but these big hill-tribes. The boys are rightenough in their place, and we shall make soldiers of them in time; butsuppose to-morrow or next day we come plump upon the enemy--what then?"

"Our boys will make them run, sir, " cried Bracy, flushing up. 

"You mean they'll make our lads run, " growled the Major. 

"No, I don't, sir. I'll answer for our company. What do you say, Roberts?"

"Same as you do, old man. Go on; you can put it stronger than I can. "

"No, " said Bracy: "perhaps I've said too much, as the youngest officerin the regiment. "

"Not a bit, my lad, " cried the Colonel warmly. "I endorse all you say. They are terribly young-looking, but, take them all together, as brightand plucky a set of fellows as any officer could wish to command. "

"Yes, " said the Major through his teeth; "but look at them to-day. Hangme if they didn't at times seem like a pack of schoolboys out for aholiday--larking and shouting at one another, so that I got out ofpatience with them. "

"Better like that than limping along, discontented and footsore, " saidthe Colonel gravely. "The boys are as smart over their drill as theycan be, and a note on the bugle would have brought every one into hisplace. I don't want to see the life and buoyancy crushed out of lads bydiscipline and the reins held too tightly at the wrong time. By theway, Graham, you dropped the curb-rein on your horse's neck coming upthe rough pass, and thoroughly gave him his head. "

"Yes, " said the Major; "but we were talking about men, not horses. "

"Bah! Don't listen to him, " cried the Doctor, laughing. "He's a bityellow in the eyes, and he'll be singing quite a different song soon. The boys are right enough, Colonel, and all the better for being young--they'll mould more easily into your ways. "

"Humph!" growled the Major, frowning at the Doctor, who responded byraising his glass, nodding, and drinking to him. 

It did not seem long before the bugle sounded, and the men fell in, every lad drawing himself well up, trying to look his best and as proudas a peacock, when the Colonel rode along the ranks, noting everythingand ready to give boy after boy a look of recognition and a word ofpraise about something which had been improved; for Colonel Graves hadone of those memories which seem never to forget, and it had long beenborne in upon the lads in the ranks that their leader noted andremembered everything, ready for blame or praise. 

In this case he drew rein opposite one very thin-looking fellow, makinghis sallow face turn red. 

"Felt any more of that sprain, Smith?"

"No, sir; right as can be now. Ain't felt it a bit. "

"That's right. Fall out, my lad, if it turns weak in the least, and geta ride. "

"Yes, sir; thanky, sir. I will, sir. "

A little farther on there was another halt. 

"Those boots right, Judkins?"

"Yes, sir; fit splendid, sir. "

"Good. Take care for the future; you and all of you. A man can't marchwell unless he has a comfortable boot, and a chafe once begun andneglected has sent many a good soldier into hospital. "

"These are fust-rate, sir, " said the man quickly. "Easy as a glove. "

And so on as the Colonel rode along the ranks, making every man feelthat his officer had a real interest in his welfare. 

The inspection over, the advance-guard set off, then the order, "Band tothe front, " was given, and the regiment filed off past the Colonel'shorse, making for a narrow opening between two hills which seemed tooverlap, and sent back the strains of the musical instruments in awonderful series of echoes which went rolling among the mountains, todie away in the distance. 

Half-an-hour later the only signs left of the occupation of the passwere a few birds hovering about and stooping from time to time aftersome fragment of food. But all at once the birds took flight, as if inalarm, and the cause was not far to seek; for there was a flash in theafternoon sunshine among the rugged masses of half-frozen rocks on oneside of the amphitheatre; then another flash, and a looker-on would haveseen that it came from the long barrel of a gun. 

Directly after appeared a tall, swarthy man in white which looked dingyby comparison with the beds of snow lying on the northern side of themountains. 

The man stole cautiously from stone to stone, and after making sure thatthe last soldier forming the baggage and rear-guard had disappeared, heran quickly back to one of the snow-filled ravines and made a signal byholding his gun on high. 

This he did three times, and then turned and ran steadily across themeadow-like bottom of the halting-ground, till he was near the narrowgap through which the regiment had passed, to recommence his furtivemovements, seeking the shelter of stone after stone till he disappearedbetween the folding rocks, while in his track came in a straggling bodyquite a hundred active-looking men of the same type--strongly built, fierce-looking, bearded fellows, each carrying a long jezail, powder-horn, and bullet-bag, while a particularly ugly curved knife wasthrust through the band which held his cotton robe tightly about hiswaist. 

By this time the last of the rear-guard was well on its way, and thehill-men followed like so many shadows of evil that had been waitingtill the little English force had passed, and were now about to seek anopportunity for mischief, whether to fall upon the rear or cut upstragglers remained to be seen. Possibly they were but one of manysimilar parties which would drop down from the rugged eminences andvalleys which overlooked the track, completely cutting off the retreatof Colonel Graves's regiment of boys, of whose coming the tribes hadevidently been warned, and so were gathering to give them a warmreception when the right time came. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

FIRST TROUBLES. 

"Steady, my lads! steady!" said Lieutenant Bracy. "Not too fast, or weshall leave the baggage behind. "

Warnings like this had to be given again and again; for, though thetrack was as bad as ever, it was for the most part downhill, and thepatches of snow lying in the jagged hollows on either side of the passwere less frequent, while the sheltered slopes and hollows were greenerwith groves of stunted fir and grass, and, far below, glimpses wereobtained of deep valleys branching off from the lower part of the pass, whose sides were glorious in the sunshine with what seemed to be tinyshrubs. 

For the men required checking. They were growing weary, in spite oftheir midday halt, and longing to get to the ground below the snow-line, where they were to camp for the night. 

Colonel Graves was no less eager; for, though his little force was safeenough on the right, where the side of the pass sloped precipitatelydown, the track lay along a continuation of the shelf which ran upon thesteep mountain-side, the slope being impossible of ascent, save here andthere where a stream tumbled foaming down a crack-like gully and therocks above them rose like battlements continued with wonderfulregularity, forming a dangerous set of strongholds ready to conceal anenemy who could destroy them by setting loose stones in motion, or, perfectly safe themselves, pick the men off at their leisure. 

"I shall be heartily glad to get on to open ground again, Graham, " saidthe Colonel. 

"My heart has been in my mouth for the last two hours, " was the reply. "We can do nothing but press on. "

"And trust to the rocks up there being impassable to the enemy, if thereis one on the stir. "

"Yes; I don't think he could get up there, " replied the Major; "butthere is an enemy astir, you may be sure. "

"I suppose so. The fact of a force like ours being at their mercy wouldset all the marauding scoundrels longing. Well, we have done everythingpossible. We're safe front and rear, and we can laugh up here at anyattack from below on the right. "

Just about the same time Bracy and his friend Roberts were tripping andstumbling along with their company, the slowness of the baggage givingthem time to halt now and then to gaze in awe and wonder at thestupendous precipices around and the towering snow-mountains which camemore and more into sight at every turn of the zigzag track. 

"I suppose the Colonel knows what he's about, " said Bracy during one ofthese halts. 

"I suppose so, " replied Roberts. "Why?"

"Because we seem to me to be getting more and more into difficulties, and where we must be polished off if the enemy lies in wait for us inforce. Why in the world doesn't he try another way to Ghittah?"

"For the simple reason, my boy, that there is no other way from thesouth. There's one from the north, and one from the east. "

"That settles the question, then, as to route; but oughtn't we to haveflankers out?"

"Light cavalry?" said the Captain grimly. 

"Bosh! Don't talk to me as if I were a fool. I mean skirmishers outright and left. "

"Look here, young fellow, we have all we can do to get along by theregular track. "

"Irregular track, " said Bracy, laughing. 

"Right. How, then, do you think our lads could get along below there?"

"Yes; impossible, " said Bracy, with a sigh; and then glancing upward atthe towering perpendicular rocks, he added, "and no one could get alongthere even with ropes and scaling-ladders. Well, I shall be preciousglad to be out of it. "

"There, don't fret. I expect we shall find any amount of this sort ofcountry. "

"Then I don't see how any manoeuvring's to be done. We shall be quiteat the mercy of the enemy. "

"Oh! one never knows. "

"Well, I know this, " said Bracy; "if I were in command I should devotemy attention to avoiding traps. Hallo! what's amiss?"

The conversation had been cut short by the sharp crack of a rifle, whichset the echoes rolling, and the two young officers hurried forward pasttheir halted men, who, according to instructions, had dropped down, seeking every scrap of shelter afforded by the rocks. 

"What is it?" asked Bracy as he reached the men who were in front, theadvance-guard being well ahead and a couple of hundred feet below. 

Half-a-dozen voices replied, loud above all being that of Private Gedge:

"Some one up there, sir, chucking stones down at us. "

"No, " replied Bracy confidently as he shaded his eyes and gazed up; "astone or two set rolling by a mountain sheep or two. No one could be upthere. "

"What!" cried the lad excitedly. "Why, I see a chap in a whitenightgown, sir, right up there, shove a stone over the edge of theparrypit, and it come down with a roosh. "

"Was it you who fired?"

"Yes, sir; I loosed off at him at once, but I 'spect it was arickershay. "

"Keep down in front there, my lads, " said Captain Roberts. "Did any oneelse see the enemy?"

A little chorus of "No" arose. 

"Well, I dunno where yer eyes must ha' been, pardners, " cried Gedge in atone full of disgust; and then, before a word of reproof or order forsilence could be uttered, he was standing right up, shaking his fistfiercely and shouting, "Hi, there! you shy that, and I'll come up andsmash yer. "

The words were still leaving his lips when Bracy had a glimpse of aman's head, then of his arms and chest, as he seemed to grasp a greatstone, out of a crack five hundred feet above them, and as it fell hedisappeared, the sharp cracks of half-a-dozen rifles ringing out almosttogether, and the stone striking a sharp edge of the precipitous face, shivering into a dozen fragments, which came roaring down, striking andsplintering again and again, and glancing off to pass the shelf with awhirring, rushing sound, and strike again in a scattering volley farbelow. 

"Any one touched?" cried the Captain. 

"No, sir; no, sir. "

"I think that chap were, sir, " whispered Gedge, who was reloading closeto Bracy's side. "I didn't have much time to aim, sir, and the smokegot a bit before my eyes, but he dropped back precious sudden. But oh, dear me, no!" he went on muttering, and grinning the while at hiscomrades, "I didn't see no one up there. I'd got gooseb'ries in my head'stead of eyes. Now then, look out, lads; it's shooting for nuts, andforty in the bull's-eye. "

"Hold yer row; here's the Colonel coming, " whispered the man next him. 

"Keep well under cover, my lads, " said Bracy as the clattering of hoofswas heard. 

"Right, sir, " said one of the men. 

"Why don't you, then?" muttered Gedge. 

"Silence, sir!" snarled Sergeant Gee, who was close behind. 

"All right, " said Gedge softly; "but I don't want to see my orficer godown. "

For, regardless of danger, while his men were pretty well in shelter, Bracy was standing right out, using a field-glass. 

"Cover, cover, Mr Bracy, " cried the Colonel sharply, and as he reinedup he was put quickly in possession of the facts. 

"Shall we have to go back, Sergeant?" whispered Gedge. 

"You will--under arrest, sir, if you don't keep that tongue between yourteeth. "

"All right, Sergeant, " muttered Gedge. "I only wanted to know. "

He knew directly after, for the Colonel cried sharply:

"That's right, my lads; keep close, and fire the moment you see amovement. You six men go over the side there, and fire from the edge ofthe road. "

The section spoken to rose and changed their positions rapidly, and asthey did so a couple more blocks of stone were set in motion from above, and struck as the others had done, but did not break, glancing off, andpassing over the men's heads with a fierce _whir_. 

"Cover the advance with your company, and change places with therear-guard when they have passed. Steady, there, my lads, " continuedthe Colonel to the next company of the halted regiment; "forward!"

He took his place at their head, and advanced at a walk as coolly as ifon parade; and the first movement seemed like a signal for stone afterstone to be sent bounding down, and to be passed on their way by thelong, thin, bolt-like bullets from the covering company's rifles, whichspattered on the rocks above and kept the enemy from showing themselves, till, finding that every stone touched in the same place and glanced offthe projecting shoulder half-way up, they became more bold, irritatedwithout doubt by seeing the soldiers continue their course steadilyalong the track in spite of their efforts to stop their progress. 

"That's got him, " cried Bracy excitedly as he watched a man, who at thegreat height looked a mere dwarf, step into full view, carrying a blockupon his shoulder. 

This he heaved up with both hands above his head, and was in the act ofcasting it down when three rifles cracked, and he sprang out into space, diving down head first and still grasping the stone, to pass close overthe marching men, strike the stony edge of the shelf, and shoot off intothe deep valley below. 

The horrible fall seemed to impress the covering party strangely, andfor a brief space nothing was heard but the irregular tramp of thepassing men. 

"That's put a stop to their little game, " whispered Gedge. 

"Look out! fire!" growled the Sergeant; and a couple more of the enemyfell back, after exposing themselves for a few seconds to hurl downstones. 

"Serve 'em right, the cowards, " said Gedge, reloading. "If they want tofight, why don't they come down and have it out like men?"

"I say, " whispered his neighbour on the left, "you hit one of them. "

"Nay, not me, " replied Gedge. 

"You did. "

"Don't think so. Fancy I hit that beggar who pitched down, stone andall. I felt like hitting him. But don't talk about it, pardner. One'sgot to do it, but I don't want to know. "

"No, " said Bracy, who overheard the words and turned to the lad, "it'snot pleasant to think about, but it's to save your comrades' lives. "

"Yes, sir, that's it, ain't it?" said the lad eagerly. 

"Of course, " replied Bracy. 

"And I ought to shoot as straight as I can, oughtn't I?"

"Certainly. "

"Hah!" ejaculated Gedge, and then to his nearest comrade, "I feel a dealbetter after that. "

The stony bombardment continued, and Bracy watched every dislodged blockas it fell, feeling a strange contraction about the heart, as it seemedcertain that either it or the fragments into which it splintered mustsweep some of the brave lads steadily marching along the shelf, horriblymutilated, into the gulf below. 

But it was not so; either the stones were a little too soon or too late, or they struck the side and glanced off to fly whirring over the line ofmen and raise echoes from far below. For, after certainly losing four, the enemy grew more cautious about exposing themselves; and as theminutes glided by it began to appear as if the regiment would get pastthe dangerous spot without loss, for the baggage mules and heavily-ladencamels were now creeping along, and the covering party at a word fromCaptain Roberts became, if possible, more watchful. 

It was about this time that Bill Gedge, who tired seldom, but with theeffect of keeping the stones from one special gap from doing mischief, drew the Sergeant's attention to that particular spot, and, hearing hisremarks, Bracy lay back and brought his field-glass to bear upon it. 

"It ain't no good firing at a pair o' hands coming and going, " saidGedge. "I want to ketch the chap as is doing that there bit o' bricklaying. "

"Bit of what!" cried Bracy. 

"Well, I calls it bricklaying, sir. You see, I've watched him ever solong, sticking stones one above another, ready to shove down alltogether. I think he means to send 'em down on the squelchy-welchies. "

"The what?" cried Bracy, laughing. 

"He means the camels, sir. "

"Oh. Yes, I can see, " continued Bracy. "Looks more like a breastwork. "

Even as he spoke there was a puff of smoke, a dull report, and a sharpspat on the rock close to the young officer's hand, and he started up, looking a little white, while Sergeant Gee picked up a flattened-outpiece of lead. 

"Right, sir, " he said; "it is a breastwork, and there's a couple o' longbarrels sticking out. "

"Let them have it there, " cried Captain Roberts. "They're opening firewith their jezails. "

"Yes, sir, " said Gedge in a whisper; "we've just found that out forourselves. "

He drew trigger as he spoke, and as the smoke rose and he looked up, loading mechanically the while, he caught sight of a long gun droppingswiftly down, barrel first, to fall close by one of the camels, gruntingand moaning as it bore its balanced load along the shelf. 

"Mine, " cried Gedge. "I hit the chap as he was looking down. I wantsthat there long gas-pipe to take home. "

"Thank you, Gedge, " said Bracy in a low voice. "I believe you've savedmy life. "

"Not me, sir; he shot first, but it did look near. "

"Horribly, my lad, and he'd have had me next time. "

"Think so, sir?" said the lad, taking aim again. "Well, there's anotheron 'em shooting, and I want to get him if I can. Stop him fromcommitting murder, too. "

Gedge took a long aim, and his finger trembled about the trigger fornearly a minute, but he did not fire; and all the while, evidently setin motion by a good strong party of the enemy, the stones came crashingand thundering down, in spite of the firing kept up by the coveringsections, whose rifle-bullets spattered and splashed upon the rocks, andoften started tiny avalanches of weathered debris. 

Then all at once Gedge fired, and the long barrel, which had been thrustout from the little breastwork and sent down dangerous shots time aftertime, was suddenly snatched back, and the lad reloaded, lookingsmilingly at the lieutenant the while. 

"Good shot, " said Sergeant Gee importantly. "You didn't do yourfiring-practice for nothing, my man. "

"Did you hit him, Gedge?" cried Bracy eagerly. 

"Yes, sir; he had it that time. I could ha' done it afore if he'd ha'showed hisself. "

"But he did at last. "

"That he didn't, sir, on'y his shadder on the stone, and I aimed atthat. "

"Nonsense!" cried the Sergeant. 

"Ah, well, you'll see, " said Gedge, and he turned with a grin to hisofficer. "I foun' as I should never hit him strite forrard, sir, so Ithinked it out a bit, and then aimed at his shadder, and it was liketaking him off the cushion--fired at the stone where I could see theshadder of his head. "

"Ah! a ricochet, " cried Bracy. 

"That's it, sir; a rickyshay. "

The stones continued to fall without effect; but no one above attemptedto expose himself again to the deadly fire from below. 

Suddenly Bracy started from his place. 

"Up with you, my lads; forward!"

Waving his sword, he made a rush, leading his men along thedeadly-looking piece of road swept by the stones from above, for therear-guard had passed in safety; and, with his breath coming thick andfast, he dashed forward, knowing full well that their first movementwould be the signal for the stones to come down thick and fast. He wasquite right; for, as the men cheered and dashed after their twoofficers, block after block came whirring down, crashing, bounding, shivering, and seeming to fill the air with fragments so thickly that itwas quite impossible to believe the passage of that hundred exposedyards could be accomplished in safety. But they got across untouched, and the men cheered again as they clustered about their officers, theprecipitous spot where they now stood being sheltered from the danger, apparently inaccessible even to the enemy. 

"Bravo, my lads!" cried the Captain. 

"Splendidly done, " said Bracy, breathless, "and not a man hurt. "

"All here?" said Captain Roberts. 

"Yes, sir;" "Yes, sir, " came in a scattered volley of words. 

"No--stop!" said Bracy excitedly. "Where's Gedge?"

There was a dead silence, the men looking at one another and then backalong the stone-strewed track, only a third of which was visible. Butthere was no sign of the missing man, and after a word or two with hisbrother officer Bracy doubled back, followed by Sergeant Gee, till theyhad rounded a bend of the track and could command the whole distance. As they halted to examine the road, another stone fell from above, struck the road, and then bounded off into the valley. 

"There he is, " cried Bracy excitedly, thrusting his sword back in itsscabbard. "Just beyond where that stone fell. "

"Yes, sir; I see him now. It's all over with the poor lad. Here, sir;don't, sir. What are you going to do?"

"Do? Fetch him in, " said Bracy sharply. 

"No, sir; don't, sir. It's like going to a 'orrid death, " faltered theSergeant, whose face was of a clayey hue. "You mustn't go, sir. Youought to order me to fetch him in, and I will if you tell me. "

"I'm not going to tell our lads to do what I daren't do myself, " saidBracy coldly. "They can't see us here--can they?"

The Sergeant glanced upward, but the view in that direction was cut offby projecting masses of stone. 

"No, sir; they can't see us here. "

"Then here goes, " cried the young officer, drawing a deep breath andpressing his helmet down upon his head. 

"No, sir; don't--" began the Sergeant in tones of expostulation; but hedid not finish, for before the second word had left his lips Bracy wasbounding along as if running in an impediment race, leaping masses ofstone, avoiding others, and making for where he could see the motionlessfigure; of Gedge still grasping his rifle and lying face downward amongthe stones. 

A yell arose from above as Bracy bounded into view, and stones began tofall again; while, upon reaching the fallen man, the young officer, completely ignoring the terrible peril in which he stood, bent down, passed his arms about the waist, raised him, and with a big effort threwhim over his shoulder; and then turned and started back, carrying thepoor fellow's rifle in his right hand. 

The yells from above increased, and before Bracy had gone half-a-dozenyards of the return journey there was a loud _whish_, and he stoppedshort, for a block of stone struck the path not a yard before him, andthen bounded off. For a moment or two Bracy felt mentally stunned bythe close approach of a horrible death; then, recovering himself, hestrode on again, feeling strongly that it was more perilous to standstill than to go on, with every step taking him nearer to safety. 

There was an intense desire burning within him to try and run, but therugged path forbade that, and he tramped slowly on with his load, withthe air seeming to his heated imagination to be thick with the fallingmissiles which came hurtling around. 

"The next must do it, " he found himself muttering, as he went on withwhat, though only a matter of minutes, seemed to be a long journey, before, coming confusedly as it were out of a dream, he heard thecheering of his men, and Sergeant Gee and three more relieved him of hisload, while the crash and rattle of the falling stones seemed to be farbehind. 

"Hooray!" A tremendously hearty British cheer--only that of a company, but as loud it seemed as if given by the whole regiment; and the nextthing out of the confused dream was the feeling of his hand beinggrasped, and the hearing of his brother officer's voice. 

"Splendid, old man!" he whispered. "Talk about pluck! But what's thematter? Don't say you're hurt?"

"No--no, I think not. Only feel a bit stunned. "

"Then you're hit by a stone?"

"No, no. There, I'm better now. Here! That poor fellow Gedge! I hopehe isn't killed. "

They turned to the little group of men who surrounded poor Gedge, nowlying on his back, with Gee upon one knee bending over him, and tryingto give him some water from his canteen. 

"Dead?" cried Bracy excitedly. 

"'Fraid so, sir, " replied the Sergeant. "Stone hit him on the 'elmet, and I expect his head's caved in. "

"Bathe his face with a handful of the water, " said Bracy sadly. "Poorlad! this was horribly sudden. "

Both he and Roberts looked down sadly at the stony face so lately fullof mischievous animation, and in view of the perilous position in whichthey stood and the duty he had to do, the Captain was about to order themen to make an extempore stretcher of their rifles and the Sergeant'sstrong netted sash, so that the retreat could be continued, when Geedashed some water in the prostrate lad's face. 

The effect was marvellous. In an instant a spasm ran through the stonyfeatures. There was a fit of coughing and choking, and as the menaround, always ready for a laugh, broke out, the supposed dead openedhis eyes, stared blankly, and gasped out:

"Stow that! Here, who did it? Here, I'll just wipe some one's eye forthat, here, I know--I--here--I s'y--I--er--Mr Bracy, sir! You wouldn'tplay tricks with a fellow like that? Ah, I recklect now!"

The poor fellow's hand went to his bare head, and he winced at the acutepain the touch gave him. 

"I say, sir, " he said, "ketched me a spank right there. --Is my 'elmetspoiled?"

"Never mind your helmet, Gedge, my lad, " cried Bracy, who was bendingover him. "There, you must lie still till we get something ready tocarry you to the ambulance. "

"Kerry me, sir! What for? Ain't going to croak, am I? Not me. Here, I'm all right, sir. Give's a drink outer my bottle. --Hah! that'sgood. --Drop more, please, Sergeant, --Thanky. --Hah! that is good. Feelas if I could drink like a squelchy-welchy. --Here, I s'y, where's myrifle?"

"I've got it, pardner, " said one of the lads. 

"Oh, that's right. Ain't got the stock skretched, hev it?"

"No, no; that's all right, Bill. "

"Glad o' that. Here, I s'y; I went down, didn't I?"

"Yes, my lad; just in the middle of the worst bit where the stones werefalling. "

"That was it--was it? Well, I did wonder they never hit nobody, sir, but I didn't expect they'd hit me. "

"What are you going to do, my lad?" said the Captain sharply. 

"Get up, sir. --Can't lie here. 'Tain't soft enough. I'm all right. Only feel silly, as if I'd been heving my fust pipe. --Thanky, Sergeant. --Here, it's all right; I can stand. Who's got my 'elmet?"

The poor fellow tottered a little, but the British pluck of his naturemade him master the dizzy feeling, and the old familiar boyish grinbroke out over his twitching white face as he took hold of the helmethanded to him and tried to put it on. 

"Here, I s'y, " he cried, "no larks now; this ain't in me. "

"Yes, that's yours, Gedge, " said the Sergeant. 

"Got such a dint in it, then, that it won't go on. "

"No, my lad, " said Bracy. "Here, Sergeant, tie my handkerchief roundhis head. "

"Yes, sir; thank ye, sir. Here, hold still, Gedge, " cried the Sergeant. 

"Well, I'm blest!" muttered the poor fellow; "there's all one sidepuffed out like arf a bushel basket. Here, I've often heard of chapshaving the swelled head when they've got on a bit; but I won't show it, mateys. I won't cut your company. --Thank ye, Sergeant. "

"Fall in, " cried the Captain. "Gedge, you'll have to be carried. Twomen. Sergeant, and change often. "

"I can walk, sir, please, " cried Gedge. "Let me try. If I can't someun can carry me then. "

"Very well, try. --Forward. "

The march was resumed, but after a few steps the injured lad was glad tograsp the arm offered him by Gee. 

"Thanky, Sergeant, " he said. "Just a bit dizzy now, and I don't want togo over the side. Better soon; but, I say, did you fetch me in?"

"No: it was Mr Bracy, " said Gee gruffly. 

"Oh, him!" said the lad quietly, and with a curious look in his eyes ashe gazed in the young lieutenant's direction. "Well, thank ye, sir;much obliged, " he said in an undertone. "I'll say so to you some time. But I say, Sergeant, talk about having a head on; I've got it now. "

"Yes; but don't talk. Hullo! they're up above us again yonder. "

"What, the Dwat you may call 'ems?"

"I s'pose so, " said the Sergeant gruffly, as a stone crashed down closeto the foremost man. 

"And me not able to shoot!" muttered Gedge. "Well, of all the hardluck! But I owe some on 'em something for that shy at my coco-nut; andoh! I s'y, Sergeant, it's just as if some one was at work at it with apick. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

WOUNDED MEN. 

The Sergeant was right, for, after turning a rib-like mass of stoneforming an angle in the path, it was to find that either a fresh partyof the enemy were waiting for them, or the others had by taking a shortcut reached an eminence commanding the path; and as soon as the companycame in sight they were saluted with an avalanche of stones, on a spotwhere they were terribly exposed, there being no shelter that could beseized upon by a few picked marksmen to hold the stone-throwers in checkwhile the rest got by. 

Matters looked bad, for the whole; of the baggage with the guard haddisappeared, and, to make matters worse, shot after shot came whistlingby from behind, indicating that the hill-men had come down to the track, and were closely following them in the rear. 

"We must make a rush for it, Bracy, " said Captain Roberts, as he gazedup at the heights from which the invisible enemy were bombarding thepath. "We'll hold them back for a few minutes, and then you take halfthe company and dash across to yonder rocks. As soon as you are inshelter open fire and cover, as I fancy you can get a sight of them fromthere. It's waste of ammunition to fire from here, and--Who's thatdown?"

For there was a sharp cry from one of the men, who staggered forward afew yards, fell, and sprang up again minus his helmet, which had beenstruck by a bullet from behind. 

"All right; not much hurt, sir, " cried the sufferer, rejoining hiscompanions, after picking up his helmet, the back of which had beenscored by a nearly spent rugged missile, whose track was marked in along jagged cut across the man's right cheek-bone, from which the bloodwas trickling down. 

The rear men were on the alert, watching for a chance to retaliate upontheir troublesome enemy, but holding their fire, for not a man wasvisible, and it seemed useless to fire at the rocks they had just left. 

"The sooner we are out of this the better, " said the Captain quietly. "You know your work. --Wait a minute, and then at the word rush across tothe rocks. "

The minute had nearly passed, the time filled up by the rattle and roarof falling stones, and Bracy's half-company, though at rest, werepanting hard with excitement like greyhounds held by a leash. Then, just as the falling stones were beginning to slacken as if the throwersgrasped the fact that they were wasting their strength, and werereserving their discharge till the half-company made its rush, there wasa sudden quick movement among the rocks they were to try and reach, andBracy's blood ran cold as, puff, puff, puff, and then crack, crack, firewas opened. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Roberts excitedly; "they've got down somehow to cut usoff. We're between two fires, Bracy, man. There's nothing for it nowbut to dash forward. You must clear them out of that. Don't stop topick up your men who go down. We shall be close behind, and will see tothem. Get across, and then turn and cover us if you can. "

Bracy nodded, and drew his revolver, just giving one glance upward atthe heights from whence the stones came, and then fixing his eyes uponthe rocks on the other side of the curve of the track, from which freshpuffs of smoke arose, making their position look desperate with theenemy in front and rear, supplemented by those hidden among the ruggednatural battlements of their stronghold. 

"How many men shall I lose?" thought the young officer; and then, "ShallI get across alive?"

The next moment all was changed. 

"Why, Roberts, " he cried, "it's our own men yonder, firing up instead ofat us, to cover our advance. "

"Forward, then, " cried Roberts. "We shall be close behind. "

Bracy dashed ahead, waving his sword, and his half-company of boyscheered as they followed him; while as soon as they started there was atremendous crashing of dislodged masses of rock, which came thunderingdown, fortunately sent too soon to injure the charging soldiery, whowere saved from a second discharge by a sharp crackling fire from therocks which they were to have occupied, the rapid repetitions tellingthat a strong company of their friends were at work, and the bulletsspattering and flicking among the enemy, driving them at once intocover. 

There was a hearty cheer to greet Bracy and his half-company as theysuccessfully crossed the stone-swept track and reached the shelter ofthe rocks, ready to turn on the instant and help to keep down thestone-throwing as Roberts and his men came along at the double. 

But Bracy's lads did not fire a shot aloft, for a glance at the secondhalf of the company revealed a new danger, and his men dropped intoposition, ready to repel that with a volley. For no sooner had thesecond half started than the track, a quarter of a mile in their rear, suddenly seemed to become alive with white-garbed hill-men, who camebounding along in a little crowd. 

"Steady, steady! make every shot tell, boys, " cried Bracy. "Fire!"

A ragged volley was the result; the hill-men stopped suddenly as ifpetrified, and were hesitating still as to what they should do, when asecond volley sent them to the right-about, leaving several of theirnumber on the track, while half-a-dozen more were seen to drop beforetheir comrades were out of sight. 

There was another burst of cheering as the second half-company pressedon without the loss of a man, Gedge having so far recovered that he wasable to double with one of his comrades, who came steadily on with him, arm-in-arm. As the young officers stood breathless and panting withtheir exertions, the stern, keen face of Colonel Graves suddenly loomedabove the smoke, and his horse bore him into their midst. 

"How many men down?" was his first eager question. 

"Two slightly wounded; that's all, sir, " was the reply. 

"Forward, then, " he said, and he signed to Roberts and Bracy to come tohis side. 

"You've done well, " he said. "Retain your places as rear-guard. I'llkeep in touch with you. --Hark!"

"Firing, sir, " said Captain Roberts. 

"Yes; the Major must be clearing the way for us. We must get off thisshelf and on to open ground before dark. "

He turned his horse's head and made his way towards the front as rapidlyas the nature of the wretched rock-strewn shelf would allow; and the twoyoung officers tramped on at a fair distance from the rear of thebaggage-guard, keeping a sharp lookout for enemies in pursuit, feelinglittle anxiety about the rugged eminences up to their left, knowing asthey did that they would have ample warning of danger by an attack beingmade somewhere along the line whose extreme rear they were protecting. 

Their task was comparatively easy now, for their two wounded men hadbeen passed on to the baggage-train, so that they could be in charge ofthe ambulance men and have the benefit of the Doctor's help. A shotcame now and then from behind, showing that the enemy were in pursuit;but no mischief was done, a return shot or two from the rear files, whoretired in skirmishing order, silencing the firing at every outbreak. Every step taken, too, now was more and more downward, and the keenwinds, sharpened by the ice and snow, which had cut down the ravines atthe higher part of the pass, were now tempered by the warm afternoonsunshine, which bathed the tops of the shrubs they had looked down uponfrom above, the said shrubs having developed into magnificent groves ofcedars, grand in form and towering in height. 

These last were for the most part on the farther side of the now verdantvalley--verdant, for its rocky harshness was rapidly becoming softened;even the shelf along which they tramped began to be dotted with alpineflowers, which gave the march the appearance of having lasted formonths, for the morning; had been in part among mountains whoseatmosphere was that of a sunny day in February. Now they were in May, and according to appearances they were descending into an evening thatwould be like June. 

Matters were going on so quietly now that the two officers found timefor a chat at intervals, one of which was as they passed aformidable-looking spot where the thickly scattered stones and marks oflead upon the rocks showed that it must have been the scene of one ofthe attacks made by the enemy from the rocks above. But there was nosign of them now, the only suggestion of danger being the presence of ascore of their men left to keep any fresh attack in check, and whoretired as soon as the rear-guard came in sight. 

"This must be where the Major had to clear the way, " said Roberts as hescanned the heights with his glass. 

"Yes, " replied Bracy; "and I hope he was as well satisfied with the boysas we were. "

"Shame if he wasn't, " cried Roberts. "Pooh! don't take any notice ofwhat he said. You know his way. "

"Yes; he must have something to grumble at, " replied Bracy. "If he werewith a regiment of veterans--"

"Yes, of course; he'd be snarling because they were what he'd callworn-out, useless cripples, only fit for Chelsea Hospital. The Doctorwas right: it's his liver. "

"Yes, " said Bracy; "and when we are in camp to-night and at dinner he'llbe in the highest of glee, and do nothing but brag about how he made theenemy run. "

"Well, yes; a bit of work always does him good. It isn't brag, though, for I believe the Major to be a splendid officer, and if we have much todo he'll begin showing us greenhorns what a soldier ought to be. But, Isay, don't talk about dinner. I didn't think of it before; now I feelfamished. My word! I shall punish it to-night. "

"If we get safely into camp, " cried Bracy excitedly. "Down with you, mylads, and look out. It came from across the valley there, from amongthose trees. "

Even as he spoke, pat, pat, pat came as many bullets, to strike againstthe bare face of the rock over their heads and fall among the stones attheir feet, while the reports of the pieces fired were multiplied by theechoes till they died away. 

"Nothing to mind, " said Roberts coolly. "They're trying to pick us off!We can laugh at any attack if they try to cross the depths belowthere. "

"Nothing to mind so long as we are not hit, " replied Bracy; "but Iobject to being made a mark for their practice. What have you gotthere, Jones?"

"One of their bullets, sir, " said the man, who had picked up a messengerwhich had come whizzing across the valley. 

"Bullet--eh? Look here, Roberts, " and Bracy handed his brother officera ragged piece of iron which looked as if it had been cut off the end ofa red-hot iron rod. 

"Humph! Nice tackle to fire at us. Lead must be scarce. Now, that'sthe sort of thing that would make a wound that wouldn't heal, anddelight old Morton. "

Pat, pat, again overhead, and the missiles fell among the stones. 

"We must stop this, " said Roberts. --"Hold your fire, my lads, till youhave a good chance. One telling shot is worth a hundred bad ones. "

"Ah! Look out, " cried Bracy, who was scanning the distant grove oflarge trees across the valley a quarter of a mile away. "There they go, breaking cover to take up ground more forward, to have at us again. "

For, all at once, some fifty white-coats became visible, as their ownersdashed out of one of the patches of cedars and ran for another a furlongahead. The lads were looking out, and rifle after rifle cracked. Thenthere was quite a volley to teach the enemy that a quarter of a mile wasa dangerous distance to stand at when British soldiers were kneelingbehind rocks which formed steady rests for the rifles they had carefullysighted. 

Five or six men, whose white-coats stood out plainly in the clearmountain air against the green, were seen to drop and not rise again;while the rest, instead of racing on to the cover in front, turned offat right-angles and made for a woody ravine higher up the right face ofthe valley; but they did not all reach it in safety. 

The firing brought back the Colonel, who nodded thoughtfully on hearingRoberts's report. 

"Hurry on, " he said; "the shelf descends to quite an opening of thevalley a quarter of a mile farther on, and there is a patch of wood wellout of reach of the hills, where I shall camp to-night. Theadvance-guard have cleared it of a similar party to that you describe. "

"It was getting time, " said Bracy to Roberts as the Colonel rode on. "Ishouldn't have liked for us to pass the night on this shelf. Thinkthey'll attack us after dark?"

"Can't say, my son. If they do--"

"Well, what?" asked Bracy. 

"We shall have to fight; but not, I hope, till we have had a comfortablemeal. "

"I hope the same; but I suppose there'll be no rest till we've had agood set-to and thrashed the ruffians. Why, the country seems to be upin arms against us. "

"Yes, " said Roberts; "it's a way these genial hill-men have. "

"Fortunately for us it is very thinly peopled, " observed Bracy as theytramped along, seemingly as fresh as when they started. 

"Don't be too sure. We've been up among the mountains. Wait till wesee the vales. "

But the troubles of the day ceased at sunset, one which was madewonderful with the hues which dyed the mountains of the vast Karakoramrange; and when the cooking-fires were out in the cedar grove and thewatches were set, officers and men slept well in the aromatic air; eventhe mules did not squeal and kick so very much in their lines, while theweary camels groaned and sighed and sobbed in half-tones, as ifbemoaning their fate as being rather better than usual, for none hadbeen riddled by bullets, fallen, or been beaten overmuch, and theirleaders had taken care that they were not overloaded, and that they hadplenty to eat and drink. The only men who slept badly were Gedge andSymons, the man whose cheek-bone had been furrowed by a bullet. Buteven they were cheerful as they talked together in the shelter of acanvas tent, and passed the time comparing notes about their ill-luck inbeing the first down, and calculating how long it would be before theywere back in the ranks. 

"Hurt much, matey?" said Gedge. 

"Pretty tidy, pardner. How's your nut?"

"Been easier since the Doctor put the wet rag on it soaked with somestuff or another. Oh, I shouldn't care a bit, only it keeps on swellingup like a balloon, and it'll make a fellow look such a guy. "

"Hist!" said the other; "some one coming. The Doctor. "

"Are you asleep in there?" said a low voice. 

"Mr Bracy, sir, " cried Gedge eagerly. "No, sir; we're wido. "

"How are you, my lads--in much pain?"

"Oh no, sir; we're all right. "

"I came just to see how you are. Good-night. Try and get to sleep. "

"Yes, sir; thank ye, sir. Good-night, sir. "

"Good-night. "

There was a faint rustle as of feet passing over cedar needle, and thena faint choky sound as if some one in the dark were trying to swallowsomething. 

"I like that, " said Symons at last in a whisper; "makes yer feel as ifyer orficers do think o' something else besides making yer be smart. "

"Like it?" said Gedge huskily. "I should just think you do. Oh, I say, though, what a guy I shall look in the morning! Wish we'd got a box o'dominoes and a bit o' candle. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

BOYS IN ACTION. 

"Look at those boys, " said Bracy the next morning on meeting his brotherofficers at their attractive-looking mess breakfast, spread by thenative servants beneath a magnificent cedar. "Yes, they look cheery andlarky enough, in spite of yesterday's experience. "

"As full of fun as if this were a holiday, " said another. 

"Ah, " said Roberts, "no one would think that we were surrounded by theenemy. "

"Are we?" asked Bracy. 

"Are we?--Just, hark at him. --Where have you been?"

"Having a glorious bath in that torrent. The water was as clear ascrystal. "

"And cold as ice, " said the Major, with a shudder. "I tried it in mygutta-percha wash-basin. "

"Oh yes, it was cold, " said Bracy; "but it was like a shower-bathsquared and cubed. It came down on my head in tubfuls, sent an electricthrill through one's muscles, and a good rub sent every trace ofstiffness out of my legs. Feel as if I could walk any distance to-day. "

"Well, be patient, old man, " said Roberts, laughing. "I dare say you'llhave a chance. "

"But what's that you were saying about the enemy?"

"Why, every hill's covered with them, and they evidently mean toattack. "

"Oh, very well, " said Bracy, beginning upon his breakfast; "then Isuppose we must fight. "

There was a laugh behind him, a hand was laid upon his shoulder, and theyoung man looked up sharply, to see that the Colonel had come upsilently over the thick carpet of cedar needles. 

"Good-morning, sir. "

"Good-morning--all, " said the Colonel quietly. "All well?"

A chorus of assent ran round the group, and the Colonel continued:

"That's the spirit to take it in, Bracy. Of course we must fight; andthe sooner the scoundrels give us the chance the better--eh, Graham?"

"Yes; we've come to give them a lesson, and they'll get it. We ought toreach the station by evening. The poor fellows there must be anxiouslylooking out for us. "

"Yes; I've sent three different messengers to say that we shall be thereby night, and I hope one out of the three will get there with the news. "

"Then you mean to go on at once?"

"Of course. Did you think I meant to stay here?"

"I only thought it possible that, as this was a strong place, and wehave plenty of provisions and good water, you might hold on and let themattack us. "

"Oh no, " replied the Colonel, taking his seat on the ground with therest. "If we do that the enemy will take it for granted that we fearhim. It must be forward, and plenty of dash. "

"Yes; but while our lads are raw they would be more steady behind such abreastwork, or zareba, as we could soon make round us. "

"I thought the boys were steady enough yesterday, " said the Colonelquietly; "and we shall be far better off in the open than drawn out in aline on that narrow shelf. "

"Oh, then we shall have a better road to-day?"

"Yes, " said the Colonel, going on calmly enough with his meal. "As faras I can gather from our guides, who all agree as to the character ofthe road, we have wide, open valleys, with forest till within a coupleof miles of Ghittah; then the mountains close in again, and we have anarrow shelf to traverse high above the bottom of a gorge. "

"With plenty of places for stone-throwers?" said the Major. 

"Plenty, " replied the Colonel; "so you know what you have to expect, gentlemen. But I hope and believe that unless they are too closelybeleaguered the little garrison at the station will make a sally to meetus, and help to clear the way. "

"What a jolly old humbug Graham is!" whispered Roberts. "It's all tobelittle our lads. He knew that as well as the Colonel. "

"I suppose so, " replied Bracy. "Ah, here's the Doctor. "

For that gentleman came bustling up, smiling and nodding to all in turn. 

"Morning, Doctor, " said the Colonel. "What do you think of yourpatients this morning?"

"My patients? Seen them?"

"Yes, " said the Colonel quietly. "Bracy and I had a look at them assoon as it was light. "

"Getting on splendidly, " said the Doctor, rubbing his hands. "Narrowescape for that boy whose cheek is scratched; an inch or two more to theleft, and--"

"Ah! Bah! The old story, Doctor, " said the Major contemptuously. 

"Yes, sir, " replied the Doctor tartly, as he fixed his eyes on theportly, middle-aged officer on the opposite side of the cloth. "Youdidn't take those pills, then?"

"How do you know?"

"By the way you talk, " said the Doctor, chuckling, and screwing up oneeye and glancing round at the rest. 

"No, sir, I did not take the rubbish, " said the Major angrily, as he sawevery one smiling. "Was it likely that I should take them at a timelike this?"

"No, I suppose not, " said the Doctor coolly; "but I should. But, as Iwas going to say, Colonel, it's wonderful what a deal the human skullcan bear. Now, for instance, that boy Gedge: a great stone comes downmany hundred feet, increasing in velocity with the earth's attraction, strikes him on the head, and down he goes, insensible, with his skullcrushed in, you would expect; but no: it is the old story of thestrength of the arch and the difficulty in cracking an egg-shell fromoutside, though the beak of a tiny chicken can do it from within. "

"Then there's no fracture?" said Bracy eagerly. 

"Not so much as a faint crack, sir. Fellow was too thick-headed. "

The Colonel sprang to his feet the next minute, for one of the officersappeared to announce the appearance of three several bodies of mendescending from the distant heights. 

"How near?" asked the Colonel. 

"The nearest about a mile and a half, sir. "

"Another live minutes for you to finish your breakfast, gentlemen, andthen we march. "

The bugles were sounding directly after, and in less time than theirleader had given out, the officers were with their companies, the nativeservants had replaced the camp equipage, and at the end of the quarterof an hour the march was resumed in the most orderly way, thebaggage-train being strongly guarded, and the men well rested, flushed, and eager for the coming fray. 

It was like a glorious late spring morning in England, and the widevalley the regiment was traversing presented a lovely series oflandscapes, backed up in front and to right and left with mightysnow-capped mountains, whose peaks looked dazzling in the early morningsun. But though every breast breathed in the crisp air with a strangesense of exhilaration, no one had eyes for anything but the two bodiesof white-robed men approaching them from right and left, the third beinghidden by the forest patch where the troops had bivouacked, and forwhich the enemy had made as soon as it was evacuated, evidently to covertheir movements prior to a rush upon the rear. 

The Colonel, upon seeing this, made a slight alteration in his plans, halting Captain Roberts's company with orders to close in and follow therear of the column, thus bringing the impedimenta and servants more intothe centre, the movement being performed without the slightest check tothe advance, though the appearance of the bodies several hundred strong, to right and left, was very suggestive of an immediate attack. 

This was delivered, evidently by an agreed-upon signal; for suddenly atremendous burst of yelling arose, and the two unorganised crowds camerushing down upon the column, which halted, faced outward, and the nextmoment, while the enemy on either hand was about a couple of hundredyards off, there was a rolling volley nearly all along the line, and thewhite smoke began to rise, showing the two bodies of the enemyscattering and every man running for his life back towards the hills, but leaving the flowery grass dotted with patches of white, othersdropping fast as they grew more distant and the wounds received began totake effect. 

There was a little disorder in the centre among the servants, and mulesand camels were restive as the shouting hill-men came rushing on, withtheir swords flashing in the sunshine, and the rattle of the musketrythreatened to produce a panic; but the native servants behaved well, andwere quieting their animals, when there was another suggestion of panic, as Captain Roberts suddenly exclaimed:

"Here they come, Bracy!"

For the sergeants and men thrown out in the rear a couple of hundredyards suddenly turned and fired and came running in to take theirplaces, as the two rear companies were halted, swung out right and leftin line, fixed bayonets, with the peculiar ringing, tinkling sound ofmetal against metal, and waited the coming of the third body of theenemy, as strong as the two which had attacked in front. 

They came out from the shelter of the cedar forest with a rush, yellingfuriously, each man waving his long jezail in his left hand, while along curved tulwar, keen as a razor, flashed in his right--big, stalwart, long-bearded, dark-eyed men, with gleaming teeth and a fiercelook of determination to slay painted in every feature. 

It was enough to cow the stoutest-hearted, for in numbers they wereenough to envelop and wipe out of existence the handful ofslight-looking lads ranged shoulder to shoulder across their way. 

But not a boy amongst them flinched; he only drew his breath hard as iftrying to inflate his chest to the utmost with courage, and then at theword every other lad fired low, sending a hail of bullets to meet therushing force when it was about a couple of hundred yards distant. 

The men were staggered for the moment, but for the moment only, and theydashed on again, leaping over or darting aside to avoid those of theircompanions who staggered and fell. Then, as they reduced the distanceby about one-half, the yelling grew fiercer, and the enemy came runningand leaping on with increased speed. 

"Fire!"

Some fifty rifles delivered their deadly contents with a roar as if onlyone had been discharged. 

The effect was magical. 

The yelling ceased, and as the cloud of soft grey smoke arose it was toshow the crowded-together enemy halted in front, while those behind werepushing and struggling to get within reach to strike at the hedge ofglittering bayonets, from which a third volley flashed out. 

That was enough. As the smoke rose and the lads stood in double linenow, ready to receive the charge upon their glittering points, the enemywas seen to be in full flight. 

"Stand fast!" roared Roberts. 

"Back, back!" shouted Bracy; and, sword in hand, the officers rushedalong in front of their men, literally driving some of the most eagerback, to re-form the line; for the sight of the flying enemy was toomuch for some of the younger, least-trained lads, who were in the veryact of dashing forward with levelled bayonet in pursuit. 

"Well done; very well done, my lads!" cried a familiar voice as theColonel galloped back to them. "Steady, there; steady!" he shouted ashe rode right along the little line and reined up his horse, to sitgazing after the flying enemy, frowning the while as he saw how manywhite cotton robes dotted the soil before the uninjured disappearedagain in the cedar grove, from which they had delivered their attack. 

"Capital, gentlemen!" he said a minute or so later; "but I did not likethat unsteadiness. You must keep your men well in hand. "

The next minute the orders were given, and the column resumed its march, for it was no time to think of prisoners or attending to the enemy'swounded. In fact, before the regiment was half a mile away theirfriends were back from the hills seeing to their dead and wounded, andgathering up their arms, greatly to the annoyance of the rear-guardlads, who one and all were troubled with longings for some of the keentulwars to take back to England as trophies of their fight. 

But the stern order "Forward!" rang in the lads' ears, and theexpectation of being attacked at any time by one or other of the bodiesof the enemy hovering on the hill-slopes on either side, or of a freshdash being made upon the rear in the hope of cutting off the baggage, kept every one on the alert. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

UP THE GORGE. 

"Yes, " said Colonel Graves, as the morning glided by without incidentand midday approached, with the men beginning to show traces of theirhot, rapid march. "Pass the word on, for we cannot halt yet. It willcheer the lads, and have a good effect upon the enemy. "

The next minute, just as many of the lads were straining their eyesforward in search of the place likely to be chosen for their middayhalt, and making frequent use of their water-bottles, there were thepreliminary taps on the big bass, a few vigorous rolls on thekettledrums, and the fifes began to shrill out their sharp notes in amerry air, which brightened every face at once. Some of the lads beganto whistle the tune as they stepped out more briskly, and Judkins, ofCaptain Roberts's rear company, burst out with:

"Poor old Bill; that 'll do him good. Pity he ain't with us. Wonderhow he is. "

"Getting on, my lad, " said Bracy, who overheard the remark; "and I don'tthink he'll be many days before he's back in the ranks. "

Just then a cheer was given right in front, to be taken up and run rightalong the column, sounding as if it had been started by the men inthankfulness for Bracy's good news about Gedge, though it was only theeffect produced by the band; while as soon as the air came to an end, and there was silence for a minute, another hearty cheer was given forthat which was to come, the men knowing well the meaning of the silence, which was broken directly after by half-a-dozen beats of the drum, andthen with a sonorous clash the brass instruments of the excellent bandburst forth in a grand march, the clarion-like triumphant notes echoingsoftly from the hills on their right, where clusters of the enemy couldbe seen staring at them as if in wonder. 

"Hear that, you black-muzzled old women? You in white night-gowns?"shouted Judkins. "That's better than your wheezy old squealing pipes, made to imitate our Highlanders'. I say, lads, how come they to havepipes like our fellows? Wish some one would ask Mr Bracy. I dessay heknows. "

"Why don't you ask me yourself, Judkins?" said Bracy, who was close; athand. 

"Oh! Beg pardon, sir. I didn't know you could hear me. "

"Don't be a sham, Judkins. You know I was just behind you. "

The lad coloured like a girl, and his comrades laughed; but Bracy tookno notice, and said quietly:

"I don't profess to understand these things; but the use of bagpipes formusic seems to be a custom with the ancient tribes that migrated fromthe north of Asia and spread right away through Europe till they werestopped by the sea. "

"Hullo, Bracy!" said Roberts, coming up. "Giving the men a lecture?You don't mean that the Scotch and Irish pipes had their origin outhere?"

"I have read so. These hill-men have theirs right away east, and youpick up tribes of people with them at intervals till you get to Italy, where the mountaineers play them. Then it is not a very long jump tothe Highlands and Ireland, where they use bellows instead of blowinginto the bag. "

"A discourse on wind, " said Roberts quietly. "I want something moresolid. How soon are we going to halt for a feed and rest?"

The bugle rang out soon after, for they readied a broad stream of brightclear water, and in a loop of this, which offered itself as a capitalprotection for two-thirds of the distance round their temporary camp, the regiment was halted, and with strong videttes thrown out along theunprotected portion, the men fell out, when a hasty meal was eaten, andthe men ordered to lie down for half-an-hour, with their arms ready, sothat they could spring to their places at the first alarm. 

When the bugle rang out it was at the end of the hour's rest, and, thoroughly refreshed, the march was recommenced, the men stepping out tothe merry strains of a favourite song, which was repeated in chorus asthe band ceased playing; and the birds that had been hovering near werethe only objects visible when the halting-place was vacated, though thethick woods on the hill-slopes on either side were felt to be lull ofthe enemy. 

"Haven't given them all they wanted, have we?" said Roberts as theytramped towards where through the clear air the sides of the valleycould be seen closing in and growing higher and more jagged of outline. 

"No, " said Bracy thoughtfully. "It will take something more than abrush like that to beat them off. We shall have our work ready for usyonder where the Colonel said the track rose again to continue like ashelf right away to Ghittah. "

"I suppose so. Well, good luck to us, and may we have no morecasualties. "

"Amen, " said Bracy. "I wish, though, if we are to have a sharpencounter, we could have it now we're fresh, instead of just at the endof a heavy day's march. "

"Soldiers have to fight when the time comes, and they can't pick andchoose, I suppose. But never mind; the lads won't be done up, for thisis easy marching. It is not too hot, and we have plenty of good water. I say, I suppose we shall follow this stream right away now?"

"No doubt. It must come down from the snow-mountains, and through thatgorge yonder. "

"Yes, the one that seems so near, and does not get a bit nearer. It'scapital, our having this river on our right flank, for it would be anice job for the enemy if they tried to ford it. "

Roberts was right, for every mile of their forward journey made theriver a greater protection, the torrent growing fiercer and the banksrocky in the extreme, and for the most part nearly perpendicular, tillat last it was a good fifty feet down to the water's level, so that itceased to be of use for refreshment to the men. 

At last the sides of the valley began to close in more rapidly, andtheir track became steeper, till all at once they were brought up shortby what seemed to be the mighty gates of the gorge, up which they couldsee but a short distance, for it turned off to the right. But there, plainly enough in the western sunshine, crossing the end in a steepslope, was a part of the terrace-like path they were to follow, while ontheir left was its commencement, one heavy stone-strewn track, which inplaces rose like a series of gigantic steps. 

Here a halt was called, and the men lay down for a brief rest, while theperilous-looking path in front was reconnoitred first by the officerswith their glasses, the eminence above the track being carefullysearched for hidden bodies of the enemy ready to commence their attackas before by thrusting off the stones which hung aloft ready to fall, almost at a touch. 

But there was no sign of danger apparent. A great eagle was glidinghere and there in the mouth of the wild ravine, out of which came thedeep roar of the river in a series of foaming cascades; while no signwas visible of the enemy in the rear, and the officers soon came to theconclusion that there was nothing to fear from their left unless therewas some pass known to their foes by which the mountains high above theshelf-like track could be reached. 

"We're to form the rear-guard again, lads, " said Roberts, who had justreceived his orders. "Did it so well before, the Colonel says, " headded a little bitterly. 

"Well, if we want more fighting we ought to have been sent in advance, "replied Bracy, "for I feel convinced that there's something unpleasantwaiting for us as soon as we enter that black rift. "

"Most likely, " said Roberts. "The Major leads again, but they're goingto send half a company on first scouting. Yes, " he said impatiently, "there must be something bad ready for us. The enemy would never besuch fools as to let us go through there. Why, Bracy, give us ourcompany, and twenty-four hours to prepare, and we could hold that placeagainst a thousand. "

"Yes, I suppose we could. "

"Well, what are we waiting for?" cried Roberts impatiently. "It doesn'twant above two hours to sunset, and to be caught there with the nightcoming on--Ugh!"

"There they go!" cried Bracy excitedly, as the active lads selected asscouts began to ascend the track in the lightest order; and theirprogress was watched with the keenest anxiety as they rose more and moreinto the full view of the regiment, apparently meeting with no obstaclesto their progress, and showing the track to be followed by the waitingparty below. 

Just then the Colonel rode back to where the young officers werestanding. 

"This track is so narrow, Roberts, " he said, "that your company will beample to protect the rear; so I shall trust entirely to you. If we areto be attacked it will be in front; of that I am convinced, thoughprobably the attacking will be on our part, for sooner or later we shallfind a rough hill-fort, strongly held. "

"Hope we shan't fall into some trap, sir, " said Roberts earnestly. 

"I hope not, " said the Colonel, turning his horse and moving forward, but only to turn his head again. 

"It will be stiff work for the train, " he said; "but they must do it. You will help to keep the baggage-men well up to their work, for I meanto get through this pass to-night. "

"Nice job, " said Roberts bitterly. "We shall have the enemy behind us, stirring us up, and we shan't be able to get on without pricking up themules and camels. "

"No firing yet, " said Bracy, without heeding the foreboding remarks ofhis companion. "They're getting well on. Ah! there goes the advance. "

For a bugle rang out, its notes being repeated again and again withwondrous clearness from the faces of the black-looking barren rocks onhigh, and the scene became an animated picture to the men of therear-guard, who lay on their arms, resting, while the regiment filed upthe track, two abreast, giving life to the gloomy gorge, which grew andgrew till the baggage animals added their quota to the scene. 

"At last!" cried Roberts, as their own turn came, and after a long andcareful search backward from a point of vantage with his glass, he gavethe word, and his rested lads began to mount eagerly, but with every onekeeping an eye aloft for the blocks of stone they expected to comecrashing down, but which never came any more than did the sharp echoingrifle-fire announcing the attack upon some rough breastwork across theshelf. 

It was a toilsome, incessant climb for an hour, and then the highestpoint was gained, the men cheering loudly as they clustered on theshelf, nowhere more than a dozen feet wide, while the rock fellperpendicularly below them for over a thousand feet to where the riverfoamed and roared, one terrible race of leaping cascades. 

There had not been a single casualty with the mules, and the track, inspite of its roughness, was better for the camels in its freedom fromloose stones than the former one they had traversed. 

And now their way was fairly level for a time, and the descent of thepath gentle when it did begin going down towards the river, which fromthe slope seemed to rise. But they could see only a little way forward, from the winding nature of the gorge, which now grew more and morenarrow. 

"Not so far to fall, " said Bracy coolly, "if we do come to a fight. "

"Deep enough to break our necks, " grumbled Roberts. "Here, I say, itwill be dark soon; look how black it looks below. I wish those fellowshad not cheered; it was like telling the enemy we were coming on, forthey must be round the corner yonder. There--look!"

As he spoke one of the men in front suddenly turned and pointed to wherethe gorge was at its narrowest. 

"Yes, we can see them, my lad. Keep a sharp lookout to the rear, " heshouted to the men behind. "We shall be hearing from them now, Bracy, for, take my word for it, they're flocking along the path. Well, weshall have to fight in the dark, old man, like rats, in this confoundedtrap. "

"Very well, " said Bracy between his teeth, as he took out and examinedthe chambers of his revolver, before he replaced it in its leatherholster; "if the dogs do come on I mean to bite. "

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

BOOTS FOR BOOTY. 

"Well, you needn't bite this time, old fellow, " cried Roberts, with asigh of relief, as a burst of cheers arose faintly from the front oncemore, to be taken up and run down the column, even the native mule andcamel drivers joining in, till it reached the company which formed therear-guard. "What does this mean?" cried Bracy excitedly. "That we'retoo far back to know what is going on in the front. Those are notenemies, but friends. "

"What! people from the station come to meet us?"

"That's the right nail, struck well on the head, old chap; and I'm jollyglad of it, for I feel more like feeding than fighting, I can tell you. "

"Roberts, old fellow, this seems too good to be true, " cried Bracyjoyfully. 

"But for once in a way it is true. Push on, my lads; there'll besomething better than bullets for a welcome to-night. "

Roberts was right, for upon the last of the weary beasts bearing thebaggage reaching the end of the defile, the young officers foundthemselves face to face with a couple of companies of theirfellow-countrymen, bronzed, toil-worn looking men, many of them bearingthe marks of hardly-healed sword-cuts, and looking overstrained and thinas if from anxiety and overwork, but one and all with their faces lit upby the warmth of the welcome they were ready to give the regiment whichhad come to their help. 

The bandsmen played their best as they led the way across the lovelyamphitheatre into which the gorge had opened out, towards where, high upalong the northern side, and upon the rocky bank, stood the station andtown of Ghittah. The river, which here flowed smooth and deep, seemedas if of ruddy golden metal, as it glistened in the rays of the sundipping down behind the snow-mountains which shut them in. And everynow and then the cheery echoing strains of the band were pretty welldrowned by the cheers and counter-cheers of the relievers and therelieved. 

Bracy felt his breast swell with pleasure at the warmth of the welcome, for the fraternisation was complete, the war-worn veterans seeming as ifthey could not make enough of the raw striplings marching by their sidestowards where the British colours could be seen floating over the grimcastle-like place that had been the home of one of the old hill-chiefstill the district was added to the British dominions. But look whichway he would, the young officer could see no trace of the enemy. 

Birds of a feather flock together naturally, and before half a mile hadbeen covered a tall, thin, boyish-looking officer, with a star of meritin the shape of a series of strips of diachylon upon his brow, gravitated towards the rear-guard and suddenly joined their ranks, holding out and shaking hands with the new-comers. 

"How are you?" he cried. "How are you? I say, don't look at a fellowlike that. I'm an awful scarecrow, I know; but I'm Drummond--TomDrummond of ours. "

"Oh, you look right enough, " cried Bracy merrily. "Only a bit of thepolish rubbed off. "

"And a bit chipped, " said Roberts, laughing. 

"Eh? Oh, this!" cried their new friend. "Getting better, though, now. Doesn't improve a fellow. "

"Doesn't it?" cried Bracy. "I should be proud of such an order. "

"It's very good of you to say so, " said the young subaltern, with hiseyes glistening. 

"How did you get it?" asked Roberts. 

"Oh, in a scrimmage with those treacherous beasts. They'd got me andabout a dozen of the lads in a corner among the rocks, and it was eitherstand still and be cut up or make a dash with the bayonet. There wereabout fifty of 'em. "

"So you made a dash?"

"Yes, but only six of us got through, and all damaged. One big fellowwas nourishing a sharp tulwar, and he was in the act of cutting down oneof my fellows, and I went at him to try and save the poor lad, but I wastoo late. The great brute cut him down and rushed at me. "

"Well?" said Bracy, for the thin, boyish-looking officer stopped, andlooked red. 

"Oh, I gave point, and got well home. I put all my strength into it, and it brought me so close that instead of having my head split by hisblade I had the hilt on my forehead here. It struck in a nasty place, but being, as my old Latin coach said, awfully thick-skulled, the pommelof the tulwar didn't break through. I say, though--never mind that--have either of you fellows a spare pair of boots? I can swap a lot ofloot with you--fancy swords and guns and a chief's helmet--for them. Look; I've come down to this. "

He laughed and held up one leg, the lower part of which was bound inputtees, while the foot was covered with a bandaged raw-hide sandal. 

"Not smart on parade, " said Bracy, laughing, "but good to keep offcorns. "

"Yes, " said the subaltern; "but I'm blest if they keep out chilblains. Oh, crumpets, how my feet do itch of a night by the fire. "

"Well, I should say my boots are about your size. Roberts's wouldn'tlit. He has such big, ugly feet. "

"Come, I like that, Bracy. Hang it all! my trotters look liliputianbeside his. "

"Now, " said Bracy mockingly; "but wait till you can see Drummond's feet. Look here, " he added, turning to the subaltern; "you have a pair ofRoberts's too; they'll do for goloshes. "

"I don't care how old they are, so long as they are boots. "

"All right, old fellow; we'll set you up with anything we've got, " saidBracy. 

"Bless you, my children!" cried the young officer. "Bless you! Nevermind the dramatic business. Oh, I say, we are all glad you've come. "

"You've been in a tight corner, then?"

"Tight? We've lost a third of our number, and were beginning to thinkthe Government was going to let us be quite wiped off the slate. Here, I feel like a schoolboy again, and want to cheer. "

"All right; cheer, then, " cried Bracy, smiling, and clapping the speakeron the shoulder as if he had known him for years. 

"No; hoarse as a crow now, and I want my breath to talk. I say, we havebeen sharp set. We began to feel like the talking parrot who wasplucked by the monkey, ready to say, `Oh, we have been having such atime!' Those Dwats are beggars to fight. "

"We've found that out--that is, when they can take you at adisadvantage, " said Roberts. 

"Ah, that's their idea of manoeuvring, " said Drummond. "They can tight, though. We must have killed hundreds, but they come on all the same. There were thousands of them all about the hills here yesterday. "

"But where are they now?" asked Bracy. 

"They melted away like snow last night and this morning, just when wewere expecting an assault on the old fort yonder, which we thought wouldbe final. "

"Final?"

"Yes; we were getting dead beat. That's what makes us all so fond ofyou. "

"I see, " said Bracy, who noticed a hysterical vibration in the youth'svoice. 

"That was the first inkling we got of your coming. "

"What! Didn't you hear from our messengers?" said Roberts. 

"Didn't they get through?" cried Bracy. 

"Get through? No. They wouldn't let any messengers get through. Nevermind. You've all come, and if we don't have a jollification to-night myname's something else. "

"Then you're all right for provisions?"

"Oh yes, for some time to come. Ammunition was his weak point. We'veblazed away till the men's barrels have been hot. "

"It seems as if the men of your regiment are beggars to fight too, " saidBracy dryly, "judging by the appearance of some of you. "

"Fight? Obliged to, " said the subaltern, laughing. "Talk aboutpractising the art of war; we ought to pass any examination. But, joking apart, it has been an awful time for the poor women andchildren. "

"Ah!" cried Bracy. "You have women and children yonder?"

"Yes, any number, bless 'em! The ladies and the men's wives have workedlike slaves--hospital work, you know. As to our doctor, he'll be madwith joy to meet yours to share the work with him. Ah! there they go. "

For just then a burst of cheering came from the grim walls of the oldfort, which were lined by its occupants; and mingled with theenthusiastic cries came the strains of music. 

"You have your band, then?" said Roberts. 

"Bits of it, " said the subaltern dryly. "The brass instruments arebattered horribly; and as for the wood, they are all cracked andbandaged like wounded men; while the drums are nearly all as tubby astom-toms, through the men having mended them with badly-curedgoat-skins. I say, though, talk about goat-skins, I ought to have addedsheep. "

"Why?" said Bracy. 

"Are you fellows fond of shooting?"

"Yes, " said Bracy eagerly. "Is it good up here?"

"Grand, when there's a chance of the shooting being all on your side. "

"The beggars try to stalk you, then, sometimes?" said Roberts. 

"Sometimes? Nearly always. "

"But what have you got here--tiger?"

"Never saw one. Plenty of bear. "

"All! that will do. "

"Chamois-like deer, goats, and splendid mountain sheep. Pheasants too. Ah! I can give you some glorious pheasant shooting. Here they come. Oh, I say, what a pity for the old man to march our poor ragged Jacksout to see you! They'll look--"

"Glorious, " cried Bracy. "I should be proud of being one of yourregiment. By George; what shrimps our lads seem beside them!"

"Your lads look perfection, " cried the subaltern enthusiastically. "Don't you run them down. If you'd been looking despairingly for helpfor a whole month you'd feel as I do. Here, I must trot back to mychiefs. Just fancy; my captain and lieutenant are both down, _non com_, and I'm in command of my company. Isn't it disgusting for the poorfellows? But they behave very well. So glad to have met you, dearboys. Ta-ta for the present. We've got a splendid feed ready for youall, and we shall meet then. --Don't forget about the boots, old chap. You shall have these to present to the British Museum. Label 'em`Officer's Foot-gear. End of Nineteenth Century. Rare. '"

The subaltern trotted off, and with the regiment going half-mad andcheering wildly in response to the cries of welcome which greeted them, the boyish ranks marched on, solid and stiff, for a time, their riflessloped regularly, and step kept in a way which made even Sergeant Geesmile with satisfaction. But directly after, as caps and helmets, mingled with women's handkerchiefs, began to wave from the walls, thestrong discipline of the corps was quite forgotten, helmets came out oftheir proper places and were mounted on the ends of rifles, to becarried steadily at the slope, to be held up on high at arm's-length, and even danced up and down, in the wild joy felt by the whole body, from the Colonel down to the meanest bugle-boy, that they had arrived intime to succour the brave and devoted men, marched out of the darkgateway and formed up in two lines for their friends to pass in betweenthem. Hardly a dark face, lined, stern, and careworn, was withoutsomething to show in the shape of injury; while nearer the gate therewas a body of about two-score badly wounded and bandaged men who hadhobbled or been carried out, ready to add their faint share of cheeringto that of their comrades. 

As Roberts and Bracy led their company towards the gate, and the youngofficers caught sight of the ladies standing in a group ready to greetthem with outstretched hands, one of them--never mind which--perhaps itwas Bracy--felt half-suffocated, while the thin, careworn faces, many ofthem wet with the coursing tears, looked dim and distorted as if seenthrough bad spectacles on a wet day; and when, after having his handshaken a score of times and listening to fervent greetings andblessings, he got through the gateway to the great inner court, wherethe baggage and pack-mules, camels, and the rest were packed together incompany with the native servants, the said one--as aforesaid, never mindwhich--said to himself:

"Thank goodness that's over! If it had lasted much longer I should havemade a fool of myself. I never felt anything like it in my life. "

"Bracy, old chap, " said Roberts just then, "we mustn't forget about thatfellow's boots. I've a pair, too, as soon as I can get at my traps. Isay, I know you've got a mother, but have you any sisters?"

"Yes; two. "

"I've three. Now, can you explain to me why it was that as soon as Iwas marching by those poor women yonder I could think of nothing but mypeople at home?"

"For the same reason that I did, " replied Bracy rather huskily. "Humannature; but thank Heaven, old man, that they're not here. "

"Oh, I don't know, " said Roberts thoughtfully. "It would be very niceto see them, and I know my dear old mother would have been very proud tosee us march in. My word, this has been a day!"

"Yes, and here we are. Shall we ever get away?"

"Of course we shall. But, hullo! what does that mean?"

Bracy turned at the same moment, for rather faintly, but in a pleasanttenor voice, there came out of a long box-like ambulance gharry, borneon two mules in long shafts at either end:

"When Johnny comes marching home again--Hurrah!"

And from another voice a repetition of the cheer:

"Hurrah! Hurrah! When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah!Hurrah!"

"Ah, Mr Bracy, sir, just having a bit of a sing-song together. "

"Why, Gedge, my lad, how are you--how are you getting on?"

"I don't look in, sir, and I'll tell yer. Doctor says it's all right, but my blessed head keeps on swelling still. I don't believe I shallever get my 'elmet on agen. My mate here, though, is getting onswimming. "

"That's right. You'll lie up in hospital for a hit and soon be well. "

"Orspital, sir? Yes; but it's longing to be back in barracks, tents, orthe ranks as worries me. But never say die, sir. We've got here. --Howdo, Captain? Thank ye for asking. Yes, sir; getting on, sir. We'vegot here with on'y us two knocked over. Now then, sir, what next?"

"Yes, Gedge, " said the young officer thoughtfully; "what next?"

"I'll tell you, " said Roberts cheerily; "find our traps and thatfellow's hoots. "

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

IN QUARTERS. 

There was rest and refreshment in the old fort of Ghittah that nightsuch as the regiment had not enjoyed since their march up-country; andto have seen the occupants of the stronghold, no one could have imaginedthat a few hours before the beleaguered were in a state of despair. 

But they had cause for rejoicing, since, after a month's braveresistance, with heavy losses, they were now strengthened by thepresence of nearly a thousand light, active young fellows, perfectly newto warfare, but well officered, in a high state of discipline, and eagerto prove themselves against the enemy, whatever the odds. 

There was plenty of room for the new-comers, for the stronghold was alittle town in itself, and the regiment shook itself down into its newquarters as quickly as it would have formed camp out in the upon, sothat the men paraded the next morning fresh and ready for anything; thesenior Colonel inspecting the grand addition to his force, while his ownmen, after busy efforts, showed up in very different guise to that ofthe previous day, the thin and gaunt seeming to have plumped out duringthe night, while the officers' ladies showed that they had not quiteforgotten how to dress. 

Over the mess breakfast, which was had in common with the officers ofthe garrison, the new-comers had been made well acquainted with theenemy's tactics, and warned of the suddenness of the attacks made andattempts at surprise, so that they might be well prepared. They hadalready heard the result of the council of war held by the seniors ofthe two regiments, and were prepared to take over nearly all the duty, so as to give the harassed, worn-out regiment a rest. 

Then the parade was held in due form, the lads of the new regimentmounted guard, and their officers made a tour of inspection afterwardswith their new friends, who pointed out the strength and feebleness ofthe old fort. 

The latter predominated, especially on the side of the river, and therewere plenty of weak spots where Colonel Graves saw at a glance howeasily an active body of mountaineers might scale the lower rocks of themighty clump upon which the fort was built and mount to the ramparts, and unless the defence was strong there the place must fall. 

"It tells well for the brave efforts you have made, " said Colonel Gravesto his brother in rank. "I should propose throwing up an additionalwall at two of these spots--walls well loopholed for musketry. "

"I have proposed it, and intended to do it, " said Colonel Wrayford; "butit has been impossible. The enemy has kept us too thoroughly upon the_qui vive_. "

"Well, there will be an opportunity now, " said Colonel Graves as hestepped up on to an open place on the wall and began to sweep themountain-slopes with his glass. 

"See anything of them?" asked Colonel Wrayford. 

"Nothing. Are they well in hiding?"

"Possibly. I do not understand our not having had a visit from thembefore now. We generally have their white-coats streaming down thoseravines in two parties. It looks as if your coming had scared themaway. "

"That's too good to expect, " said Colonel Graves, laughing. "They'llcome, sure enough, and when least expected, no doubt. So much thebetter, so that we can give them a good lesson to teach them to behavewith respect towards Her Majesty's forces, for this place is to be heldat all hazard. "

"Yes; of course, " said Colonel Wrayford rather bitterly. "Well, it hasbeen held. "

"And bravely, " said Colonel Graves, bowing, with a show of deference, towards his senior. 

"Thank you, " said the latter simply. "We have done our best. "

He turned away, to begin using his glass, sweeping the differentravines--dark, savage-looking gorges which disembogued upon the smiling, garden-like expanse on both sides of the river, and seeming strangely incontrast, with their stony sides, to the tree-besprinkled verdure andlovely groves of the little plain not more than a mile long by half thatspace wide. 

"Hah! I thought the visit would not be long deferred, " said ColonelWrayford, lowering the glass and pointing to a thin line of whitefigures slowly coming into sight and winding down a zigzag path on oneside of the gorge, through which the river came down from the mountainsbeyond. 

"I see, " said Colonel Graves; "but I was watching those ravines to rightand left. "

"Yes; the enemy is changing his tactics to-day. You see, he does notmean us to have much rest. "

The bugles rang out at the first appearance of the enemy, and the wallswere manned with a strength to which they had been foreign; and as thetwo Colonels walked round and supervised the arrangements, the seniorasked whether the new-comers could shoot. 

"Admirably, " said Colonel Graves, and then, with a smile--"at thetarget; they have to prove what they can really do now. "

"They will have every opportunity, and from behind strong walls. "

Meanwhile the white-robed enemy came streaming down to the plain in themost fearless manner, till they were well within shot, and still theycame on. 

"This seems strange, " said Colonel Wrayford; "they have generally begunfiring before this. "

"They look more like friends than enemies, " observed Colonel Graves. 

"They may look so, " replied the other as he scanned the advancing force, "but we have no friends among these tribes. They are all deeply imbuedwith the Mussulman's deadly hatred of the Christian, and only whenfirmly held down by force do they submit to the stronger power. Unfortunately they have broken out, and we have had enough to do to holdour own, while the very fact of one tribe boldly shutting us in has madehalf-a-dozen others forget their own enmity among themselves and come totheir aid. "

Meanwhile Captain Roberts's company occupied a strong position along acurtain defending the great gate, and the lads were all in a state ofeager expectation of the order to fire. 

"It's our turn now, Sergeant, " said one of the youngest-looking. "Icould pick off that chap in front before he knew where he was. "

"Silence, sir!" said the Sergeant shortly; and then looking to right andleft, he gave a general admonition:

"Less talking in the ranks. "

"Yah!" whispered the lad who had been snubbed. "Why don't they make himcurnel?"

"See Drummond just now?" said Bracy, where he and his companion stoodtogether. 

"Just a glance, " replied Roberts. 

"Why, he came close by you. "

"Yes; but my attention was taken up by his boots--yours, I mean. Inever saw a fellow look so conscious and proud of being well shodbefore. "

"Hullo! What does this mean?" said Bracy. "Not an attack, surely? Myword! that's brave; one, three--six of them. Why, Roberts, the cheek ofit! They're coming to order us to surrender. "

"Well, it will be exercise for them, for we shan't. We'll let them giveup if they like. "

"I say, look!" continued Bracy, as half-a-dozen of the well-builtfellows came on alone, making for the gates. The officers scanned themwith their glasses, and noted that their thickly-quilted cotton robeswere of the whitest, and of line texture, while each wore about hiswaist a fine cashmere shawl stuck full of knives and supporting a curvedtulwar in a handsome scabbard. "I say, " cried Bracy, "what dandies!These must be chiefs. "

Whatever they were, they made straight for the gates, and the twoColonels walked down to meet them. 

"Keep a sharp lookout up there, Captain Roberts. You command theapproach. Are these men quite alone?"

"Quite, sir, as far as I can see. "

"Can you make out any strong body stealthily approaching, Mr Bracy?"

"No, sir; they seem to be quite alone. "

"Be on the alert for a rush, and fire at once if you see anything. --Youwill have the gates opened, I presume?" continued Colonel Graves. 

"Oh yes; it is an embassage, and they will expect to enter the place. Send for the two interpreters. "

A couple of lithe-looking, dark-eyed hill-men came forward at once, thegates were thrown open, and the party of six stepped in, looking smilingand proud, ready to salute the two officers, who stood forward a littlein advance of half a company of men with fixed bayonets. 

Salutes were exchanged, and in a brief colloquy the eldest of the party, a smiling fellow with an enormous black beard, announced through one ofthe interpreters that he was the chief of the Red Dwats, come with hismen to meet the English Captain and tell him that he and his people worethe most staunch friends the famous white Queen had, from there to thesources of the great river, the Indus. 

Colonel Wrayford replied that he was glad to hear it, and if the chiefand his people were faithful to Her Majesty's sway they would always beprotected. 

The chief said that he was and always would be faithful, and that hehoped the great white Queen would remember that and send them plenty ofthe guns which loaded at the bottoms instead of the tops, and boxes ofpowder and bullets to load them with. Then he would be able to fightfor Her Majesty against the other chiefs who hated her, because theywere all dogs and sons of Shaitan. 

"Roberts, old fellow, " whispered Bracy, high up on the wall, "I couldswear I saw one of those fellows leading the attack made upon us fromthe cedar grove. "

"Shouldn't be a bit surprised, dear boy. Perhaps he has repented andhas come to say he is good now and will never do so any more. Can youunderstand any of his lingo?"

"Not a word. It doesn't seem a bit like Hindustani. What's that?"

"The Colonel asked what was the meaning of the attack made upon usyesterday. "

"Ah, then he knows that fellow?" whispered Bracy. 

"No doubt. The old man's pretty keen, and if that chap means treachery, I'm afraid he didn't get up early enough this morning if he has come totake in old Graves. "

"I'm sure that's one of them. I had him at the end of my binocular, andI know him by that scar on his cheek. "

"They all seem to have a good deal of cheek, " said Roberts coolly. 

"Look here; I'd better warn the Colonel. "

"No need, old fellow. He knows what he's about. These niggers areprecious cunning, but it's generally little child's deceit, and that'sas transparent as a bit of glass. Don't be alarmed. Old Graves can seethrough any tricks of that kind, and Wrayford hasn't been on thisstation a twelvemonth without picking up a few native wrinkles. "

"Pst! Listen to what they're saying. "

"Can't: it's rude, " said Roberts. 

"Not at a time like this, when perhaps men's and women's lives are atstake. "

"All right; let's listen, then. What's the boss saying?"

"I don't like it, Wrayford. These are part of the tribe that tried todestroy us as we came up yesterday, and now they find we have escapedthem they want to make friends. "

"Well, we want the tribes to be friendly. "

"Yes, but not with sham friendliness, to lull us into security, andthen, after waiting their time, to join their fellows in a generalmassacre. "

"I am afraid you are misjudging our visitors here, " said ColonelWrayford quietly. 

"I am sure I am not. I swear I saw that dark fellow with the cut on hischeek leading a charge. "

"There; what did I tell you?" whispered Bracy. 

"And what did I tell you about the old man seeing as far into amillstone as is necessary for being on the safe side?"

"Yes; and I am glad his observation was so keen. "

"He's all right, old fellow; but hist! what is it? Ah, that's right. Wrayford is glad to hear that the chief of the Red Dwats is so friendlyto the Queen, and his request for arms and ammunition shall be sent tothe proper quarter. Now, then, what does he say to that?"

One of the interpreters spoke to say that the great chief of the RedDwats would camp in the valley above, so as to be close at hand if anyof the sons of Shaitan who had been molesting the fort before shoulddare to approach again. They were all gone back now to their ownvalleys in fear, through his approach, and now the two great EnglishGenerals and their men might sleep in peace. 

"Thank you. Bravo! Encore, Sambo!" said Roberts softly. "Going? Prayremember me to all at home. "

"Ugh!" raged out Bracy below his breath; "if ever treachery was plainlymarked upon a smiling, handsome face, it is there in that scoundrel's. Roberts, we must never trust these men within our guard. "

"Most certainly not, old fellow; but I suppose we must let them go backin safety, like the noble ambassadors they are. "

"What is going on now?" said Bracy. "Why, they're shaking hands withColonel Wrayford, English fashion. Surely he is not going to trustthem?"

"Seems as if he is, " replied Roberts softly as the young men stoodgazing down at the party below. "Perhaps he knows the native characterbetter than we do, and thinks it's all right. "

"Well, I don't, " said Bracy shortly, "young as I am. Those fellows havecome as spies, and I'm more and more convinced that they are the set whoharassed us as we came. "

"I begin to think you are right, old man, " said Roberts. 

"Well, of all--That scoundrel is going to offer to shake hands withGraves!"

"No, he isn't, " replied Roberts softly. "Doesn't like the look of theold man's eyes. Made a sort of shy at him. Now they're off, afterpicking up all that they could about our strength and position. Well, it isn't right, perhaps, for us to pull our superior's actions topieces; but I don't think Wrayford is right. "

"And Graves seems to think as you do, " said Bracy thoughtfully as hewatched the departure of the chiefs. "Look! those fellows are notmissing much with their rolling eyes. I wonder what they think of ourlads. The poor fellows don't show up very well against these stouthill-men. "

"They showed up well enough yesterday, " said Roberts tartly. "Pooh!What has size got to do with it? Well, I'm glad they've gone; but Ishould like to know what they are saying to one another. "

"Talking about the strength of the gates, you may depend, and whetherthis would be a good place to make their first attack when they come toput the garrison to the sword, " said Bracy slowly. 

"Well, you are a cheerful sort of a fellow for a companion, " saidRoberts, laughing. 

"That's what they came for, cheerful or not. "

"Perhaps so; but coming to do a thing and doing it are two differentmatters. Well, the show is over, and we may come down. Let's go andsee about getting our new quarters a little more ship-shape. I want tosee what the men are doing. "

"Not yet, " said Bracy. "I want to watch these fellows back to their ownmen, to see what they are about. "

"You can't tell from this distance. "

"Not much; but my glass is very powerful, and I want to try and judgefrom their actions what is going on yonder. "

"All right; I'll stop with you. "

Two-thirds of the guards mounted were dismissed, and soon after, thewalls and towers were pretty well deserted. The two young officersremained, however, Captain Roberts dreamily watching the wondrouspanorama of snowy mountains spreading out to the north as far as the eyecould reach, while Bracy sat with his double glass carefully focussedand resting upon the stone parapet, watching the departing chiefs, whostrode away looking proud and haughty, and apparently without holdingany communication with one another till they were well on their way, when Bracy noted that they suddenly began to talk with a good deal ofanimation. 

Bracy kept up his watch till they reached their followers, who closedround them in a very excited way. 

It was just then that Roberts roused himself from his reverie. 

"Hullo, there!" he cried; "'most done? Can't make out anything, canyou?"

"Yes; there's a regular mob of fighting-men crowding round thosefellows, and they're holding a regular meeting. "

"Good little glass. I say, old man, I'll swop with you. Mine's abigger and better-looking binoc. Than yours. Anything else?"

"One of the party--I think it's the one with the scar on his face, but Ican't be sure--"

"Can't you tell him?"

"Not at this distance. "

"Then I won't swop. It's not such a good glass as I thought. Well, what next?"

"He's telling his experiences, and the beggars are lancing about, roaring with laughter. "

"Can you see that?"

"Yes, quite plainly. "

"Then I think I will swop, after all. Can't hear what they say, Isuppose?"

"Hardly. "

"Humph! Not so good a glass, then, as Pat's, that brought the church sonear that he could hear the singing. Go on. "

"He's gesticulating. Now he's marching up and down stiffly like Gravesdid while the conference was going on. "

"Well, of all the impudence! But no flam: can you really make out allthat?"

"Perfectly. Now he is taking off his puggree and pretending to take ahandkerchief out and mopping his bald head. "

"Like Wrayford does. Why, the scoundrel stood as stiff as a poker whenhe was here and let the others do the talking. "

"Yes, while he was studying his part. Now they're laughing again andstamping about and holding their sides. He is going through everythinghe noted for their amusement, and telling them what absurd-lookingpeople the English are. "

"Oh yes, " said Roberts; "we're a very humorous lot, we British--veryamusing indeed, but best at a distance, for we're rather prickly, andeasily induced to make use of our knives. What next?"

"The show's over; and look--you can see that?"

"What! that flashing in the sunshine?"

"Yes; every man has drawn his sword and is waving it in the air. Hemust have said something which excited them. "

"Made 'em all draw and swear that they'd cut us to pieces and fling usin the river, I dare say. "

"Oh, there you are!" cried a familiar voice, and the tall, thinsubaltern hurried to their side. "I say, what do you think of that fora fit?" he cried, stopping, and then holding out one foot. "Just as ifthey had been made for me. "

"If you say any more about them I'll take them away again, " said Bracy, smiling. 

"Then mum it is, for I wouldn't be so cruel to my poor plantigrades. They haven't been so happy and comfortable for months. Watching thoseDwats?"

"I've been doing so, " said Bracy, closing his glass and returning it toits case. "What do you think of them?"

"Think they're a set of humbugs. They've come here hunting forinformation and pretending to be friends; and the worst of it is, oldWrayford believes in them. "

"Nonsense! He couldn't be so weak, " cried Roberts. 

"Oh, couldn't he? But he could. He hasn't been the same man since hewas cut down about a month ago. Poor old man! he's as brave as a lionstill, but he has done several weak things lately which none of us like. What do you think that thick-lipped, black-bearded ruffian proposed?"

"I don't know, " said Bracy eagerly. 

"To send on a couple of hundred of his cut-throats to help to defend thefort against the enemy. "

"He proposed that?" cried Roberts. 

"To be sure he did. "

"But Colonel Wrayford, " said Bracy, "he declined, of course--at once?"

"No, he didn't. He hesitated, and told your old man that an ally wouldbe so valuable, and that it would not do, hemmed in as we are, to offenda powerful chief who desired to be friendly. "

"But that's absurd, " cried Roberts. 

"Of course it is, " replied Drummond. "The only way to deal with thesefellows is to make 'em afraid of you, for they're as treacherous as theyare proud. But there, it's all right. "

"All right, when the senior Colonel here temporises with the enemy!"

"It was only one of his weak moments. He won't do anything of thatkind. He'll talk it over with your old man and think better of it. Besides, we shouldn't let him. "

"Oh, come, that's a comfort, " said Roberts, glancing at Bracy, with atwinkle in his eye. 

"Yes, I see, " said Drummond, "you're chaffing because I bounced a bit;but I'm blessed if you don't have to bounce up here in the mountains ifyou want to hold your own. I should be nowhere amongst thesehill-niggers if I didn't act as if I thought I was the biggest pot underthe sun. That's one reason why I was so anxious about my boots. Why, if it hadn't been for you two I couldn't have shown my face before thatparty this morning. I wouldn't have had them see me with my feetbandaged up like they were for anything. It would have been loweringthe dignity of Her Majesty's service in the eyes of the heathen. "

"Of course, " said Bracy, smiling; "but never mind that. You don'tbelieve in these fellows, then?"

"Oh yes, I do. "

"But just now you said--"

"What I say now, that they're a set of impostors, pretending to befriendly so as to see what your regiment was like and how the defenceslooked. "

"There, Roberts!"

"All right, dear boy. Well, when they come again we must show them ourboy-regiment, and how they've improved with the excellent practice wecan make in firing. "

"That's the way, " said Drummond cheerily. "They'll soon come again withtwo or three other tribes, for they've all made up their minds to haveus out of this old fort, palace, or whatever they call it. "

"And we shan't go--eh?" said Bracy, with a quaint look in his eyes. 

"Most decidedly not, " replied Drummond. "Now then, you're not on duty. Come and have a look round. Hullo! this is your doctor, isn't it?"

"Yes, " said Bracy. 

"Don't like the cut of him, " said Drummond. "He's doing it again. "

"Doing what?"

"Same as he did first time we met--last night at the mess--looking me upand down as if thinking about the time when he'll have me to cut up andmend. "

"Well, my dear boys, " said the Doctor, coming up, rubbing his hands. "Ah! Mr Drummond, I think? Met you last night. Glad to know you. Come, all of you, and have a look at my hospital quarters. Splendidplace for the lads. Light, airy, and cool. They can't help gettingwell. "

"But I thought you had no patients, sir, " said Drummond. 

"Oh yes, two that we brought with us; and if Colonel Wrayford iswilling, I propose that your wounded should be brought across, for it'sa far better place than where they are. Come on, and I'll show you. "

"Thanks, Doctor; I'm just going to see the Colonel, " said Roberts. 

"That's a pity. You must come without him, then, Bracy. "

"I really can't, Doctor; not now. I am going with Roberts. "

"Humph! that's unfortunate. Mr Drummond would like to see, perhaps, how we arrange for our men who are down?"

"Most happy, Doctor--"

"Hah!"

"But I am going with my friends here. "

"Standing on ceremony--eh, gentlemen?" said the Doctor, smiling quicklyand taking a pinch of snuff. "Well, we'll wait a bit. I dare say youwill neither of you be so much occupied when you are once brought in tome. I thought perhaps you would like to go over the place first. "

Bracy turned and took hold of the Doctor's arm. 

"All right, Doctor, " he said, laughing. "You had us there on the hip. I'll come. "

"What, and keep the Colonel waiting?"

"We can go there afterwards, " said Bracy quietly. "Come, Roberts, youcan't hold back now. "

"Not going to, old fellow. There, Doctor, I beg your pardon. I'llcome. "

"Granted, my dear boy, " said the Doctor quietly. "There, Mr Drummond, you'll have to go alone. "

"Not I, " said the subaltern, smiling. "I'll come and take my dose withthem. "

"Good boy!" said the Doctor, smiling. 

"I suppose you have not had your two patients taken to the hospitalyet?" said Bracy. 

"Then you supposed wrongly, sir. There they are, and as comfortable ascan be. "

"That's capital, " cried Bracy, "for I wanted to come and see that poorfellow Gedge. "

"That fits, " said the Doctor, "for he was asking if you were likely tocome to the hospital; but I told him no, for you would be on duty. Thisway, gentlemen, to my drawing-room, where I am at home night and day, ready to receive my visitors. Now, which of you, I wonder, will be thefirst to give me a call?"

"Look here, Doctor, " said Roberts, "if you're going to keep on in thisstrain I'm off. "

"No, no; don't go. You must see the place. I've a long room, with asmall one close by, which I mean to reserve for my better-classpatients. --Here, you two, " he said to the injured privates lying upon acouple of charpoys, "I've brought you some visitors. "

Sergeant Gee's wife, whose services had been enlisted as first nurse, rose from her chair, where she was busy with her needle, to curtsey tothe visitors; and Gedge uttered a low groan as he caught up the lightcotton coverlet and threw it over his head. 

"Look at him, " said the Doctor merrily, and he snatched the coverletback. "Why, you vain peacock of a fellow, who do you think is going tonotice the size of your head?"

"I, for one, " said Bracy, smiling. "Why, Gedge, it is nothing like sobig as it was. "

The lad looked at him as if he doubted his words. 

"Ain't it, sir? Ain't it really?"

"Certainly not. "

"Hoo-roar, then! who cares? If it isn't so big now it's getting better, 'cos it was getting bigger and bigger last night--warn't it, sir?"

"Yes, " said the Doctor; "but the night's rest and the long sleep gavethe swelling time to subside. "

"The which, please, sir. "

"The long sleep, " said the Doctor tartly. 

"Please, sir, I didn't get no long sleep. "

"Nonsense, man!"

"Well, you ask him, sir. I never went to sleep--did I, pardner?"

"No, " said his wounded companion. "We was talking all night when wewasn't saying _Hff_! or _Oh_! or _Oh dear_! or _That's a stinger_!--wasn't we, Gedge, mate?"

"That's right, pardner. But it don't matter, sir--do it?--not a bit, asthe swelling's going down?"

"Not a bit, " said Bracy, to whom this question was addressed. "There, we are not going to stay. Make haste, my lad, and get well. I'm gladyou are in such good quarters. "

"Thank ye, sir, thank ye. Quarters is all right, sir; but I'd rather bein the ranks. So would he--wouldn't you, pardner?"

His fellow-sufferer, who looked doubtful at Gedge's free-and-easy way oftalking, glancing the while at the Doctor to see how he would take it, nodded his head and delivered himself of a grunt, as the little partyfiled out of the long, whitewashed, barn-like room. 

"A couple of wonderful escapes, " said the Doctor, "and quite a treat. I've had nothing to see to but cases of fever, and lads sick througheating or drinking what they ought not to. But I dare say I shall bebusy now. "

"Thanks, Doctor, " said Roberts as they returned to the great court ofthe large building. "Glad you've got such good quarters for yourpatients. "

"Thanks to you for coming, " replied the Doctor; and the partiesseparated, Drummond leading his new friends off to introduce them tosome of the anxious, careworn ladies who had accompanied their husbandsin the regiment, and of the Civil Service, who had come up to Ghittah ata time when a rising of the hill-tribes was not for a moment expected. On his way he turned with a look of disgust to Bracy. 

"I say, " he said, "does your Doctor always talk shop like that?"

"Well, not quite, but pretty frequently--eh, Roberts?"

The latter smiled grimly. 

"He's a bit of an enthusiast in his profession, Drummond, " he said. "Very clever man. "

"Oh, is he? Well, I should like him better if he wasn't quite so muchso. Did you see how he looked at me?"

"No. "

"I did. Just as if he was turning me inside out, and I felt as if hewere going all over me with one of those penny trumpet things doctorsuse to listen to you with. I know he came to the conclusion that I wastoo thin, and that he ought to put me through a course of medicine. "

"Nonsense. "

"Oh, but he did. Thank goodness, though, I don't belong to yourregiment. "

The young men were very warmly welcomed in the officers' quarters; andit seemed that morning as if their coming had brought sunshine into thedreary place, every worn face beginning to take a more hopeful look. 

Drummond took this view at once, as he led the way back into the greatcourt. 

"Glad I took you in there, " he said; "they don't look the same as theydid yesterday. Just fancy, you know, the poor things sitting in thereall day so as to be out of the reach of flying shots, and wonderingwhether their husbands will escape unhurt for another day, and whetherthat will be the last they'll ever see. "

"Terrible!" said Bracy. 

"Yes, isn't it? Don't think I shall ever get married, as I'm a soldier;for it doesn't seem right to bring a poor, tender lady out to suchplaces as this. It gives me the shivers sometimes; but these poorthings, they don't know what it will all be when they marry and comeout. "

"And if they did they would come all the same, " said Roberts bluffly. 

"Well, it's quite right, " said Bracy thoughtfully. "It's splendidlyEnglish and plucky for a girl to be willing to share all the troublesher husband goes through. "

"So it is, " said Drummond. "I've always admired it when I've read ofsuch things; and it makes you feel that heroines are much greater thanheroes. "

"It doesn't seem as if heroes were made nowadays, " said Bracy, laughing. "Hullo! where are you taking us?"

"Right up to the top of the highest tower to pay your respects to theBritish Raj. I helped the colour-sergeant to fix it up there. We putup a new pole twice as high as the old one, so as to make the enemywaxy, and show him that we meant to stay. "

"All right; we may as well see every place while we're about it. "

"You can get a splendid lookout over the enemy's camping-ground, too, from up here. "

"Then you still think that these are enemies?"

"Certain, " said Drummond; and words were spared for breathing purposestill the flag-pole was reached, and the young subaltern passed his armround it and stood waiting while his companions took a good longpanoramic look. 

"There you are, " he then said. "See that green patch with thesnow-pyramid rising out of it?"

"Yes; not big, is it?"

"Awful, and steep. That mountain's as big as Mont Blanc; and from thatdeodar forest right up the slope is the place to go for bear. "

"Where are the pheasants?" asked Roberts, taking out his glass. 

"Oh, in the woods down behind the hills there, " said Drummond, pointing. "Splendid fellows; some of reddish-brown with white spots, and bareheads all blue and with sort of horns. Then you come upon some greatfellows, the young ones and the hens about coloured like ours, but withshort, broad tails. But you should see the cock-birds. Splendid. Theyhave grand, greeny-gold crests, ruby-and-purple necks, a white patch ontheir back and the feathers all about it steely-blue and green, whiletheir broad, short tails are cinnamon-colour. "

"You seem to know all about them, " said Bracy, laughing. 

"Shot lots. They're thumpers, and a treat for the poor ladies, when Iget any; but it has been getting worse and worse lately. Couldn't havea day's shooting without the beggars taking pop-shots at you from thehills. I don't know where we should have been if their guns shotstraight. "

"Well, we shall have to drive the scoundrels farther off, " said Roberts, "for I want some shooting. "

"Bring your gun?" cried Drummond, eagerly. 

"Regular battery. So did he; didn't you, Bracy?"

There was no reply. 

"Bracy, are you deaf?"

"No, no, " said the young man hurriedly, as he stood in one corner of thesquare tower, resting his binocular upon the parapet, and gazing throughit intently. 

"See a bear on one of the hills?" said Drummond sharply. 

"No; I was watching that fir-wood right away there in the hollow. Arethey patches of snow I can see in there among the trees?"

"Where--where?" cried Drummond excitedly. 

"Come and look. The glass is set right, and you can see the exact spotwithout touching it. "

Bracy made way, and Roberts stepped to the other side of the tower andlooked over the wide interval to where their visitors of the morningwere forming a kind of camp, as if they meant to stay. 

"Phee-ew!"

Drummond gave a long, low whistle. 

"Snow?" said Bracy. 

"No snow there; at this time of year. That's where some of the enemyare, then--some of those who disappeared so suddenly yesterday. Thoseare their white gowns you can see, and there's a tremendous nest ofthem. "

"Enemies of our visitors this morning?"

"They said so, " replied Drummond, with a mocking laugh; "but it seemsrather rum for them to come and camp so near one another, and neitherparty to know. Doesn't it to you?"

"Exactly, " cried Bracy. "They would be sure to be aware, of course. "

"Yes, of course. What idiots they must think us! I'd bet a penny thatif we sent out scouts they'd find some more of the beauties creepingdown the valleys. Well, it's a great comfort to know that this lot onthe slope here are friends. "

"Which you mean to be sarcastic?" said Bracy. 

"Which I just do. I say, I'm glad I brought you up here, and that youspied out that party yonder. Come away down, and let's tell theColonel. He'll alter his opinion then. "

"And send out a few scouts?" said Bracy. 

Drummond shook his head. 

"Doesn't do to send out scouts here. "

"Why?"

"They don't come back again. "

"Get picked off?"

"Yes--by the beggars who lie about among the stones. We have to makesallies in force when we go from behind these walls. But, I say, youtwo haven't had much fighting, I suppose?"

"None, till the bit of a brush as we came here. "

"Like it?"

"Don't know, " said Bracy. "It's very exciting. "

"Oh, yes, it's exciting enough. We've had it pretty warm here, I cantell you. I begin to like it now. "

"You do?"

"Yes; when I get warm. Not at first, because one's always thinkingabout whether the next bullet will hit you--'specially when the poorfellows get dropping about you; but you soon get warm. It makes yousavage to see men you know going down without being able to get a shotin return. Then you're all right. You like it then. "

"Humph!" ejaculated Bracy, and his brow wrinkled. "But had we notbetter go down and give the alarm?"

"Plenty of time. No need to hurry. They're not going to attack; onlylying up waiting to see if those beggars who came this morning can doanything by scheming. I fancy they're getting a bit short of lead, forwe've had all kinds of rubbish shot into the fort here--bits of iron, nails, stones, and broken bits of pot. We've seen them, too, huntingabout among the rocks for our spent bullets. You'll find them very nicesort of fellows, ready to shoot at you with something from a distance togive you a wound that won't heal, and cut at you when they can come toclose quarters with tulwars and knives that are sharp as razors. Theywill heal, for, as our doctor says, they are beautiful clean cuts thatclose well. Never saw the beauty of them, though. He's almost as badas your old chap for that. "

"But we had better go down and give the alarm, " said Bracy anxiously. 

"None to give, " said Drummond coolly. "It's only a bit of news, andthat's how it will be taken. Nothing to be done, but perhaps double thesentries in the weak places. Not that they're very weak, or weshouldn't have been hen; when you came. "

"Well, I shall feel more comfortable when my Colonel knows--eh, Roberts?"

"Yes, " said the latter, who had stood frowning and listening; "and Idon't think he will be for sitting down so quietly as your old man. "

"Not yet. Be for turning some of them out. "

"Of course. "

"Very spirited and nice; but it means losing men, and the beggars comeback again. We used to do a lot of that sort of thing, but of late thepolicy has been to do nothing unless they attacked, and then to givethem all we knew. Pays best. "

"I don't know, " said Roberts as they were descending fast; "it can'tmake any impression upon the enemy. "

"Shows them that the English have come to stay, " interposed Bracy. 

"Yes, perhaps; but they may read it that we are afraid of them on seeingus keep behind walls. "

A minute or two later the news was borne to headquarters, where the twoColonels were in eager conference, and upon hearing it Colonel Gravesleaped up and turned to his senior as if expecting immediate orders foraction; but his colleague's face wrinkled a little more, and he saidquietly:

"Then that visit was a mere _ruse_ to put us off our guard and give theman opportunity for meeting the fresh odds with which they have tocontend. "

"Of course it was, " said Colonel Graves firmly. 

"Well, there is nothing to be alarmed about; they will do nothing tillthey have waited to see whether we accept the offer of admitting asfriends a couple of hundred Ghazees within the gates. --Thank you, gentlemen, for your information. There is no cause for alarm. "

The young officers left their two seniors together, and as soon as theywere alone Drummond frowned. 

"Poor old Colonel!" he said sadly; "he has been getting weaker for dayspast, and your coming has finished him up. Don't you see?"

"No, " said Bracy sharply. "What do you mean?"

"He has Colonel Graves to lean on now, and trust to save the ladies andthe place. I shouldn't be surprised to see him give up altogether andput himself in the doctor's hands. Well, you fellows will help us to dothe work?"

"Yes, " said Bracy quickly, "come what may. "

"We're going to learn the art of war in earnest now, old chap, " saidRoberts as soon as they were alone again. 

"Seems like it. "

"Yes. I wonder whether we shall take it as coolly as this youngDrummond. "

"I wonder, " said Bracy; "he's an odd fish. "

"But I think I like him, " said Roberts. 

"Like him?" replied Bracy. "I'm sure I do. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

WARM CORNERS AND COLD. 

It was a glorious day, with the air so bright, elastic, and inspiritingthat the young officers of the garrison felt their position irksome inthe extreme. For the Colonel's orders were stringent. The limitsallowed to officer or man outside the walls were very narrow, and allthe time hill, mountain, forest, and valley were wooing them to come andinvestigate their depths. 

It was afternoon when Roberts, Bracy, and Drummond, being off duty, hadstrolled for a short distance along the farther side of the main stream, and paused at last in a lovely spot where a side gorge came down fromthe hills, to end suddenly some hundred feet above their heads; and fromthe scarped rock the stream it brought down made a sudden leap, spreadout at first into drops, which broke again into fine ruin, and reachedthe bottom like a thick veil of mist spanned by a lovely rainbow. Thewalls of rock, bedewed by the ever-falling water, were a series of themost brilliant greens supplied by the luxuriant ferns and mosses, whilehere and there, where their seeds had found nourishment in cleft andchasm, huge cedars, perfect in their pyramidal symmetry, rose spiring upto arrow-like points a hundred, two hundred feet in the pure air. Flowers dotted the grassy bottom; birds flitted here and there, andsang. There was the delicious lemony odour emitted by the deodars, anda dreamy feeling of its being good to live there always amidst so muchbeauty; for other music beside that of birds added to the enhancement--music supplied by the falling waters, sweet, silvery, tinkling, risingand falling, mingling with the deep bass of a low, humming roar. 

The three young men had wandered on and on along a steep track, morethan once sending the half-wild, goat-like sheep bounding away, and afeeling of annoyance was strong upon them, which state of feeling foundvent in words, Drummond being the chief speaker. 

"I don't care, " he said; "it's just jolly rot of your old man. Wrayfordwas bad enough, but old Graves is a tyrant. He has no business to tieus down so. "

"There's the enemy still in the hills, " said Roberts. 

"Yes, but whacked, and all the other tribes ready to follow the exampleof those fellows who have come down to make peace and fight against therest who hold out. They're not fools. "

"Not a bit of it, " said Bracy. "They're as keen as men can be; but Ishouldn't like to trust them. "

"Nor I, " said Roberts. "They're too keen. "

"There you are, " said Drummond petulantly. "That's the Englishman allover. You fellows keep the poor beggars at a distance, and that makesthem wild when they want to be friends. If every one had acted in thatspirit, where should we have been all through India?"

"Same place as we are now, " said Bracy, laughing. 

"Right, old fellow, " said Roberts. "We've conquered the nation, and thepeople feel that they're a conquered race, and will never feel quitereconciled to our rule. "

"Well, I don't know, " said Bracy. "I'm not very well up in thesematters, but I think there are hundreds of thousands in India who dolike our rule; for it is firm and just, and keeps down the constantfighting of the past. "

"Bother!" cried Drummond pettishly: "there's no arguing against you twobeggars. You're so pig-headed. Never mind all that. These thingamyDwats have come down to make peace--haven't they?"

"You thought otherwise, " said Bracy, laughing. "But, by the way, if wetwo are pig-headed, aren't you rather hoggish--hedge-hoggish? I nevermet such a spiky young Scot before. "

"Scotland for ever!" cried Drummond, tossing his pith helmet in the airand catching it again. 

"By all means, " said Bracy. "Scotland for ever! and if the snow-peakswere out of sight wouldn't this be just like a Scottish glen?"

"Just, " said Roberts, and Drummond looked pleased. 

"Here, how am I to speak if you boys keep on interrupting?" he said. 

"Speak on, my son, " said Bracy. 

"Well, I was going to say these fellows have come down like a deputationto see if we will be friends; and if we show that we will, I think nowthat all the rest will follow in the course of a few weeks, and therewill be peace. "

"And plenty?" said Bracy. 

"Of course. "

"No, my boy; you're too sanguine, and don't understand the hill-man'scharacter. "

"Seen more of it than you have, " said Drummond. 

"Possibly; but I think you're wrong. "

"Oh, very well, then, we'll say I'm wrong. But never mind that. We'vedone the fighting; the niggers are whopped, and here we are with thestreams whispering to us to come and fish, the hills to go and shoot, and the forests and mountains begging us to up and bag deer, bear, andleopard. I shouldn't be at all surprised even if we came upon a tiger. They say there is one here and there. "

"It is tempting, " said Bracy. "I long for a day or two's try atsomething. "

"Even if it's only a bit of a climb up the ice and snow, " put inRoberts. 

"All in turn, " said Drummond. "Well, then, when we go back to mess thisevening, let's get some of the other fellows to back us up and petitionGraves to give us leave. "

"No good, " said Roberts; "I know him too well. I have asked him. "

"And what did he say?" cried Drummond eagerly. 

"As soon as ever I can feel that it is safe, " said Bracy. "I wasthere. "

"Oh!" cried Drummond. 

"He's right, " said Roberts. "I don't believe that we can count uponthese people yet. "

"Then let's have a thoroughly good fight, and whack them into theirsenses. We're sent up here to pacify these tribes, and I want to see itdone. "

"So do we, " said Bracy; "but it must take time. "

"Don't believe that any one else thinks as you do, " said Drummondsulkily; and they toiled on in silence till they came near the side ofthe falling water, whose rush was loud enough to drown their approach;and here they all seated themselves on the edge of the mere shelf ofrock, trampled by many generations of sheep, dangled their legs over theperpendicular side, and listened to the music of the waters, as they lettheir eyes wander over the lovely landscape of tree, rock, and fall. 

The scene was so peaceful that it was hard to believe that they were inthe valley through whose rugged mazes the warlike tribes had streamed tobesiege the fort; and Bracy was just bending forward to pick a lovelyalpine primula, when he sniffed softly and turned to whisper to hiscompanions. 

"Do you smell that?" he said. 

"Eh? Oh, yes; it's the effect of the warm sunshine on the fir-trees. "

"'Tisn't, " said Drummond, laughing. "It's bad, strong tobacco. There!"he said as the loud scratch of a match on a piece of stone rose fromjust beneath their feet, as if to endorse his words, and the odour grewmore pronounced and the smoke visible, rising from a tuft of youngseedling pines some twenty feet below. 

"Here, wake up, pardners, " cried a familiar voice. "You're bothasleep. "

"I wasn't, " said a voice. 

"Nor I, " said another; "only thinking. "

"Think with your eyes open, then. I say, any more of these niggerscoming in to make peace?"

"S'pose so. The Colonel's going to let a lot of 'em come in and help doduty in the place--isn't he?"

"Ho, yus! Certainly. Of course! and hope you may get it. When oldGraves has any of these white-cotton-gowny-diers doing sentry-go inGhittah, just you come and tell me. Wake me up, you know, for I shallhave been asleep for about twenty years. "

"He will. You see if he don't. "

"Yah! Never-come-never, " cried Gedge. "Can't yer see it's all a dodgeto get in the fort. They can't do it fair fighting, so they'rebeginning to scheme. Let 'em in? Ho, yus! Didn't you see the Colonelput his tongue in his cheek and say, `Likely'?"

"No, " said one of Gedge's companions, "nor you neither. "

"Can't say I did see; but he must have done. "

The officers had softly drawn up their legs and moved away so as not toplay eavesdropper, but they could not help hearing the men'sconversation thus far; and as soon as they had climbed out of earshot soas to get on a level with the top of the fall, where they meant to tryand cross the stream, descend on the other side, and work their wayback, after recrossing it at its exit into the river, Bracy took up theconversation again. 

"There, " he said to Drummond, "you heard that?"

"Oh yes, I heard: but what do these fellows know about it?"

"They think, " said Bracy, "and--I say, " he whispered; "look!"

He pointed upward, and his companions caught sight of that which hadtaken his attention. 

"What are those two fellows doing there?" whispered Roberts. 

"Scouting, evidently, " said Bracy. "I saw their arms. "

"So did I, " replied Roberts. "Let's get back at once, and pick up thoselads as we go. One never knows what may come next. There may bemischief afloat instead of peace. "

At that moment Drummond gave Bracy a sharp nudge, and jerked his head inanother direction. 

"More of them, " said Bracy gravely; "yes, and more higher up. Well, this doesn't look friendly. "

"No, " said Roberts. "Look sharp; they haven't seen us. Let's get backand take in the news. "

It was a difficult task for the three young Englishmen to compete withmen trained as mountaineers from childhood; but the living game of chesshad to be played on the Dwats' own ground; and for a short time theparty of officers carefully stole from rock to rock and from patch oftrees to patch of trees till Roberts stopped short. 

"No good, " he said softly. "I feel sure that the beggars are watchingus. "

"Yes, " said Bracy; "they have the advantage of us from being on the highground. Let's go on openly and as if in perfect ignorance of theirbeing near. "

By this time the young officers were on the farther side of the stream, below the falls, with it between them and the men they wished to turnback and take with them to the fort. 

"What do you propose doing now?" asked Drummond. 

"I'll show you, " replied Roberts, and, parting the underwood, hethreaded his way till he was close to the deep gully down which thewater from the falls raced; and then selecting the most open spot hecould, he placed his whistle to his lips and blew. The rallying whistlerose up the mountain-slope towards the falls, like the note of some wildbird startled from its lair among the moist depths of the gully. 

To their great delight, the call had instant effect; for, unwittingly, they had made their way to where they halted just level with the partyof their men who were not forty yards away. Consequently, before thenote had died away the voice of Gedge was plainly heard. 

"I say, boys, " he cried, "that's a whistle. "

"Nobody said it was a bugle, " was the laughing reply. 

"But it means cease firing, " said Gedge. 

"That it don't, stoopid, for no one's shooting. Get out! Only somekind o' foreign bird. "

"I don't care; it is, " cried Gedge. "Way ho! Any one there?"

"Yes, my lads, " cried Roberts; "make for the fort at once. Follow thestream down to the river, and join us there. Quick! Danger!"

There was a sharp rustling sound as of men forcing their way downward oneach side of the gully, and the next minute, as the place grew lighter, consequent upon the trees being absent for a space of about, a dozenyards, there was the sharp whiz as of some great beetle darting across, followed by the report of a gun, which was magnified by echoes whichdied away into the distance. 

"Forward!" cried Roberts. "Steady! don't make a stampede of it. Keepto all the cover you can. "

Necessary advice, for the whiz of a second roughly-made bullet, seekingbut not finding its billet, was heard, followed by a smothered report. 

"I say, this is nice, " said Drummond: "and you two seem to be right. Idon't like it at all. "

"Well, it's not pleasant, " said Roberts, smiling. 

"Pleasant? No. These people may not mean war, but only sport. They'rebeating this part of the valley. "

"And routing us up, " said Drummond, "as if we were pheasants. I say; Iwonder whether pheasants feel the same as I do when they're beginning tobe driven to the end of a spinney?"

"Don't know, " said Roberts shortly; "but I'm glad we came. "

"Oh! are you?" said Drummond. "Well, I'm not. A little of this snipinggoes a very long way with me. "

"Ditto, " said Roberts shortly. Then, aloud, "How are you getting onthere, my lads?"

"Oh, fairly, sir, and--phew! that was close!"

For a bullet whizzed by the speaker's ear. 

"Keep under cover. Steady!" said the Captain; and then the cautiousdescent of the steep slope--more of a passage by hands as well as feetthan a steady walk down--was kept up, and diversified in the mostunpleasant way by shots, till the rocky shallow where the stream dashedinto the main river was reached. 

Here the deep gully, down which the stream ran, had grown shallower tillit debouched, with the valley on either side reduced to a dead level andthe banks only a foot or so above the surface of the rushing water, which only reached to the officers' knees when they stepped in. But, unfortunately, the last of the cover had been passed, and a couple ofshots reminded the party of the danger they ran. 

"Here y'are, sir, " cried Gedge, reaching out his hand to Bracy andhelping him out. "Oh! why ain't I got my rifle?"

"Don't talk, " cried Bracy as his companions leaped, dripping, out of thestream. 

"No; open out and follow, my lads, " cried Roberts. "Forward! double!"

"Ugh!" grunted Gedge to his nearest comrade; "and they'll think we'rerunning away. "

"So we are, mate. "

"Yah! only our legs. I ain't running. Think I'd cut away from one o'them black-looking, bed-gown biddies? Yah! go back and send yer clothesto the wash. "

The retiring party had separated well, so as not to present too good amark for the enemy, whose practice was far from bad. For the stoneswere struck close to them again and again, and leaves and twigs were cutfrom the low growth which here fringed the bank of the river, always inclose proximity to where the party ran, and teaching them that not onlywere the hill-men who fired good shots, but many in number, the high, precipitous ascent to the left being evidently lined with concealedscouts. 

"Forward there!" shouted Bracy suddenly, for Gedge began to slacken andhang back. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " puffed the lad; "wouldn't you rayther lead?"

"Forward, you scoundrel!" cried Roberts angrily; and Gedge darted backinto the position in which he had been running before, with his twocompanions, the officers having kept behind. 

"Getting pumped, pardner?" said his comrade on the left. 

"Pumped! Me pumped!" said Gedge derisively. "Hor, hor! Why, I feel asif I'd on'y jus' begun to stretch my legs. Go on like this for a weekto git a happy-tight. But orsifers ought to lead. "

"Advancing, matey, " said the man on the right. "Fust inter action; lastout, you know. "

"Ho, yus; I know, " grumbled Gedge; "but 'tain't fair: they get all thebest o' everything. Here, I say, look out, laddies. We're gettingamong the wild bees, ain't us? Hear 'em buzz?"

"Yes; and we shall have one of 'em a-stinging on us directly. Theregoes another. "

For bullet after bullet came buzzing by the flying party's ears, butstill without effect. 

"I say, " cried Gedge; "keep shying a hye back now and then to see if thegents is all right. "

"No need, " said the man on his left. "We should know fast enough. "

Meanwhile the three officers had settled down behind to a steady double, and kept on their conversation as if in contemptuous disregard of theenemy hidden high among the patches of wood to their left. 

"Thought they were better shots, " said Bracy. "Nothing has come near usyet. "

"Quite near enough, " growled Roberts. 

"Don't you holloa till you're out of the wood, " said Drummond; "they canmake splendid practice at a mark not moving; but it's not easy work tohit a running man. "

"So it seems, " said Bracy coolly. 

"Here, I've been thinking that we must have passed a lot of thesefellows as we came along, " said Roberts. 

"Not a doubt of it, " said Bracy; "fresh ones keep taking up the firing. We're regularly running the gauntlet. Surely they'll soon hear thisfiring at, the fort. "

"Hope so, " said Roberts. "We ought to have known that, the beggars hadadvanced like this. "

"Well, we have found out now, " cried Drummond. "I say, you two; thismeans that the war has broken out in real earnest. But I say, "--Hestopped suddenly. 

"Say on, " said Bracy merrily; "we can't stay to listen to your speech. "

"What a fellow you are!" cried the subaltern. "I can't cut jokes at atime like this. I was going to say--phee-ew--that was close! I feltthe wind of that bullet as it passed my face. "

"Miss is as good as a mile, " said Bracy cheerily. "We shall be havingmen out on the opposite bank before long, ready to cover us; and theywill not have running objects to aim at. They'll soon crush out thissniping. "

"Hope so, " said Drummond; "but I say--"

"Well, let's have it this time, " cried Roberts. 

"All right, " panted Drummond; "if I go down, don't stop for a moment, but get on. The relief can come and pick me up. I shall creep intocover, if I can. "

"Yes, " said Roberts coolly--"if you can. Now, just look here, my lad;you want all your breath to keep your machinery going; you've none tospare to teach us our duty. "

"Well said, Rob, " cried Bracy. "Just as if it's likely. But you'dbetter go down! I should like to see you!"

Crash! in the midst of some bushes, as a single shot succeeded aspattering fire, and one of the privates went down just ahead. 

"Almost got your wish, Bracy. Wrong man down. "

As Roberts spoke he and Bracy dashed to where two of the privates hadpulled up to aid their comrade, who had pitched head first into theclump of growth ahead of where he was running. 

"Don't say you've got it badly, Gedge, " cried Bracy huskily, helping themen as they raised the lad, who stared from one to the other in ahalf-dazed way. 

"_Habet_, " muttered Roberts, with his face contracting. 

"Eh?" panted the lad at last, as he tried to pull himself together. 

"Here--where is it?" cried Drummond excitedly. "Where are you hurt?"

"Oh, my toe!" cried the lad. "Ketched it on a stone outer sight, sir. My! I did go down a rum un. "

"Not wounded?" cried Bracy joyfully. 

"Not me, sir! Yah! they can't shoot. Here, I say, mateys, where's mybay'net? There it is. "

Gedge limped to where it lay with the hilt just visible amongst theshrubs, and he made a dart to get it, but overrated his powers. Heseized the bayonet from where it had been jerked by his fall, but wentdown upon his face in the act, and when raised again he looked roundwith a painful grin upon his lips. 

"Got a stone in my foot, p'raps, gen'lemen, " he said. 

"Carry him!" said Roberts briefly; and the men were lowering their armsto take the poor fellow between them, but he protested loudly. 

"No, no; I can walk, sir, " he cried. "One o' them just give me an armfor a bit. Leg's a bit numbed, that's all. Look out, mates. Bees isswarming fast. "

For the enemy had stationary marks for their bullets now, and they werefalling very closely around. 

"In amongst the trees there, " cried Roberts; and the shelter ahead wasgained, Gedge walking by the help of one of his comrades, and thencrouching with the rest. 

But the shelter was too slight, and it became evident that they wereseen from the shelves and niches occupied by the enemy, for the bulletsbegan to come thickly, sending leaves and twigs pattering down upon thehalting party's heads. 

"We must get on, " said Roberts after an anxious look out ahead. 

"All right, " said Bracy. "We may leave the scoundrels behind. "

"Behind, sir? Yus, sir, " cried Gedge, who had caught the last word. "You go on, sir, and I'll lie down here till you sends some of the ladsto fetch me in. "

"What's left of him, " thought Bracy, "after the brutes have been at himwith their knives. "

"Can you walk at all?" said Roberts quietly. 

Gedge rose quickly. 

"Yus, sir, " he cried. "There, it aren't half so bad now. Felt as if Ihadn't got no foot at all for a time. Hurts a bit, sir. Here, I'm allright. "

Roberts looked at him keenly without speaking. Then he cried:

"Rise quickly at the word; take two paces to the right, and drop intocover again. Make ready. Attention!"

The little manoeuvre was performed, and it had the expected result. Ascattered volley of twenty or thirty shots made the twigs about themfly, the fire of the enemy being drawn--the fire of old-fashioned, long-barrelled matchlocks, which took time to reload and prime. 

"Forward!" cried Roberts again, and at a walk the retreat was continued, the Captain keeping close beside Gedge, who marched in step with hiscomrades, though with a marked limp, which he tried hard to conceal. 

After a brief pause the firing started again, but fortunately the growthupon the river-bank began to get thicker, hiding them from their foes;though, on the other hand, it grew unmistakably plain that more and moreof the enemy were lying in wait, so that the position grew worse, forthe rushing river curved in towards the occupied eminences on theretiring party's left. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " cried Gedge suddenly; "I can double now. "

"Silence, my lad! Keep on steadily. "

"But I can, sir, " cried the man. "I will. "

"Try him, " whispered Bracy. 

"Double!" cried Roberts; and the retreat went on, Gedge trotting withthe rest, but in the most unmilitary style, for he threw his head back, doubled his fists in close to his sides, and, squaring his elbows, wenton as if engaged in a race. 

"Looks as if he were running for a wager, " said Drummond. 

"He is, " said Bracy coldly. "We all are--for our lives. "

The way they were about to go had now so markedly come towards the faceof a precipice, from which puffs of smoke kept appearing, that it wasevident something fresh must be done, or the end would lie very near, nomercy being expected from the foe; and as they went on Bracy keptturning his eyes to the right, seeking in vain for a glimpse of therushing river, now hidden from their sight by tree and rock, though itsmusical roar kept striking plainly upon their ears. 

"Rob, old chap, " he suddenly cried, "we must get down to the water, andtry to cross. "

"Yes, " said Roberts abruptly. "I've been thinking so. It's our onlychance, and I've been waiting for an opening. "

"We must not wait, " said Bracy. "It's chance, and we must chance it. "

"Halt! Right face, forward!"

As Roberts spoke he sprang to the front in one of the densest parts, where a wilderness of bush and rock lay between them and the river, andled on, with his companions following in single file; while, as perforcethey moved slowly, they had the opportunity to regain their breath, andlistened with a feeling of satisfaction to the firing which was kept upby the enemy upon the portion of the bosky bank where they were supposedto be still running. 

"Wish they'd use all their powder, " said Drummond breathlessly. 

"Why?" said Bracy. 

"They've no bayonets. "

"Only tulwars and those horrible knives--eh?" said Bracy harshly. 

"Ugh!" ejaculated Drummond. "You're right; but if they came to closequarters we could take it out of some of the brutes before we were donefor. It's horrible to be doing nothing but run till you're shot down. "

"Not shot down yet, old fellow. There, don't talk; we may get across. "

"May!" muttered Drummond. "But, my word! how they are firing yonder!They're beginning to think we're hiding, and are trying to start usrunning again. "

"Will you leave off talking!" cried Bracy angrily. "Here, Gedge, howare you getting on?"

"Splendid, sir. I could do anything if the pavement warn't so rough. "

"In much pain?"

"Pretty tidy, sir. Sort o' bad toothache like in my left ankle. Begpardon, sir; are we going to wade the river?"

"Going to try, my lad. "

"That's just what'll set me up again. Had a sprained ankle once afore, and I used to sit on a high stool with my foot in the back-kitchen sinkunder the tap. "

"Cold water cure--eh, my lad?" said Drummond, smiling. 

"That's right, sir. "

"Steady there!" came from the front, where the leaders were hidden fromthose behind. "Steep rock-slope here. "

A rush and the breaking of twigs. 

"Some one down, " cried Bracy excitedly. "Any one hurt?"

Splash! and the sound of a struggle in the water. 

Bracy dashed forward, forcing his way past the two men, his heartbeating wildly as he reached the spot from whence the sound came. 

"All right, " cried Roberts from below; and, peering down through atangle of overhanging bushes, Bracy saw his leader standing breast-highin foaming water, holding on by a branch and looking up at him. 

"I fell. Unprepared. You can all slide down. Lower yourselves as faras you can, and then let go. "

The distance was about thirty feet, and the descent not perpendicular. 

"You go next, " said Bracy to one of the men. "You can't hurt, it's onlyinto water. "

"Let me, sir, " cried Gedge. 

"Silence, " said Bracy sternly, and he watched anxiously as the man hehad spoken to set his teeth, made his way to the edge of the rock, lowered himself by holding on to some of the bushes through whichRoberts had suddenly fallen, and then let go. 

Hush--splash! and Bracy saw him standing in the water opposite to hisCaptain. 

"Next, Gedge, " said Bracy. 

Gedge sprang forward as if his leg were uninjured, lowered himself downtill his head was out of sight of those behind, and then, muttering thewords of the old school game, "Here comes my ship full sail, cockwarning!" he let go, glided down, made his splash, and the next minutewas standing beyond Roberts, holding on, for the pressure of the rushingwater was great. The others followed rapidly, Bracy last, and feelingas if he had suddenly plunged into liquid ice, so intensely cold was thewater, which reached nearly to his chin. He glanced outward to get adim peep of the river they were about to try and cross, and anotherchill ran through him, for it was like standing face to face with death, the surface eastward being one race of swirling and rushing foam, dottedhere and there by masses of rock. There was a few moments' anxiouspause, and, above the hissing rush of the water, the echoing crack, crack, crack of the enemies' jezails reached their ears, but soundingsmothered and far away. Then Roberts spoke:

"You can swim, Drummond?"

"Yes, in smooth water, " was the reply. "I don't know about cascades. "

"You've got to, my lad, " said Roberts shortly. "What about your men?You can, I know, Gedge. "

"Yes, sir. "

"You others?"

"I can swim a few strokes, sir, " said one. 

"Never was no water, sir, where I was, " replied the other. 

"A few strokes!" cried Roberts fiercely. "No water! Shame on you, lads! No one who calls himself a man ought, to be in a position to saysuch a thing. Well, we'll do our best. Don't cling, or you'll drown usas well. "

"I can get one on 'em across like a shot, sir, " cried Gedge excitedly. 

"Silence!" cried Roberts. 

"But I done drowning-man resky, sir, in Victory Park lots o' times. "

"Then rescue the drowning-man with the injured leg--yourself, " saidRoberts, smiling--"if it comes to the worst. Draw swords, gentlemen. I'll lead. You take hold of my sword, my lad, and take fast grip of MrDrummond's hand. Drummond, hold out your sword to Gedge. Gedge, takeMr Bracy's hand. Bracy, you can extend your sword to the last. We maybe able to wade. If not we must go with the stream, and trust to therocks. Each man who reaches a shallow can help the rest. Ready?Forward!"

CHAPTER TEN. 

A NICE WALK. 

"Halt!" cried Roberts in a low tone of voice; for, as he gave the orderto advance for the attempt to ford the river, a fresh burst of firingarose from what seemed to be nearer, and he hesitated to lead hiscompanions out into the rushing flood and beyond the shelter of theoverhanging trees. 

"It is like exposing ourselves to being shot down while perfectlyhelpless, old fellow, " he said, with his lips close to Bracy's ear. 

"But we can't stay here: they'll track us to where you fell, and see thebroken branches overhead. What then?" said Bracy. 

"Right; we shall be easy marks for the brutes. Now, then, forward!"

Without hesitation this time, and with his following linked inaccordance with his orders, Roberts began to wade, facing the rushingwater and leaning towards it as it pressed against his breast, to divideit, forming a little wave which rushed by to right and left. Stepfollowed step taken sidewise, and at the third he and the privatefollowing him stood out clear of the overhanging growth, so that hecould see plainly the task that was before him. 

It was enough to startle the strongest man, for there were about fiftyyards of a rushing torrent to stem, as it swept icily cold along theriver's rocky bed, and already the pressure seemed greater than he couldbear, while he felt that if the water rose higher he would be perfectlyhelpless to sustain its force. But a sharp glance upward and downwardshowed him spots where the water foamed and leaped, and there he knewthat the stream must be shallower; in fact, in two places he kept oncatching sight of patches of black rock which were bared again andagain. Setting his teeth hard, and making the first of these his goal, he stepped on cautiously, this choice of direction, being diagonallyup-stream, necessarily increasing the distance to be traversed, butlessening the pressure upon the little linked-together line of men. 

"We shall never do it, " thought Bracy as, in his turn, he waded out intothe open stream, his arms well extended and his companions on eitherside gazing up-stream with a peculiar strained look about their eyes. But there was no sign of flinching, no hesitation; every man was full ofdetermination, the three privates feeling strengthened by being linkedwith and thus sharing the danger with their officers; while Roberts, asleader, felt, however oppressed by the sense of all that depended uponhim, invigorated by the knowledge that he must reach that shallow place. Once he had his men there, they could pause for a few minutes' restbefore making the next step. 

On he pressed, left shoulder forward, against the rushing waters;feeling moment by moment that the slightest drag from the next man mustmake him lose his footing, to be swept downward, with the result that ifthe links of the chain were not broken asunder there would be pluck, pluck, pluck, one after the other, and they would be all swept down thetorrent. 

Had he allowed his imagination free way, he would have let it picturethe result--so many ghastly figures, battered out of recognition, foundsomewhere, miles away perhaps, among the blocks of stone in the shallowsof the defile. But the stern man within him kept the mastery; and hewent on a few inches at a time, edging his way along, with the waterdeepening, so that he was ready to pause. But he felt that hesitationwould be fatal; and, pressing on, his left foot went down lower thanever, making him withdraw it and try to take a longer stride. 

"It's all over, " he thought, in his desperation; but even as the thoughtflashed through his brain he found that he reached bottom again, havingpassed a narrow gully, and his next and next, strides were intoshallower water; while, toiling hard, he was in a minute onlywaist-deep, dragging his companions after him, and aiding them, so thatthey all stood together a third of the way across, with the rushingstream only knee-deep. 

"Five minutes for faking breath, " he cried, "and then on again for thatwhite patch where the water is foaming. "

No one else spoke, but all stood panting and not gazing up-stream or atthe farther shore, with its rocks, trees, and ample cover, but throwingthe pressure of every nerve, as it were, into their hearing, andlistening for sounds of the enemy only to be heard above the roar of thewater. For the firing had ceased, and one and all felt that this meantan advance on the part of the hill-men, who would be sweeping the woodedvalley right to the river-bank, ready at any moment to open fire again;while now it would be upon the unprotected group part of the way towardsmid-stream. 

"Forward!" cried Roberts; and, with their grip tightening, the littleparty followed their Captain as he once more edged off to the left, performing his former evolution, and, to his delight, finding that thestone-bestrewn polished bottom never once deepened after the first fewsteps, which took him waist-deep, and kept about the same level, theresult being that the next halt was made where the river was roughest, tossing in waves churned up as it was by the masses of rock in its way, a group lying just below the surface, with the water deepening behindthem, so that the party had once more to stand breast-high, but in aneddy, the rocks above taking off the pressure which in the shallows hadthreatened to sweep them away. 

The water was numbing, and the leader felt that their pause beforerecommencing their efforts must be very short; but he was face to facewith the most difficult part of their transit, for it was only too plainthat this last portion ran swift and deep, the bold, steady rushsuggesting a power which he knew instinctively that he would not be ableto stem, and he looked downward now to see what was below in the onlytoo probable event of their being swept away. 

As he turned to gaze upward again he caught Bracy's eyes fixed upon himinquiringly; but he paid no heed, though he did not for the moment readthem aright, the idea being that his brother officer was mutely askinghim if he thought he could do it. 

He grasped Bracy's meaning the next minute, for he heard that which hadreached Bracy's ears. It was a shout from the woody bank they had left, as if one of the enemy had made a discovery, followed by answeringcries, and all knew now that their foes were close upon their track, andthat at any moment they might be discovered and fire be opened uponthem. 

"Forward!" cried Roberts, and once more he set off, to be againagreeably surprised, for the water did not deepen in the least as hemoved from out of the eddy, being still about breast-deep, with verylittle variation, the bottom being swept clear of stones and literallyground smooth by the constant passage over it of the fragments bornedown from the glaciers in the north. But before many steps had beentaken, and the little chain was extended to its extreme limit, Robertsknew that disaster was imminent. For it was impossible to stand againstthe dense, heavy rush of water, bear against it as he would. 

He shouted back to his companions to bear against the pressure, andstrove his best, but all in vain. At one and the same moment the doublecalamity came: there was a shot from out of the patch of forest they hadleft, and the leader was lifted from his feet. Then pluck, pluck, pluck, as if mighty hands had seized them, the men in turn were snatchedfrom their positions, and with a scattered fire opened upon them fromamong the trees, they were being swept rapidly down-stream. 

Roberts shouted an order or two, and discipline prevailed for a space, the links of the chain remaining unbroken; but even the greatesttraining could not hold it together for long at such a time, and thenon-swimmers were the first to go under and quit their hold, rollingover with the tremendous rush of the stream, and rising again, to snatchwildly at the nearest object, and in two cases to hamper the unfortunatewho was within reach. 

"_Sauve qui peut_, " muttered Bracy a's he glided along, with his swordhanging from his wrist by the knot; but his actions contradicted histhoughts, for instead of trying to save himself he turned to the help ofDrummond, to whom one of the men was clinging desperately, and the verynext minute he felt a hand clutch at his collar and grip him fast. 

The rattle of firing was in his ears, and then the thundering of thewater, as he was forced below the surface into the darkness; but he didnot lose his presence of mind. He let himself go under, and then, witha few vigorous strokes, rose to the surface, with the man clinging tohim behind, and wrenched himself round in his effort to get free. Hewas only partially successful, though; and, panting heavily, he swamwith his burden, just catching sight of Drummond in a similar positionto himself, many yards lower down the stream. 

"Let go, " he shouted to the man. "Let go, and I'll save you. "

But the man's nerve was gone, and he only clung the tighter and made adrowning-man's effort to throw his legs about his officer's. 

"Help! help!" he gasped, and a desperate struggle ensued, during whichboth went beneath the surface again, only to rise with Bracy completelycrippled, for the poor drowning wretch had been completely mastered byhis intense desire for life, and arms and legs were now round hisofficer in the death-grip. 

Bracy cast a wild, despairing look round as he was borne rapidly along, and all seemed over, when a head suddenly came into sight from behindthem, an arm rose above the surface, and the swimmer to whom it belongeddrove his fist with a dull smack right on the drowning-man's ear, andwith strange effect. 

It was as if the whole muscular power had been instantaneouslydischarged like so much electricity at the touch of a rod, the horribleclinging grasp ceased, and with a feeble effort Bracy shook himself freeand began to swim. 

"A jolly idgit!" panted a voice; "a-holding on to yer orficer like that!Want to drown him? Can you keep up, sir?"

"Yes, I think so, " said Bracy weakly. 

"That's right, sir. You'll do it. I'll give yer a 'and if yer can't. It's easy enough if yer swim with the stream. "

"Can you keep him up?" said Bracy more vigorously. 

"Oh yus, sir; I can manage to keep him on his back and his nose out o'the water. Knocked him silly. "

"Where are the others?"

"There they are, sir, ever so far along. The Captain's got old Parry, and Mr Drummond's swimming to his side to help him. You'll _do_ itnow, sir. Slow strokes wins. Feel better?"

"Yes. I was half-strangled. "

"Then it's all right, sir. "

"But the enemy?" panted Bracy, trying to look round. 

"Never you mind them, sir. They're far enough off now, and can only geta shot now and then. River windles so. We're going ever so much fasterthan they can get through the woods. Ain't this jolly, sir? Done myankle a sight o' good. I allus did like the water, on'y sojers' togsain't made to swim in. "

"I can't see any one in pursuit, " said Bracy at the end of a minute. 

"Don't you keep trying to look, sir. You've got enough to do to swim. "

"I'm getting right again now, Gedge, and I think I can help you. "

"What! to keep him up, sir? I don't want no help while he's like this;but if he comes to again and begins his games you might ketch him one inthe ear. Chaps as thinks they're drowning is the silliest old idgitsthere is. 'Stead o' keeping still and their pads under water, theyshoves them right up to try and ketch hold o' the wind or anything elseas is near. 'Spose they can't help it, though. Hullo! look yonder, sir. Rocks and shaller water. Think we could get right across now?"

For a shout now reached them from fifty yards or so lower down, wheretheir three companions in misfortune were standing knee-deep inmid-stream, and a rugged mass of rocks rose to divide the river andtowered up twenty or thirty feet, forming a little rugged island abouttwice as long. Bracy's spirits, which were very low, rose now at thesight of Roberts and Drummond helping the other private up into safety, and turning directly to offer them the same aid if they could manage toget within reach. 

"Keep it up, sir, " cried Gedge, who was swimming hard, "or we shall beswep' one way or t'other. It'll be nigh as a touch, for the watershoots off jolly swift. "

Bracy had needed no telling, and he exerted all his strength to keep sothat they might strike the shallows where the island was worn by thefierce torrent to a sharp edge, for to swim a foot or two to the leftmeant being carried towards the side of the enemy, while to the rightwas into swifter water rushing by the island with increased force. 

"Stick to it, sir, " cried Gedge. "Side-stroke, sir. No fear o' notkeeping afloat. That's your sort. We shall do it. Ah!"

Gedge's last cry was one of rage and disappointment, for, in spite oftheir efforts, just as they seemed to be within a few feet of the pointat which they aimed, they found themselves snatched as it were by theunder-current, and, still holding to their half-drowned companion, theywould have been carried past but for a brave effort made by Roberts, whowas prepared for the emergency. By stepping out as far as he dared, holding by Drummond's long arm, and reaching low, he caught Gedge'sextended hand. 

The shock was sharp, and he went down upon his face in the water; butDrummond held on, the little knot of struggling men swung round to theside, and in another minute they were among the rocks, where theyregained their feet, and drew the insensible private up on to dry land. 

"That was near, " said Roberts, who was breathless from exertion. "Hurt, Drummond?"

"Oh no, not at, all, " was the laughing reply. "I never did lie on therack, having my arms torn out of the sockets; but it must have beensomething like this. "

"I'm very sorry, " cried Roberts. 

"Oh, I'm not, old man. How are you, Bracy--not hit?"

"No, no; I shall be all right directly. Thank you, old chaps, forsaving us. Never mind me; try and see to this poor fellow. I'm afraidhe's drowned. "

"No, sir; he ain't, sir, " cried Gedge; "he's coming round all right. It's more that crack in the ear I give him than the water. I hit him ashard as I could. There! look, gents; his eyes is winking. "

It was as the lad said; the unfortunate non-swimmer's eyelids werequivering slightly, and at the end of a minute he opened them widely andstared vacantly at the sunny sky. The officers were bending over him, when they received a broad hint that their position was known, a coupleof shots being fired from the farther bank, higher up-stream, one ofwhich struck the rock above them and splintered off a few scraps, whichfell pattering down. 

"Quick!" cried Roberts. "We must get those two along here for a bit. The high part will shelter us then; but as soon as possible we must haveanother try for the shore. "

The shelter was soon reached, and all crouched together in the sunshine, with the water streaming from them, the officers busily scanning thebank of the rushing river opposite, and calculating the possibility ofreaching it. There was plenty of cover, and very little likelihood ofthe enemy crossing the river in its swollen state; but there was thatmad nice some twenty yards wide to get over with two helpless men; andat last Roberts spoke in a low tone to his companions. 

"I can't see how it's to be done, boys. I dare say we four could reachthe bank somewhere; but we're heavily handicapped by those two who can'tswim. "

"And there isn't time to teach them now, " said Drummond sardonically. 

"And we can't leave them, " said Bracy. "What's to be done?"

Gedge was eager to offer a suggestion upon the slightest encouragement, and this he obtained from Roberts, who turned to him. 

"How's the sprain, my lad?"

"Bit stiff, sir; that's all, " was the reply. "Water done it a lot o'good. "

"Think you could drop down with the stream and land somewhere near thefort to tell them how we're pressed?"

"Dessay I could, sir; but don't send me, please. "

"Why?" asked Roberts and Bracy in a breath. 

Gedge gave them a comical look, and waved his hand in the direction ofhis comrades. 

"We all come out together to have what we called a nice little walk, sir, and a look at that there waterfall, as turned out to be farther offthan we reckoned on. I shouldn't like to cut off and leave 'em in thelurch, sir. "

"Lurch? Nonsense, my lad, " said Bracy. "You would be going on a veryrisky errand to try and save us all. "

"Yes, sir; o' course, sir; but I could get one of 'em over that littlebit if you three gents could manage t'other. They'll be all right in afew minutes. "

"I don't like sending him, " said Roberts. "It is very dangerous, and wemust, try it together. "

His companions gave; a short, sharp nod, and acquiesced. 

"If we only knew what is below us!" said Bracy as he gazed down-stream. 

"Niggers, " said Drummond shortly. "There'll be a dozen or two beyondthese rocks waiting to pot us as soon as we are carried into sight bythe stream. "

"Well, there'll only be our heads to aim at, " said Bracy; "and we mustnot go down in a cluster this time. "

"No, " said Roberts. "As soon as you feel ready, Bracy, we must start. It is madness to stay here. You and Gedge take that fellow between you;and Drummond and I will go as before. "

"Hear that?" whispered Gedge to his comrade, who gave him a sulky nod. "That's right; and mind, I'm ready for yer this time. I shan't hit yer;but if yer moves hand or foot when I've turned yer over on yer back tofloat, we lets yer go, and yer can get across the blessed river byyerself. "

"All right, " said the man; "but I don't believe yer, Billy Gedge. Inever learnt to swim, but if I could I shouldn't talk about leaving apardner to shift for hisself. "

"Er-r-er!" growled Gedge, whom these words seemed to mollify. "Well, keep them 'ands o' yours in the water, for as long as you holds 'em downyou helps me to keep yer afloat, and as soon as yer begins to makewindmills of 'em and waves 'em, or chucks 'em about as if you was tryingto ketch flies, down you goes. "

"All right, " said the man, as they heard more bullets spattering on therocks above them; "but, oh, how my hands does itch for a rifle and achance to be taking shots at some of these beauties!"

"Yes, " said Gedge; "and I hope it won't be long first. I hadn't anyspite partickler agen 'em before, but I have now. Ha' they got anyorspitals or doctors?"

"I dunno, " said the other; "but if we gets outer this and in the ranksagain, there's going to be some of the beds filled, and a bit o' workfor their doctors to do. "

"Well, my lads, " said Roberts, stepping to where the three men crouchedgazing at the deep, rushing water; "feel strong enough to start?"

"Yes, sir, " came in chorus. 

"And we shan't get in a tangle this time, sir, I hope, " said Gedge. 

"I hope not, my lad. Up with you, then. "

There were no preparations to make; nothing to do but for the twoofficers to get their man face upward between them, and stand readywhile Bracy and Gedge followed suit with theirs. 

"Ready?" said Roberts. "Count ten after we've started, and thenfollow. "

As soon as he had spoken he gave Drummond a nod, and they stepped amongthe rocks to the swift water, bent down, and, as they lowered themselvesin, the strong current seized them, as it were, their helpless companionwas drawn out, and away they went as fast as a horse could have trotted, down what was a veritable water-slide. 

"Now, my lad, " cried Bracy as Gedge, at a signal, went on counting theten slowly. "Keep a good heart. We won't leave you. "

"All right, sir;" said the man, drawing a deep breath. 

"Nine--ten!" counted Gedge. 

"Off!" cried Bracy, but checked himself for a moment, startled by thenoise of the ragged volley which was fired from the enemy's bank as soonas they caught sight of the three heads gliding down the stream. 

"If they are hit!" mentally exclaimed Bracy; and then, making a sign toGedge, they followed out the precedent shown them, and the water seizedand bore them along, with the private floating between them, theirsteady subsidence into the water and slow strokes keeping them well uponthe surface. 

So swiftly did they pass along that only a few moments had passed beforethe crackling of the firing from the far bank came plainly, and bulletsricochetted from the water to strike the other bank, but without effect, the rate at which they were descending making the aim taken with thelong, clumsy matchlocks of no effect. Not a word was littered; and withtheir friends far ahead, their heads just seen, the fugitives glidedalong the straight course below them, free as it was from rocks. Butthey were evidently in full view of fresh parties of the enemy, and shotafter shot splashed the water. 

"Now for the bank, Gedge, " cried Bracy suddenly. 

"Yes, sir; all right, sir; but it's of no use. "

"It is, " cried Bracy angrily. "They are making for it now. "

"Yes, sir: and they're swept by it. Can't you see it's like a smoothwall, with the water running by it like a railway train?"

Gedge was right; and there was nothing for it but to go with the streamtowards the rocks which now rose right in their way, the long raceending in a wide chaos of foaming water, which leaped and sparkled inthe afternoon sun. 

"We shall be torn to pieces there, " thought Bracy; and he strained hiseyes to try and make out an opening; but his attention was taken up thenext moment by the cracking of matchlocks and the puffs of smoke risingto his left, as fire was opened upon their leaders, who were running thegauntlet that it would be their fate to share in another minute, whenGedge suddenly uttered a hoarse cheer, and nearly lost his grip of hiscompanion; for, quick, sharp, and loud, a genuine British volley rattledout, almost like a report from a piece of artillery, the bullets sendingthe leaves on the enemy's bank pattering down. Then another, and atregular intervals others; while the eyes of the swimmers were gladdenedby the sight of friends making their way down among the rocks, towardswhich they were being rushed. Another volley rang out; there was acheer, in which the two helpless privates joined; and directly after thefugitives were saved from being battered among the rocks by ready hands, whose efforts were covered by the rapid firing from the bank above. 

Five minutes after, the dripping party were retiring with a company oftheir regiment, whose captain contented himself with giving the enemy avolley from time to time, as they doubled to reach their quarters, nownot a quarter of a mile away, the young officers learning that the enemywas out once more and converging upon the fort, this unexpected news ofthe termination of the temporary peace having been brought in by scouts, and none too soon. 

"Graves said that you must be brought in somehow, " said the officer incharge of the company; "but I was not to cross the river where you did, but to come up this side, for you would turn back after crossing higherup. "

"Yes; I remember telling the Colonel so, " said Bracy eagerly. 

"Well, it has turned out all right; but he needn't have told me, for wecould not have crossed, as far as I can see. "

"We did, " said Drummond, laughing; "and brought in these three fellows, too. "

"Yes; but I wouldn't holloa too soon, " said the officer addressed. "We're not safe yet. Look yonder; they're swarming down that gorge, andwe must race for it, or they'll cut us off. Forward, my lads. "

Ten minutes later there was a halt and a clinking rattle, as the orderwas given to fix bayonets ready for a strong body of the hill-men, whohad crossed the shallows lower down and were coming on to dispute theirway. 

"Why doesn't Graves send out another company to cover us?" pantedRoberts. "We shall be cut off after all. "

The words had hardly passed his lips when--crash!--there was atremendous volley from their right front, which checked the enemy'sadvance, the white-coated hill-men hesitating. The officer in commandseized the opportunity, and a volley was fired by the rescue company, the men cheering as they dashed on with bristling bayonets. That wasenough: the enemy turned and fled, their speed increased by anothervolley from the covering company; and ten minutes later the fugitiveswere marching along coolly, protected by the fire from the walls of thefort, where they were directly after being heartily shaken by the hand, the sally-port clanging to in their rear. 

"Quite enough for one day, " said Drummond. 

"Yes, " said Bracy grimly; "that's having what Gedge called a nice longwalk. "

"Yes, " said Roberts; "with a swim thrown in. "

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

WHICH WAS BRAVER?

"Steady, there; steady, my lads. Not too fast. Seize upon every bit ofshelter, and have a few steady shots at them. They're beaten, and weshall soon scatter them now. "

The lads were as steady as the most exacting officer could desire; andthough the two sides of the narrow, winding defile were lined with theenemy, who made good use of their clumsy jezails, of whose long rangeseveral of the Fusiliers had had bitter experience, the deadly firewhich searched out every sheltering crag was too much for the Dwats, whowere retiring as fast as the difficult nature of the ground would allow. 

Bracy felt that, the enemy was beaten, and knew that the fiercetribes-men would be only too glad to escape as soon as they could: butas the tight had gone against them, their supposed to be securehiding-places were one by one growing untenable as the Fusiliersadvanced; and consequently, as giving up was about the last thing theythought of doing, their action was that of rats at bay--fighting to thebitter end. The men of Roberts's company knew, too, what they must do--drive the enemy completely out of the defile, or they would returnagain; so, partly held back by their officers, they advanced by a seriesof rushes, taking possession of every bit of fallen rock for shelter, and driving their enemies on and on, farther into the mountains, fullyexpecting that in a short time they would completely take to flight. 

But disappointment followed disappointment. No sooner was one nichehigh up on the rocky sides cleared than there was firing from one on theother, and the work had to be gone through over again. Still theyadvanced, and the enemy retired; while the officers knew that sooner orlater, in spite of numbers, this must come to an end, for nothing couldwithstand the accurate fire of the young Englishmen whenever theyobtained a chance. Men dropped from time to time; but they had to liewhere they fell till the fight was at an end, some to rise no more;others, knowing as they did the nature of the enemy, managed to creep tothe shelter of a rock, where they laid their cartridges ready, and satback watching the faces of the defile in anticipation of some marksmanopening fire. 

The company was in full pursuit, under the belief that they hadcompletely cleared the defile as far as they had gone, when, in themidst of a rush led by Roberts and Bracy, both making for a roughbreastwork of rocks built a hundred feet up one side and held by two orthree score of the enemy, the latter uttered a sharp ejaculation, stopped short, and then dropped upon his knees, his sword, as it fellfrom his hand to the full extent of the knot secured by the slide to hiswrist, jingling loudly on the stones. Roberts was at his side in amoment, and leaned over him. 

"Not badly hurt?"

"No, no, " cried Bracy; "never mind me. On with you, and lead the boys;they're close up to that breastwork. On--on!"

Roberts turned and rushed up the rock-strewn defile, reaching his men asthey crowded together for a rush, and Bracy and the man hurrying to himsaw them go over it as if they were engaged in an obstacle race. Thenext minute they disappeared round another bend in the jagged rift, infull pursuit of the late occupants of the murderous shelter. 

"And me not with 'em, and me not with 'em!" groaned the private who hadfallen back. "But I don't care. I ain't going to leave him. "

Before he could double back to where Bracy knelt, the wounded officersank over sidewise, with the rugged defile seeming to swim round beforehis eyes, and, for a few minutes, glory, the hot rage of pursuit, andthe bitter disappointment of failure were as nothing. Then he openedhis eyes upon the lad who was bending over him, holding a water-bottleto his lips. 

"Try and drink a drop, sir, if it's ever so little. "

The words seemed to come from a great distance off and to echo inBracy's head, as he made an effort and swallowed a few drops of thelukewarm fluid. 

"Gedge, " he said at last with difficulty, staring hard at the lad, whosehead seemed to have gone back to its old state after the blow from thefalling rock, but only to swell now to a monstrous size. 

"Yes, sir; it's me, sir. Ought to have gone on with the boys, but Icouldn't leave you, sir, for fear of some of the rats coming down fromthe holes to cut you up. "

"Rats? Holes?" said Bracy feebly. "What's the matter?"

"Not much, I hope, sir; on'y you've got hit. Whereabouts is it? Ah, needn't ask, " he muttered as he saw a dark mark beginning to show on theleft breast of the young officer's tunic, and spreading like a big bloton a writing-pad. 

"Hit? Nonsense--ah!" Bracy uttered a low groan, and clapped his righthand across to cover the spot. 

"Yes, sir. Jus' there, " said Gedge; "but don't you mind. It's too highup to be dangerous, I know. Now, then. Amb'lance dooty. Mustpractice; I ain't forgot that. "

Gedge gave a sharp look round and up and down the defile, before layingdown his gun and taking out a bandage and some lint. 

"Hold still, sir, " he said, drawing his breath through his teethafterwards with a hiss, as he rapidly stripped open his officer'sjacket, and then tore away the shirt, to lay bare his white breast, where, just below the collar-bone, an ugly red patch showed itself. 

"Sponge and cold water, " muttered Gedge; "and I ain't got 'em. " Thenaloud: "That hurt yer, sir?" for he was examining the wound. 

"Never mind that; go on, " said Bracy faintly. "Plug the wound. "

"Right, sir. Jus' going to. --One o' their ugly bits o' hiron, " mutteredthe lad as he stopped the effusion of blood in a rough-and-ready waywhich must have been agonising to the sufferer, who, however, neverwinced. 

"That's done it, sir; but I must turn you over to fasten the bandage. "

"Go on, " said Bracy in a faint whisper. --"Hah! the firing's getting moredistant. "

"Yes, sir; they're driving 'em right out of it this time, and we not init, and--oh, a mussy me!" whispered the speaker now, as in hismanipulations he became conscious of the fact that his task was onlyhalf-done, for there was the place where the ragged missile had passedout close to the spine, and the plugging and bandaging had to becontinued there. 

"That's good, sir, " he said cheerily. "You won't have the doctorworriting you to get the bullet out, as he does with some of the lads. Now, then, a drop more water, and then I'm going to get you up yonder, more out of the sun, so as you'll be more comf'table till they comeback. "

"Yes!" sighed Bracy. "I can't help you, my lad. Listen! they're firingstill. "

"Oh yes, sir; they're doing the job proper this time. Shots is a goodway off too. How they eckers, and--Hullo!" Gedge gave a sudden start, snatched at his rifle, and looked up the defile in the direction wherehis companions had passed, for there was a report from close at handfollowing upon the small stones close to his side being driven up, andhe was watching a puff of smoke slowly rising high up the leftprecipitous side, finger on trigger, ready for a return shot, when--whiz--something like a swift beetle in full flight passed close to hisear, and he ducked down, simultaneously with an echoing report from theright side of the defile. 

"Just like 'em!" he muttered. "Oh, you cowards! Only just show yourmuzzles, and I'll let yer see what British musketry practice is like. "

But all Gedge saw was the gleam of a ramrod a hundred yards away, whereone of the hill-men who had kept to his coign of vantage was rapidlyreloading. 

"No good to stop here, " muttered Gedge; "they'd be hitting him 'forelong. Me too, p'raps. Well, here goes. "

The lad rose upon his knees, took off his helmet and passed the strap ofhis rifle over his head and arm, slung it, replaced his helmet, andturned to Bracy. 

"Won't hurt yer more than I can 'elp, sir; but we can't stop here. "

"No; lie down, my lad. Get into cover, and wait till you can reply. "

A sharp report from below them stopped Gedge from answering, and thebullet flattened against the rock a yard from where the lad knelt. 

"Well, this is pleasant, " he said, showing his teeth in a grin whichlooked as vicious as that of a hunted dog. "Urrrr!" he snarled, "if Ionly had you three down on the level with my bay'net fixed. Draw a bigbreath, sir. Up yer comes. Now, then, you hold fast with yer right. Hook it round my neck, and don't get the spike o' my 'elmet in youreye. --Now, then, my lad; right-about face--quick march!"

Gedge strode off with his load held in his arms as a nurse would carry ababy, and at the first step--bang! bang! and echo--echo--two shots camefrom behind, and directly after another from the front, but from theopposite side to the spot from whence the former shot had been fired. 

"Well, if they can't hit me now they orter, " muttered Gedge as he strodeon with his heavy burden. "This is going to be walking the gauntlet ifany more on 'em's left behind on the sneak. Oh dear! oh dear! if I onlyhad a snug shelter and plenty o' cartridges I think I could stop thatlittle game. --Hurt yer much, sir?" he continued aloud after a few dozenyards had been covered. "Fainted! Poor chap! Better, p'raps, for hewon't know what's going on. --Go it!" he snarled as shot after shot wasfired; while, though he managed to get out of the line of fire of thetwo first enemies, he had to pass closer to the two next, who firedagain and again from their eyries far up the sides of the defile, thesenooks, fortunately for Gedge and his burden, having been reached fromabove--the perpendicular walls precluding all descent into the dried-uptorrent-bed. 

The young fellow was right; he had to run the gauntlet, for to hisdismay, as he tramped on with his load, he awoke to the fact that theDwats, who had retired from the upper shelves as the Fusiliers rushed upthe defile, were coming back to their hiding-places, and, warned by thefiring of their companions, were ready to harass the retreat. 

"I don't care, " he muttered, "if I can only get him outer fire; but theymust hit one of us before long. 'Tain't possible for 'em to keep onwithout. "

Bang! and then bang! again, and the stones close by where the bravefellow trod were struck up, one of them giving Gedge a sharp blow on theknee. 

"Talk about hitting a 'aystack!" he snarled. "Why, I could make betterpractice with a indyrubber cattypult and a bag o' marbles. "

"Gedge--Gedge!" came from Bracy's lips in excited tones, for he hadslowly revived to a knowledge of their position. 

"Yes, sir; all right, sir. I know. I'd double, but the going is toobad. "

"Of course, my lad; impossible. But are you mad?"

"Yes, sir; downright savage at the murderous brutes. This is their wayo' treating the wounded. "

"I didn't mean that, my man, but the way you're carrying me. "

Shot after shot came whistling and buzzing by them from behind as hespoke, but still without effect. 

"I'm carrying you all right, sir. Can't help hurting you a bit. It'seasy this way. "

"Nonsense, man. Set me down at once. I can stand. Then sling yourrifle in front, and take me on your back. "

"There they go, sir, " said Gedge as another shot buzzed by, telling ofits rough shape. "They never did no pigeon-shooting, sir, nor practisedat sparrers from the trap. "

"Did you hear what I said, sir?" cried Bracy angrily. "Set me down, andget me on your back. I can hold on with one hand and leave yours free. "

"Couldn't use 'em if they was, sir. "

"Halt! Take me on your back at once, sir, " cried Bracy, panting withanger and pain. 

"Can't, sir. Who's a-going to halt with them firing at us like thatfrom behind? Ain't I 'bliged to keep ree-treating?"

"Obey my orders, sir. I tell you I shall be easier to carry on yourback. "

"Oh yes, sir, a deal easier to carry, and a nice deal easier to hit. Aintcher got it bad enough as it is?" said Gedge sulkily. 

Bracy was silent for a few moments as he felt his suspicions realised. Gedge was carrying him in that awkward fashion so as to shelter him fromany better-aimed bullet that might come. To make quite sure, though, hedrew a deep breath and spoke again:

"I am wounded, sir, but I will be obeyed. "

"All right, sir; soon as ever we get out o' shot. "

"But you are hurting me horribly; and can't you see that, carrying melike this, you may receive the next bullet?"

"Oh yes, sir; I can see, " said Gedge coolly; "but you be quiet, and Iwon't hurt you more'n I can help. "

Bracy's voice had lost all its anger, and it was in no tone of commandthat he said:

"Set me down, my lad, and hold my arm. I'll try to walk beside youwhile you take a shot or two at those cowardly brutes. "

"Ah, that's just what I'd like to do, sir; but it would on'y be waste o'time. They'd hit us, too, if we stood still for me to fire. It's ourkeeping moving that helps. 'Sides, I know it would only make yourwounds break out worse, and shift the bandage. You keep quiet, for Iain't got no breath for talking. "

Bracy was silent, and slowly and steadily Gedge trudged on, growing moreand more exhausted, and looking to right and left for some cavernoushole in which he could take refuge so as to screen his burden and defendhim so long as he had a cartridge left. 

"And even then, " he muttered softly, "there's the bay'net. Wonder how Icould get on in fair fight against one of the niggers with his tullywar. Too much for him, I fancy, for I am good at that game. Urrrr!" hesnarled again, for half-a-dozen shots were fired at them almosttogether, but this time from lower down the defile in front, where theenemies who had fled were gathering again in force. 

"That was a near un, sir, " said Gedge as a bullet whizzed just over hishead. "Well sir, I beg pardon, sir, and hope you won't report me fordisobeying my sooperior orficer. I was a bit waxy and warm witha-carrying of yer; for you are a bit heavy, sir. Now, sir, please, I'ma-going to set you down gently and take you up on my back. "

Bracy paid no heed, but gazed down the narrow gorge, from whose sidesmore shots were fired. 

"D'yer hear, sir? You're most a-choking o' me with that there arm. "

"Forward!" said Bracy between his teeth. "Mind, there's a great riftthere. Don't stumble. "

"I'm a-going to shift you first, sir. Once you're on my back I canstraddle that easy. "

"Yes, Gedge, I know, " said Bracy as firmly as he could; "but don'tinsult me any more. "

"Insult yer, sir? I wouldn't do it. How!"

"By thinking your officers want to shelter themselves behind their men. Forward, my lad, unless you find a place where we can shelter till ourcomrades come back. "

"There aren't no shelter, sir, and there aren't no more mercy for themDwats if we gets clear of this, which I don't think we shall. There, sir! It's all over, I suppose. Ain't hit, are yer?"

"No. But that volley. "

"Yes, sir, there's any number waiting for us. Here, we must walk thegauntlet back again now. We may meet our chaps coming. "

The firing was going on along the sides of the gorge, but just thenthere was another crash, a regular volley, and Gedge uttered a hoarseyell of excitement. 

"It's hoo-roar, sir, " he panted, "on'y I can't shout. That's ourreserves coming up, and firing to keep the beggars' fire down. See, they've stopped now. Oh, if my rifle wasn't slung! Look at 'em. One--two--three of the cowardly beggars scuffling up yonder like great whiterabbits, and on hands and feet, too. "

Crash! again. A sharp volley from much nearer, and Gedge stopped shortto gaze with his companion at the three hill-men away in front, a coupleor three hundred feet above the level where Bracy's bearer stoodforgetting his dangerous wound and his pangs as he felt horror-strickenat the terrible sight to his left. 

There were, as Gedge said, three hill-men, crawling rapidly up a longshelf to reach a cluster of stones for shelter--a shelter they had leftto get better aim at the struggling pair down below. And as theclimbing Dwats were watched directly after the last volley, one who waslast started up into a standing position, threw up his arms, and hislong jezail fell from them down into the defile, while he balancedhimself for a few moments and then dropped, turning over once, anddisappearing from the watchers' eyes. The next moment the top one cameto a stand by a great stone, and rolled over and over till he reachedthe steep precipice, down which he plunged, the horrible thud with whichhe struck the stones coming plainly to Bracy's ears. 

There was still another white figure crawling up the narrow shelf, buthe had stopped short; and as Bracy and his companion gazed, the poorwretch seemed to collapse and lie closer down to the rock. Just thenanother shot rang out, and the body gave a jerk, but did not move again. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Gedge. "It's very horrid, sir, but it was their turn, and our lads can shoot. Come on, sir. I think we shall do it now. "

He started off towards the body of their friends, who were comingrapidly on, but before they had gone a score of yards the firing fromthe enemy recommenced, and--spat! spat!--the bullets struck the stonesclose at hand. 

"Oh, I say, sir, this is too bad!" groaned Gedge. "I did think weshould do it now. Never mind. Britons never shall be slaves, and Iwill do it after all. "

There was a rattling fire opened at once on the sides of the gorge, completely crushing that of the hill-men; and a few minutes after, asGedge tramped on with his load, it was to be met by a burst of cheers, and a score of his comrades came racing on to his help. It was justthen that a final shot came from somewhere behind, and poor Gedgestarted violently, staggered forward, and the next moment he would havegone down heavily with his burden but for the ready help of a dozenwilling hands. 

Directly after a distant cheering was heard. Roberts and his companywere coming back. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

WOUNDS. 

The enemy had been driven off with heavy loss, but the little victoryhad been dearly-won. Several men had been wounded, and most serious toall seemed to be the fact that among them was the gallant young officerwho was liked by every man in the regiment. So it was that the marchback to the great fort was made in silence; and when a few of the enemy, encouraged by what they looked upon as a retreat, hung about the rearand harassed the retiring column with shots from the heights, they paiddearly for being so venturesome. For Captain Roberts, leaving a littleparty in hiding to wait till the enemy showed in their pursuit, listenedwith a grim smile upon his lip till there was a sudden outburst offiring, and then tramped on with the remainder of his company, keepingas much as he could by the mule ambulance which was bearing his friendback to the fort. 

Within half-an-hour the little firing-party overtook the rear of thecolumn, and Roberts halted till they came up to him. 

"Well, Sergeant?" he said. 

"All right now, sir, " said Gee, who looked what the men called ugly. "Ithink we've brought 'em all down. "

"You're not sure, of course?"

"Well, pretty nigh, sir. There ain't been a shot since. "

"Good. Be on the lookout. I hate for our poor fellows to be harassedlike this. "

"It's horrid, sir; but, begging your pardon, sir, how's Mr Bracy?"

"Bad, Gee, bad. I'm afraid he is shot through the lungs. "

Sergeant Gee's brow went into a mass of puckers and frowns, and therewas the peculiar sound of one grinding his teeth together, as the mantramped on behind his officer for a few minutes before speaking again. 

"Beg pardon, sir; there's that Bill Gedge. Is he much hurt?"

"Very gravely, I'm afraid. Dr Morton can't tell yet from the hastyexamination he made, but he shook his head. "

"Poor lad!" said the Sergeant. "We were always bad friends, sir; he wasso full of his Cockney monkey-tricks, and he hated me, but we couldn'tspare him. What a soldier he would have made!"

"Hah!" ejaculated Roberts; "as full of pluck as a lad could be. MrBracy's been telling me how he carried him through the fire, andsheltered him with his own body. That's how it was he had his wound. "

There was another pause, with the silence only broken by the echoingtramp, tramp of the men. 

"Won't die--will he, sir?" whispered Sergeant Gee. 

"I pray Heaven no, " said the Captain. 

"That sounds bad, sir, " said the Sergeant huskily. "I should like toshake hands with him afore he goes; and if he gets better I won't be sohard on him again. "

"I suppose you have only done your duty by him. "

"I hope so, sir. "

"Double on to the ambulance, and see how he is. Corporal Green, takethe Sergeant's place. "

Roberts halted to let his men pass him, keenly watching every one in hiscompany, and a man limping caught his eye. 

"Here, Bracy, what's the matter?" he said. 

"Oh, nothing much, sir. Spent shot glanced off the rock and hit me inthe ankle. "

"Give him your arm, Sergeant, and get him on one of the mules. "

"Beg pardon, sir; I can walk back. "

"You're making your leg worse at every step, sir, " cried Robertsangrily. "Get on and ride. "

The words were spoken sharply, the young Captain being in no veryamiable mood, for he was cooling down after tremendous exertion and thereaction from the wild excitement of the fight. But he spoke in theman's interest and with the desire to save him from after-suffering. 

Then the weary tramp went on almost in silence, but no one flagged, andat the end of a couple of hours they obtained a glimpse of the flag atthe top of the staff. The silence in the column was broken by a heartycheer, the men's spirits rising again after what had been a depressingmarch back; and when the gates were reached they were cheered by the menon the walls, and the hills around softly echoed back the replies to thehearty welcome they had received. 

The Colonel, with the officers left behind, stood at the gate waiting, and the answer to his inquiry regarding the enemy brought forth a freshcheer. 

"Splendidly done!" said the Colonel; and then sharply, "Whatcasualties?"

"Mr Bracy severely wounded. Privates Down and Gedge had bullet-wounds. Other hurts slight. "

The Doctor hurried away to his operating-room, and his assistants wentto the door to help in the three patients, who were attended to in turn. 

The first man who had fallen had to have a bullet extracted from hisleg, half-way to the hip, where it was deeply embedded in the muscle. 

"Now, my dear Bracy, " said the Doctor, "let's look at you. "

"No, I can wait, " was the reply. "My bandages is quite firm, and thebleeding has ceased. "

The Doctor frowned, and was about to say something regardinginterference; but he checked himself, glanced at the bandage, andnodded. 

"Very well, " he said; "the other man. "

Poor Gedge was very white and remarkably quiet, but his eyes were fullof motion; and he watched the Doctor's face and every action of hishands. 

"Why, Gedge, my lad, " said the Doctor cheerily after a certain amount ofbusy manipulation, "this isn't fair. I didn't want to have you inhospital again. "

"Same to you, sir, " said the sufferer, with a ghastly attempt at asmile, as he screwed his head round to look at the Doctor. 

"Hold still, sir. Look the other way. "

"Yes, sir, " said Gedge faintly. "'Tain't my head this time, sir. "

"No, my lad; it's not your head this time. "

"Sorry it's my back, sir; but I warn't a-running away. "

"Bah! of course you were not; our lads don't know how. "

"No, sir; course not, sir. "

"Got it carrying Mr Bracy out of the fire--eh?"

"Well, yes, sir, I s'pose so, sir. Shall I--shall I--"

The poor fellow stopped short. 

"Shall you what?" said the Doctor kindly; "try to move?"

"No, sir, " said the poor fellow feebly; "I didn't mean that. It was, shall I be a goner?"

"Oh, nonsense--nonsense! Humph! poor fellow! he has fainted. "

"Is his wound serious, Doctor?" said Bracy huskily. 

"Never you mind. You lie still and wait. Well, there. Yes, the hurtis a very bad one. I don't think he'll die; but the bullet is in adangerous place, and I dare not try to extract it to-day. "

A short time after poor Gedge was lying in a state of stupor upon thebed he had previously occupied, and the Doctor was examining the youngofficer's wounds. 

"Very bad, Doctor?" asked Bracy. 

"Bad enough, sir. I don't like this exit so close to the vertebrae. --That hurt?"

"No; it feels dull and cold just there. "

"Raise that hand a little. "

"Can't, Doctor; I'm so tightly bandaged. "

"Humph! Yes, you are pretty well tied up. That poor fellow Gedge didwonderfully well for you, considering. He attended to his ambulancelessons. First help's a grand thing when a man's bleeding to death. "

"Was I bleeding to death?" said Bracy rather faintly. 

"Of course you were; or perhaps not. The bleeding might have stopped ofitself, but I shouldn't have liked to trust it. There; shan't do anymore to you to-day. We'll have you to bed and asleep. That's the firststep towards getting well again. Sorry to have you down so soon, Bracy, my dear boy. There, keep a good heart, and I'll soon get you rightagain. "

The Colonel was at the hospital door soon after, along with MajorGraham, both anxious to hear about Bracy's hurt. 

"Bad, " said the Doctor shortly as he put on his coat. "Don't ask to seethe poor boy; he's just dropping off to sleep. "

"Bad?" said the Colonel anxiously. 

"Yes, bad, sir. A young fellow can't have a hole drilled right throughhim by a piece of ragged iron without being in a very seriouscondition. "

"But the wound is not fatal?"

"H'm! no, not fatal. He's young, strong, and healthy; but the exit ofthe missile was in close proximity to the spine, and there's no knowingwhat mischief may have been done. "

"What do you mean?" said the Colonel anxiously. 

"Injury to the nerve centre there. I can't say. Possibly nothing mayfollow, but I am obliged to say the wound is bad, and there is danger ofhis being crippled--permanently injured in a way which would render himunfit for service. "

"But look here, " said the Major excitedly, "you have a bad habit ofmaking the worst of things, Morton. Come, explain yourself. Are thereany symptoms suggestive of what you hint at?"

"My dear Graham, I never come and interfere with your work; don't youmeddle with mine. "

"I don't want to, sir, " said the Major tartly. "I only want for theColonel and yours obediently not to be left in the dark. "

"Graham is quite right, " said the Colonel gravely. "We should like toknow a little more. "

"Very good, " said the Doctor, "but I can only say this: there is apeculiar absence of sensation in the lower extremities, and especiallyin the poor fellow's left arm. This may be temporary, and due to theterrible shock of the wound; but it also may be consequent upon injuryto the nerves in connection with the spine. I can say no more. Timeonly will show. "

The two officers left the hospital-room, looking terribly depressed. 

"Poor lad! poor lad!" the Major kept on saying. "Such a brave, unassuming fellow. It's wonderful how little we realise how we like ourfellow-men, Colonel, till they are badly hurt. Hah! I am sorry--moresorry than I can express. "

The Colonel said nothing, but turned and held out his hand, which theMajor took and pressed warmly. 

"Thank you, Graves, " he said, taking out a showy silk handkerchief andblowing his nose very hard, making it give forth sounds like those madeby a boy beginning to learn the bugle. "Hah!" he said; "one neverknows. Here to-day and gone to-morrow, Graves. May be our turn next. "

"Yes, " said the Colonel quietly: "but if it is in the way of duty, Idon't see that we need mind. "

"Humph! Well, I don't know about that. I should like to live to ahundred, if only for the sake of finding out what it feels like. Somepeople do. "

"Yes, " said the Colonel, smiling; "and over a hundred; but then theydie. "

"Yes, of course; but from old ago. "

"And other things too, as the old epitaph says. "

"What old epitaph?"

"On the venerable lady. The lines run something like this:--

 "She lived strong and well to a hundred and ten, And died by a fall from a cherry-tree then. "

"Bah! don't talk about dying, Graves. Poor Bracy! Oh, the Doctor mustset him all right again. But this sort of thing does make one feel abit serious. "

"It is very, very sad, " said the Colonel. 

"Yes, very. By the way, though, have you noticed how splendidly ourlads are behaving?"

"Magnificently, for such mere boys, " said the Colonel meaningly. 

"For such mere boys?" said the Major sharply. "I never saw men in anyregiment behave better. Why, sir, it was magnificent to-day. I didn'tsay anything to Roberts about it, because I don't want the lads to hearand get puffed up by pride. But, really, sir, I'm very proud of ourregiment. "

"And so am I. But you have changed your ideas a little. "

"Bah! Pooh! Nonsense! Don't jump on a man because he spoke out a bit. You'll grant yourself that they are a very boyish-looking lot. "

"Yes; but I do not judge them by appearances. I look at theirdiscipline and acts. "

"So do I, " said the Major, "and I recant all I said about them before. There, sir, will that satisfy you?"

"Quite, Graham, " said the Colonel. "There, we must be hopeful. Icouldn't bear for poor Bracy to become a wreck. "

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

A BIT QUEER. 

"Tell us all about it, " said Bracy as he lay partially dressed outsidehis simple charpoy bed in the small room Doctor Morton had annexed forhis officer patients. 

"All about what?" said Roberts, who had come in, according to his dailycustom, to sit for a while and cheer up his suffering friend. 

"All about what? All about everything that has been going on--is goingon. "

"And is going to go on!" said Roberts, laughing. "That's a large order, old chap. "

"You may laugh, " said Bracy dolefully; "but you don't know what it is tobe lying here staring at the sky. "

"And mountains. "

"Pah! Well, at the mountains too, day after day, in this wearisome way. I hear the bugle and the firing, and sometimes a shout or two, and thenI lie wondering what everything means--whether we're driving them awayor being beaten, and no one to tell me anything but that dreadful woman;for old Morton thinks of nothing but sword-cuts and bullet-wounds, andwill only talk of one's temperature or one's tongue. I tell you it'smaddening when one wants to be up and doing something. "

"Patience, patience, old man. You're getting better fast. "

"How do you know?" cried Bracy petulantly. 

"Morton ways so. "

"Morton's an old--old--old woman, " cried Bracy angrily. "I'm sick ofhim. I'm sick of that other disagreeable woman. I'm sick of physic--sick of everything. "

"Poor old chap!" said Roberts, laying his cool hand upon his friend'sburning forehead. "Come, you'll feel better after that. "

"Don't--don't talk that way--and take away your hand. You make me feelas if I must hit you. "

"I wish you would, old man, if it would make you feel better. "

"Better! Pah! It's horrible. Morton only talks. Says I'm better whenI'm worse. "

"Oh, come now, that won't do, you know. You are stronger. "

"Pah! How can I be stronger when I am as weak as a baby, unable to movehand or foot? There; I beg pardon for being so disagreeable. "

"Oh, nonsense! Who thinks you disagreeable?"

"You do, Rob; only you're such a good old chap that you won't notice mysick man's whims. "

"Love 'em, " said Roberts coolly. "More you go it the better I like it, because it's all a sign of the spirit in you kicking against yourweakness. I know how you feel--want to come and have another go in atthe Dwats?"

"Yes, " said Bracy in a sharp whisper through his closed teeth. "I dolong to help give them an awful thrashing. "

"Of course you do, my boy; and you shall soon. Now, if, instead ofkicking against hospital routine, you took to it in a mean, spiritlesssort of way, and lay there waiting to be roused up to speak, I shouldfeel uncomfortable about you, for I should know it was a bad sign. --You'll be all right soon. "

Bracy was silent for a few minutes, and lay gazing wistfully through thewindow at the dazzling snow-peaks flashing miles away in the brightsunshine. Then he shook his head slowly from side to side. 

"It's of no use to be self-deceiving, " he said at last. "I know as wellas can be, Rob, what's wrong. I'm not going to die. "

"Die? Ha, ha! I should think not. Take more than a bullet-hole tokill you. "

Bracy smiled, and looked sadly in his friend's eyes. 

"It's precious hard, old fellow, " he said; "for as I lie here I feelthat I'm almost a boy still, and it comes so soon. "

"What comes so soon?"

"My big trouble, old fellow. Morton won't say a word about it; but Iknow. "

"Come now; what do you know? You lie awake imagining all sorts ofthings. "

"But I don't imagine that. You can see it for yourself. I'm strongenough in mind, but the weakness of body is terrible. "

"Of course it is. You have had a hole right through you, made by arough piece of iron fired from a gun; but it's healing up fast. "

"Yes, " said Bracy, with a sigh, "the wound is healing up fast. "

"Then, what more do you want?"

"My old manly strength, " cried the sufferer with energy. "Thishorrible, helpless weakness!"

"Dull! What an unreasonable patient you are!" cried Roberts. "How canyou expect the strength to come till the wound is healed?"

"I don't expect it, " sighed the poor fellow. "Roberts, old man, it willnever come back. My spine was injured by that bullet. "

"Yes; we know that. "

"And it has affected the nerves so that I am going to be helpless forthe rest of my life--a poor invalid, whose fate is to be carried aboutor wheeled everywhere. "

"Don't believe it, " said Roberts shortly. "Who told you that stuff?"

"My own instinct. You know I cannot move hand or foot. "

"Not yet. Nature has bound you down so that your wound may not bedisturbed till it is well. "

"There, don't talk about it, " said Bracy quickly. "I want to know howthings are going on. I don't hear half enough. "

"All right, old man, " cried Roberts cheerfully. "You shall have it inbrief. This is a hole--we're in a hole--the Dwats, bless 'em! are likethe sand upon the seashore, and they come sliding into the hole. Thenwe shovel 'em out, and just like sand they come trickling down againupon us. Now it's down one of the gullies, now it's down another; andthe more we kill the more seem to come on. "

"Yes--yes--yes, " sighed Bracy; "just as it has been from the first. Weought to have reinforcements. "

"That's right, and I dare say some have been sent; but the tribes southand east have all risen, and are holding them in check, so we've got todo the work here ourselves. "

"How are the supplies?"

"Tidy--tidy; and we keep on fretting a little game, only it's riskywork; and I never feel as if I should get back again when I'm outshooting. Had some narrow escapes. "

"What about ammunition?"

"That's all right. Enough for a couple of months yet, fire as hard aswe like. "

"Why didn't Drummond come to see me yesterday? Ah, I know; he has beenwounded. "

"Just scratched; that's all. I dare say he'll come in some timeto-day. "

"Poor fellow! I am sorry. "

"He isn't--he's delighted. Goes about with his arm in a sling, showingit to everybody, and telling them about the fight he had with a bigDwat. Says he should have cut him down, only one of our lads was soprecious handy with his bayonet and ran him through. "

"Ah!" cried Bracy, flushing slightly, as he mentally pictured the scene. "How bravely our lads do stand by their officers!"

"They do. Good fellows; brave boys. I like the way, too, in which thatchap Gedge waits on you. "

"Yes, " said Bracy, with a sigh; "and the poor fellow is not fit to beabout. Morton owned to it; but he will wait on me hand and foot, tothat horrible woman's disgust. "

"What! Mrs Gee?"

Bracy nodded. 

"Well, she is a disagreeable, tyrannical sort of female Jack-in-office;but she has her good points. "

"Yes; but they're such sharp points, and they prick dreadfully. "

"Ha, ha!" laughed Roberts. "A joke; and you say you're not gettingbetter. --I say, what were we talking about? Oh, Gedge. I wish hewasn't such an awful East-end Cockney in his ways, for he's a splendidfellow inside. Times and times he has brightened the poor fellows upout yonder, singing and telling stories and playing some of hisindia-rubber games, bad as his own wounds are. I believe he'd pretendto laugh even if he were dying. "

"I can never be grateful enough to him, " sighed Bracy. 

"Oh yes, you can. We must all petition for him to get his stripes assoon as we can, only it will make old Gee mad with jealousy. "

"Yes, " said Bracy thoughtfully; and then: "How long have I been lyinghere?"

"Three weeks, old man. "

"And you are no further with the Dwats?"

"Not a bit. That thrashing we gave them together when you went downought to have settled 'em and made 'em sue for peace; but they begansniping at us the very next day. "

"It seems to be their nature to be always fighting, " sighed Bracy. 

"Yes. I don't believe they could live without it. They must fightsomething or somebody, and regularly enjoy a good skirmish. "

"You haven't said anything about Colonel Wrayford the last day or two. "

"No, poor fellow! he's in a very low state. Between ourselves, boy, weonly came just, in time. "

"What, do you mean?"

"To save Ghittah. Those fellows would have done their best; but theywould have been overmatched, and without their Colonel they'd have givenway at last, and the people at home would have been reading of aterrible reverse in the Dwat district. Massacre of the British force. "

"Not so bad as that surely. "

"I don't know. Poor Wrayford had worked till he was utterly exhausted, body and mind, and as soon as Graves began to relieve him of part of thestrain it was just as if something snapped, and he curled up at once. Morton says it was all from overstrain after his wound, and that he'llwant a twelvemonth at home to get back his strength. "

"I beg pardon, sir, " said a hard, acid voice; "it is quite time MrBracy had his lunch. "

Roberts turned quickly upon the stern, frowning, youngish woman who hadentered silently in a pair of home-made list slippers, and stood in thedoorway gazing at him fixedly. 

"That's right, Mrs Gee, " said Roberts; "bring it in, and feed him upwell, for he wants it, poor fellow!"

"Mr Bracy has everything, sir, " said the woman coldly, "and given himto the minute when there's no one here. "

"Oh, I'm nobody, " said Roberts good-humouredly. 

"No, sir. "

"Eh? Oh, all right; bring in his lunch. --Hang the woman! I didn't meanthat, " he said to himself. 

"No, sir; not while you are here, " replied the woman in the mostuncompromising way. "Mr Bracy can't lift his arms yet, and I have togive him his meals, and it troubles him for any one to see him fed. "

"Yes, yes, of course. I ought to have known, Mrs Gee. Where is thelunch?"

"Being kept hot for him, sir. "

"Go and fetch it, then, and I'll be off the moment you come. "

Mrs Gee said nothing, but turned silently and disappeared, whileRoberts rose and leaned over the bed. 

"The tyrant of the sickroom, old boy. Never mind; she's a capitalnurse, and sympathetic under her hard shell. But I say, old fellow, canyou imagine it to be possible that Gee fell in love with that femaledragon?"

"No, " said Bracy, smiling. "It seems impossible. One can't understandthese things. I don't mind her so much now, but I do wish she wouldn'tbe quite so hard on poor Gedge. "

"Poor lad; no. What's that, though?--the click of crockery. Only fancythe willow-pattern plate out here in the hills!"

"Not so far out of place, " said Bracy, smiling. "Chinese pattern, andwe are very near to China. "

"Good-bye, old man, " said Roberts hastily. "Here she comes. Never mindabout shaking hands yet. Do it in a look. Good-bye. See youto-morrow--if I don't get knocked over first, " he added to himself; and, bonding low, as there was a short, hard cough outside, evidently meantfor a signal to him to depart, he laid one hand upon Bracy's shoulder, the other on his brow, and gave him a very brotherly look and smile. 

"You'll be all right soon, my helpless old cockalorum, " he criedcheerily. "There, pitch into your corn well, and grow strong. Ta, ta!"

He turned quickly to cross the room, and then made a bound a yard awayin his astonishment, for he received a tremendous blow across the loins, which made him turn sharply to gaze in wonder at his helpless friend, who was looking at him wildly. 

"What the dickens did you do that for?" he asked. 

"I beg pardon, sir. I thought you said--"

"Yes, yes, all right, Mrs Gee, I'm off, " he cried; and he hurried awayand out into the great court, where he passed one hand behind him tobegin softly rubbing his spine. 

"Is the poor fellow off his head?" he muttered in his wonderment andconfusion. "Helpless and weak? Why, it was enough to break a fellow'sback. Has he got a club in the bed?"

Roberts stopped short, as if about, to turn back. 

"Ought I to go and warn that woman of his antics? No; she could summonhelp directly, and--"

"Morning, sir. Find Mr Bracy better, sir?"

Roberts looked up sharply, to find Gedge, with his face looking verythin and more angular than ever, leaning as far as he could out of anarrow window. 

"Yes--no--well, getting on, Gedge. "

"Oh yus, sir; he's getting on. Pecks better now. "

"I'm glad of it. You're better too, my lad. "

"Me, sir. Oh, I'm getting a reg'lar impostor, sir. Ought to be back inthe ranks, only I don't want to leave Mr Bracy, sir. "

"Certainly not. Keep with him, and do all you can. "

"Right, sir. Do a lot more if old Gee's wife wasn't there, sir. "

"Humph!" ejaculated Roberts, with his hand involuntarily busy rubbinghis back. "By the way, Gedge, have you noticed anything particularabout Mr Bracy when you've been with him?"

"No, sir. Oh yus, sir; I know what you mean. "

"Ha!" cried Roberts. "You have noticed it?"

"Oh yus. You mean those fits o' the blue dumps as he has. "

"Well--er--yes, " said Roberts. 

"Yus, sir; he has them bad. Gets a sort o' idee in his head as he'llnever be all right again. "

"Yes, yes; all weakness. "

"Jest what I telled him, sir. `Look ye here, sir, ' I says; `see how youbled that day 'fore I could stop it. Yer can't expect to be strong asyou was till you gets filled up again. '"

"Of course not, " assented Roberts. 

"That's it, sir. And I says to him, I says, `Look at me, sir. Justafore I got my blue pill--leastwise it warn't a blue pill, but a bit o'iron--I was good for a five-and-twenty mile march on the level or aclimb from eight hay-hem to eight pee-hem, while now four goes up anddown the orspital ward and I'm used up. ' He's getting on though, sir. You can see it when you cheers him up. "

"Yes; I noticed that, " said Roberts. 

"Specially if you talks about paying them roughs out for shooting at usthat day as they did. "

"Ha! cowardly in the extreme. "

"Warn't it, sir? When we're up and at it, we lads, we're not very nice;but fire at a poor beggar carrying his wounded orficer--why, I wouldn'tthink one of ours 'd do such a thing--let alone believe it. "

"Of course they would not, my lad, " said Roberts. "There, I'm glad tohear about how well you attend to Mr Bracy. "

He nodded, and went on to his quarters, wondering to himself over whathad taken place at Bracy's bedside. 

"It was very queer, " he thought; "but it shows one thing--the poorfellow's a good deal off his head at times, or he wouldn't have hit outat me like that; and it shows, too, that all his ideas about being soweak are fancy. That crack on the back didn't come from a weak arm. But it's all due to the wound, and it would be better not to sayanything to him about it. "

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

THE UNCOMFORTABLE SYMPTOMS. 

Captain Roberts intended to go and sit with his friend for an hour ortwo next day, but he was called off on duty, and Drummond seized theopportunity to pay a visit. He was met at the door by Mrs Gee, wholooked at him sourly as she passed, for she had just been summoned byone of Doctor Morton's ambulance men to go and attend to one of the menwho had been taken worse. 

"How do, nurse?" said Drummond. "Just going in to see your patient. "

"Then you must not stay long, sir. Ten minutes will be plenty of time. Mr Bracy can't get well if he is so bothered with visitors. "

"Oh, I won't bother him, nurse; only cheer him up a bit. "

The woman frowned and hurried away, leaving the course open, andDrummond went straight on, thinking aloud. 

"Glad my arm's not worse, " he said, as he nursed it gently, "for Ishouldn't like to be under her ladyship's thumb. She ought to be calledto order. Talk about a hen that can crow; she's nothing to my ladyhere. I wonder Bracy stands it. Hullo! what's the matter?"

Loud voices came from the door of Bracy's room--those of the latter andGedge; and upon hurrying in the young subaltern was astounded to find, as it seemed to him, Private Gedge with one knee upon the edge of thecharpoy, bending over the patient, holding him down by the arm, whichwas pressed across his chest close up to the throat. 

"Here! Hi! Hullo here!" cried Drummond. "What's the meaning of this, sir?"

The words acted like magic. Gedge slipped back, drawing Bracy's armfrom where it lay, and he then carefully laid it down beside him. 

"It's all right, sir, now, sir; ain't it, Mr Bracy?"

"Yes, yes, " said the latter faintly, and looking up at his visitor in aweary, dazed way. 

"This fellow has not been assaulting you, has he?" cried Drummond. 

"Me? 'Saulting him, sir?" cried Gedge. "Well, come now, I do likethat!"

"Oh no; oh no, " sighed Bracy. 

"It was like this here, " continued Gedge; "I was a-hanging about waitingto see if he wanted me to give him a drink or fetch him anything. "

Bracy's lips moved, and an anxious expression came over his face; but hesaid nothing, only looked wildly from one to the other. 

"Then all at once I hears him calling, and I went in. `Here, Gedge, mylad, ' he says--just like that, sir, all wild-like--`take this here armaway; it's trying to strangle me. '

"`What! yer own arm, sir?' I says, laughing. `That won't do. '--`Yes, it will, ' he says, just in that squeezy, buzzy way, sir; `I can't bearit. Take it off, or it'll choke me!'"

"Well?" said Drummond anxiously; "did you?"

"Yes, sir, of course I did; for he spoke just as if it was so; and I gothold of it and tried to pull it away, but he wouldn't let me. He kep'it tight down close to his throat, and looked quite bad in the face. "

"You should have used force, " said Drummond. 

"I did, sir; lots o' force; but he'd got it crooked, and it was just asif the joint had gone fast, so that I was afraid that if I pulled toohard I might break something; and it was just while I was hanging firelike that you came, and he let it come then quite easy. Didn't you, sir?"

"Yes, yes, " said Bracy hurriedly. "It had gone to sleep, I suppose, andwas as heavy and as cold as marble. "

"Oh, I see, " said Drummond, smiling; "been lying in an awkward position, I suppose?"

Bracy nodded, but there was a curious look in his eyes that his visitordid not see. 

"Come to take a look at you and have a chat. --I say. You heard about megetting in for it?"

"Yes, I heard, " said Bracy sadly. "You were wounded. "

"Bit of a chop from a tulwar, " replied Drummond, touching his bandagedarm lightly. "Nothing much, but I am off duty for a bit. Preciousnuisance, isn't it?"

Bracy looked at him so piteously that the young fellow coloured. 

"Of course, " he said hurriedly; "I understand. Precious stupid of me totalk like that and make a fuss about being off duty for a few days, whenyou're in for it for weeks. But I say, you know, you are a lot better. Old Morton said you only wanted time. "

"He told you that?" cried Bracy eagerly. 

"Yes, last night when I met him and he asked me about my scratch. Saidhe was proud of your case, for with some surgeons you would have died. Ha, ha! He looked at my arm the while, with his face screwed up as ifhe pitied me for not being under his hands. I say, he's a rum chap, isn't he?"

"He has been very good and patient with me, " sighed Bracy; "and I'mafraid I have been very ungrateful. "

"Tchah! Not you, old fellow. We're all disagreeable and grumble whenwe're knocked over. That's only natural. Children are cross whenthey're unwell, and I suppose we're only big children. I say, heard thenews?"

"News? No; I hear nothing here. "

"Poor old man! Well, the scouts have brought in news that two moretribes have been bitten with the idea that they want their ranks thinneda bit, and so they've joined the Dwats; so I suppose we shall have somewarm work. "

"And I am lying here as helpless as a lump of lead. No; I did nothear. "

"Why, sir, I telled you all that only this morning, " broke out Gedge. 

"Eh? Did you, my lad?"

"Yes, sir; d'reckly after breakfast. "

"So you did. I went to sleep afterwards, and it passed out of mymemory. I'm getting weaker, I suppose. "

"Not you, " cried Drummond. "Here, I say, as I'm a cripple too, I shallcome on more. What do you say to a game or two every day? Chess?"

Bracy shook his head. 

"Of course not; chess is hard work. Well, then, draughts?"

Bracy shook his head again. 

"Right; not much of a game. What do you say to dominoes? We've got aset of double doubles; regular big ones. Shall I bring 'em on?"

"No, " said Bracy decisively; "bring your field-glass, and come and sitat that window. You can command a good deal of the valley there. "

"What! and tell you all the movements I can make out? To be sure, dearboy. Now, I never thought of that. So I will. I'll come on thisafternoon, and you and I will criticise them all and see if we couldhave planned the beggars' attack better. There, I promised yourshe-dragon of a nurse not to stay long, so off I go. Bye, bye, oldchap; you're beginning to look blooming. We'll do some Von Moltke, and--ah! would you? I say, you are getting better. Larks--eh? But Iwas too quick for you. "

The young officer smiled and nodded merrily, and then went out of theroom, Gedge opening the door for him, and slipping out after. 

"Well, what is it?" said Drummond, as Gedge stood looking at himanxiously, and as if waiting for him to speak. 

"Thought you was going to say something to me, sir, 'bout Mr Bracythere. Don't speak so loud, or he'll hear you. "

"Don't matter if he does, my lad. We're not conspiring against him. What did you expect me to say?"

"Something about that arm of his'n, sir, and about him trying to kickyou just now. "

"Oh, pooh! nonsense! His arm had gone dead; and as for his kicking atme--well, we're getting old friends now, and it was for a bit of fun. "

"Think so, sir?"

"Of course. "

"Then you wouldn't tell the Doctor about it?"

"About that? Absurd! Here, you're not up to the mark yourself, mylad. "

"Well, no, sir; can't quite reach it yet; but I'm a deal better. "

"Full of fancies, that's all. What! were you thinking that your masterwas a bit off his head?"

"Something o' that sort, sir. "

"Then don't think so any more. He's fanciful enough without youbeginning. "

"Then you don't think it's anything to mind?"

"No, of course not. I'm glad to see him getting so much stronger. "

Drummond nodded, and being in a good deal of pain, began to nurse hisarm again, and tried whether whistling would soothe the sharp, gnawingache which seemed to run from his wrist up to his shoulder. 

Gedge waited till his footsteps died out, and then turned to go back toBracy's room. 

"His is only a clean cut of a tullywor, " he muttered, "and'll soon growtogether. Different thing to a ragged bullet-wound right through thechest and back, or one like mine, right in the back. I don't like thelooks o' all this, though; but he must know better than me, after seeinga lot o' poor fellows cut down and shot; but I think I ought to tell theDoctor. "

He opened the door softly and went in, to find that Bracy had beenwatching for him anxiously. 

"Here, Gedge!" saluted him. 

"Yes, sir. Get yer a drink, sir?"

"No, no; I want to speak to you. I think I can trust you, Gedge?"

"Yes, sir; of course, sir. What yer want me to do?"

"Hold your tongue, my lad. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Don't tell the Doctor or Mrs Gee that I hit Captain Roberts on theback yesterday. "

"How could I, sir? Did yer?"

"Yes, yes, " said Bracy hurriedly. "Nor yet about my arm doing what itdid. "

"No, sir, cert'n'y not; but I say, sir, you know, your arm didn't donothing but go to sleep. "

"Nor yet about my trying to kick Mr Drummond, " said Bracy, withoutheeding his fellow--sufferer's words. 

"Oh no; I shan't say nothing to nobody, sir, unless you tell me to. "

"That's right, " said Bracy, with a sigh of relief. "That will do. Gonow; I want to sleep till Mr Drummond comes back. "

"Right, sir, " said Gedge, and he went to the bed's head and gentlyraised the sufferer, while he turned the pillow. 

"Makes yer head a bit cooler, sir. "

"Yes, thanks, Gedge, " said Bracy drowsily; and by the time the lad wasoutside he was half-asleep. 

"I don't like them games of the guvnor's, " said Gedge tohimself. --"Guvnor? Well, why not? I'm like being orficer's servantnow. There's something queer about him, as if he was a bit off his headand it made him get up to larks; for he can't be--No, no, that'simpossible, even if it looks like it. He ain't the sorter chap to beplaying at sham Abram and make-believe because he was sick of fightingand didn't want to run no more risks. "

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

THE DOCTOR IN A FANTIGUE. 

Drummond returned to the hospital with his glass, and, to Mrs SergeantGee's disgust, installed himself in the window and sat for a couple ofhours lightening the painful monotony of Bracy's imprisonment byscanning the movements of the distant enemy hovering about in the hills, and making comments thereon. 

"Ah, " he said at last, "what we want here is a company of gunners, withlight howitzers to throw shells a tremendous distance. If we could havethat cleverly and accurately done, we could soon scatter the beggars;but as it is--"

"Yes, as it is, " said Bracy peevishly, "we have no gunners and nohowitzers; and if we had, how could they be dragged about among thesehills?"

"It would be difficult, " said Drummond. "There are some fellowscrawling out of that west ravine now. Wait till I've focussed them, and--"

"No, no; don't do any more to-day, " cried Bracy. "I can't bear it. Youonly make me fretful because I can't be about doing something again. "

"Of course it does; but what is it, old fellow? Are you in pain?"

"Pain? I'm in agony, Drummond. I can't sit up, for I seem to have nopower; and I can't lie still, because I feel as if there; was somethingred-hot burning through my spine. "

"Poor old chap! I say--think the bullet is still there?"

"No, no; it passed right through. "

"What does the Doctor say?"

"Always the same--always the same: `You're getting better. '"

"That's right; so you are, " said the Doctor, who had just come to thedoor. --"Ah, Mr Drummond, you here?"

"Yes, sir. Cheering poor old Bracy up a bit. "

"That's right. How's your wound?"

"Horrible nuisance, sir. "

"Hum! ha! I should like to have; a look at it, but I suppose it wouldnot be etiquette. All the same, etiquette or no, if it does not beginto mend soon come to me. "

"I will, sir. Good-afternoon. Ta, ta, Bracy, old man. Keep up yourspirits. "

"You needn't go, Mr Drummond, " said the Doctor. "I can't stay manyminutes, and you can talk to him after I'm gone. Well, Bracy, my lad, wounds easier?"

"No. Worse. "

"That they are not, sir. You told me you felt a little numbness of theextremities. "

"Yes, sir. Arm and leg go dead. "

The Doctor nodded. 

"That agonising pain in the back goes on too, " continued Bracy. "Sometimes it is unbearable. "

"Do you think the bullet is still there, sir?" ventured Drummond. 

"You stick to your regimental manoeuvres, sir, " said the Doctor gruffly. "What do you know about such things?"

"Not much, sir; only one of our fellows was very bad that way before youcame, and it was through the bullet remaining in the wound. "

The Doctor nodded slowly, and made an examination of his patient, promised to send him something to lull the pain, and then, after a fewcheerful words, went away, sent a draught, and the sufferer dropped intoa heavy sleep. 

The days went on, with plenty of what Shakespeare called alarums andexcursions in the neighbourhood of the great fort, the enemy beingconstantly making desultory attacks, but only to find Graves's boys andWrayford's men, as they were laughingly called, always on the alert, sothat the attacking party were beaten off with more or less loss, butonly to come on again from some unexpected direction. 

Bracy had plenty of visitors, and Mrs Gee told him that this was thecause of his want of progress; but the visitors dropped in all the same, and the patient made no advance towards convalescence. Now it would bethe Colonel, who was kind and fatherly, and went away feeling uneasy atthe peculiarity of his young officer's symptoms, for Bracy was fretfuland nervous in the extreme; now an arm would jerk, then a leg, and hismanner was so strange that when the Colonel went away he sent for DrMorton, who bustled in, to meet the Colonel's eye searchingly. 

"Doctor, " said the latter, "I've just come from Bracy's bedside. Hedoes not get on. "

"Not a bit, " said the Doctor gruffly. 

"I have been watching his symptoms carefully. "

"Very good of you, " said the Doctor gruffly. "I've been watching yourmanoeuvres too. "

This was meant for a sarcastic retort, but the Colonel paid no heed, andwent on:

"That poor fellow has the bullet still in the wound. "

"No, he has not, " retorted the Doctor. 

"Then there is something else?"

"Tell me something I don't know, " said the Doctor gruffly. 

"You think there is, then?"

"I know there is, " replied the Doctor. "Do you think, sir, I don'tunderstand my profession?"

"Don't be pettish, Morton. I don't wish to interfere; but I amextremely anxious about poor Bracy. "

"Can't be more so than I am, sir. "

"Tell me what you feel is wrong. "

"Bit of iron, I expect, close up to the vertebrae. The abominablemissile broke up, and part remained behind. "

"Then, in the name of all that's sensible, why don't you extract it?"

"Because, in the name of all that's sensible, I don't want to see thepoor fellow die of _tetanus_--lockjaw, as you call it. "

"You dare not extract it?"

"That's it, sir. The piece--a mere scrap, I dare say--keeps his nervesin a horrible state of tension, but it is beyond my reach. Are yousatisfied now?"

"Perfectly; but can nothing be done?"

"Nothing but leave it to Nature. She may do what I can't. "

"Danger?"

"Of being a cripple; not of anything fatal. "

"Poor fellow!" said the Colonel sadly. 

"Yes, poor fellow!" said the Doctor. "I'm doing all I know, and must beoff now, for you keep me very busy. "

Roberts had been sitting with the patient that same afternoon, andtowards evening the Major dropped in, glass in eye, and sat talking fora bit, with Bracy fighting hard to keep down his irritability, for theMajor was a bad visitor in his way. 

"You ought to be up and about, Bracy, " he said. 

"Yes; I long to be. "

"Then why don't you try to brace yourself up--be bracy by nature as wellas by name--eh? Ha, ha! Don't you see?"

"Because I am so weak, sir, " replied the patient grimly. 

"Ah, that's what you think, my dear boy, " said the Major, yawning, andshooting his glass out of his eye. "That's what you think. Now, if youwere to pull yourself together and make up your mind to get well you'dsoon master that weakness. "

"Do you think I'm shamming, then, sir?"

"Well, no, my dear boy, " said the Major, stretching the string of hiseyeglass as he picked it up, and then giving the latter a polish withhis handkerchief before proceeding to stick it into its place; "I don'tthink you are shamming, but that you are in a weak state, andconsequently have become hypochon--what you may call it. If you wereto--"

Flick! and a sudden jump of the Major to his feet, as he turned sharplyto look down at Bracy. 

"Confound you, sir! What do you mean by that?"

"Mean by--mean by what?" stammered Bracy, who lay perfectly motionless, with his arms by his sides. 

"Mean by what, sir? Why, by striking at my eyeglass and sending itflying. "

"No, Major; no, I assure you I--"

"Don't prevaricate with me, sir. There's the string broken, and there'sthe glass yonder. I--I can forgive a certain amount of irritability ina sick man; but this is impish mischief, sir--the action of a dementedboy. How dare you, sir? What the dickens do you mean?"

"Major, I assure you I wouldn't do such a thing, " cried Bracy wildly. 

"Don't tell me, " muttered the Major, striding across to where his glasslay, and picking it up. "Cracked, sir, cracked. "

"Indeed, no, Major; I am sure I am quite--"

"I didn't say you were, sir: but my glass. The last I have, and not achance of replacing it. How am I to go on duty? Why, you must be mad, sir. You might have struck me. "

The Major's words were so loud and excited that they brought Mrs Gee tothe door, to glance in and hurry away, with the result that directlyafter the Doctor appeared. 

"What's the matter?" he cried. "Bracy worse?"

"Worse, sir?" cried the Major, who was now in a towering rage, thebroken glass, a part of which had come out of the frame into his hand, having completely overset his equanimity. "Worse, sir? Look at that. "

"Broken your eyeglass?" said the Doctor angrily, "and a good job too. You can see right enough, for we tested your eyes. Only a piece ofconfounded puppyism, of which you ought to be ashamed. "

"Doctor Morton, " cried the Major, puffing out his cheeks, his red facegrowing mottled in his anger. "How dare you!"

"How dare I, sir?" cried the Doctor, who was quite as angry. "How dareyou come here, disturbing my patients, and turning the place into abear-garden just because you have dropped your idiotic eyeglass andbroken it? Do you know I have poor fellows in the next room in aprecarious state?"

"What! Dropped my eyeglass, sir? I tell you, this lunatic here struckat me, sir, and knocked the glass flying. "

"What!" cried the Doctor. "Did you do that, Bracy?"

"No, no, Doctor, " stammered the young man; "I assure you I--I--"

"I--I--I!" roared the Major. "How dare you deny it, sir! He did, Doctor. The fellow's stark staring mad, and ought to be in astrait-waistcoat. He isn't safe. He might have blinded me. I came inhere quite out of sympathy, to sit with him a little while, and this isthe treatment I received. Suppose I had lost my sight. "

"Look here, Major, " said the Doctor, turning to him, after stepping tothe bed and laying his hand upon Bracy's forehead; "the poor fellow isas weak as a babe, and could no more have done what you say than flownout of the window and across the valley. You are exaggerating, and--Oh, my gracious!"

The Major had just time to hop aside and avoid the Doctor's head, forall at once a tremendous kick was delivered from the bed, and thereceiver was propelled as if from a catapult across the room, to bringhimself up against the wall. Here he turned sharply, to see Bracy lyingperfectly still upon the bed, staring at him wildly, and the Majorholding his sides, his always prominent eyes threatening to start fromhis head, while his cheeks became purple as he choked with laughter andstamped about, trying hard to catch his breath. 

"Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!" he laughed hoarsely. "Oh Doctor! you'll bethe death of me. This is too rich--this is too rich--this is too rich!"

"Too rich? Be the death of you? I wish it would, " panted the Doctor, turning to the bed to shake his fist at Bracy, but keeping well out ofreach of his leg, "You treacherous young scoundrel! How dare you playme such a trick as this?"

Bracy's lips moved, but no sound was heard, and his eyes looked wildlypathetic in their expression. 

"I didn't give you credit for such monkey-tricks; but I've done with younow. You've been imposing upon me--you're shamming--malingering, so asto keep out of going on duty again. You might have injured me forlife. "

"Don't bully the poor fellow, Doctor, " cried the Major, wiping his eyes, and picking up one piece of his glass which he had dropped. "I don'tthink he's shamming, he's off his head. Look how his eyes roll. Poorlad! Give him a dose of something to quiet him, for he's as mad as aMarch hare. "

"Mad as a March hare!" snarled the Doctor, rubbing himself. "I told youit's all a trick. "

"I--I--I--d-d-don't care what it is, " stammered the Major; "but Iwouldn't have missed it for a hundred eyeglasses. Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho! I can't stop myself. I never laughed so much in my life. --Ha!" headded as he sank into a chair and wiped his eyes; "I feel better now. "

"Better!" cried the Doctor. "You may as well let me give you something, or you'll be disgracing yourself before the men. "

That was enough. The Major sprang to his feet, to look threateningly atthe Doctor. 

"Disgrace myself, sir?" he cried furiously. 

"Bah!" cried the Doctor, and he bounced out of the room, and, forgettinghis patients in the ward near, banged the door. 

"There, you've done it now, Bracy!" cried the Major, calming down, andgoing up to the bedside. "No more of those games, sir, or I shall hitout too. What's the matter with you? Are you shamming, or are you offyour head?"

"Beg pardon, sir, " said Gedge, entering the room; "the Doctor's sent meto keep watch by Mr Bracy, sir; and he has given me orders that no oneis to be near him till he has decided what is to be done. "

"What! Order me to go?" said the Major fiercely. "You go back toDoctor Morton, and tell him never to dare to send me such a message asthat again. "

"Yes, sir, " said Gedge, saluting. 

"No; stop. This is his own ground, " said the Major. "Here, go on withyour duty, my lad, and keep a sharp eye on Mr Bracy. He is. . . Or--er--not quite so well to-day. You needn't tell the Doctor what I said. "

"No, sir; cert'n'y not, sir, " replied Gedge, and he held the door open, standing like a sentry till the Major had passed out, closed it, and Ihen stood looking down at Bracy, who lay gazing at him despairingly forsome moments before raising his hand cautiously and doubtingly towardshis lips. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

LOW SPIRITS. 

"Drink o' water, sir? Yus, sir--there you are. "

Gedge gently raised Bracy's head and, all the time on the watch, hit himdrink with avidity: but lowered his burden quickly the next instant, forwith a sudden jerk the remainder of the water in the brass cup presentedwas jerked over his face, and the lotah went flying with a bell-likering. 

"I was on the lookout for that, sir, " said Gedge good-humouredly, "butyou was too quick for me. I say, sir, don't you say you ain't gettingbetter no more. "

"Better, Gedge?" said Bracy pitifully. "I am horribly worse. "

"Not you, sir, when you can play games like that. "

"Oh, my lad--my lad, I could not help it!" Gedge grinned as he lookedat him, and shook his head. 

"You don't believe me, " said Bracy sadly. "Well, you see, sir, I can'tvery well after that. I couldn't quite take it in when the Doctor toldme what you'd done to him, and how you'd served the Major. "

"What did he say?" asked Bracy eagerly. 

"Said you'd broke out, sir, and was playing all kinds o' games; and thatyou had been cheating him and everybody else. "

"Anything else?"

"Yus, sir; that it was a reg'lar case o' malingering, on'y I don't thinkhe quite meant it. He was cross because he said you kicked him. Didyou, sir?"

"Yes--no--my leg jerked out at him, suddenly, Gedge. "

"Same thing, sir. Said you'd knocked the Major's eyeglass off and brokeit. Did you do that, sir?"

"My arm jerked out and came in contact with his glass, Gedge. "

"Same thing, sir, on'y we call it hitting out. "

Bracy made a weary gesture with his head, and then, in despairing tones, asked for more water. 

"All right, sir; but no larks this time. "

"What?"

"Don't get chucking it in my face, sir, unless it does you a lot o'good. If it do I won't mind, for I should like to see you full o' funagain. "

"Fun!" groaned Bracy. "Give me the water. It is no fun, but a horrorthat is upon me, my lad. "

"Sorry to hear that, sir, " said Gedge, filling the brass cup again froma tall metal bottle. "Still, it do seem rather comic. What makes youdo it, sir?"

"I can't help it, my lad, " groaned Bracy, who once more drank thirstilyand emptied the cup; Gedge, who had been watching him sharply, ready tododge the water if it were thrown, managing to get it away this timewithout receiving a drop. 

"Now you'll be better, sir. "

"Thank you, my lad. I wish I could think so. "

"Well, do think so, sir. You ought to, for you must be an awful dealstronger. "

"No, no; I am weaker than ever. "

"Are yer, sir?"

"Yes, my lad. I was a little like this the other day. "

"Yus, sir, I know. "

"And it has been getting worst; and worse. "

"Better and better, sir. It's a sign the nat'ral larkiness in yer'scoming back. "

"No, no, my lad. The Doctor noticed it when my arm twitched, and toldme it was involuntary action of the nerves, caused by the injury fromthe bullet. "

"Well, sir, he ought to know: and I dare say it's all right. But I say, sir--I don't, mind, and I won't say a word--you did it o' purpose. "

"No, Gedge; indeed no. "

"But really, sir, do you mean to tell me that when your arm was laidacrost your chest you couldn't get it away?"

"Yes, of course I do. "

"And that you hit out and kick at people like that without being able tohelp it?"

"Yes; it is quite true, my lad, and it is horrible. "

"Well, I dunno about being horrible, sir. Things like that can't last, no more than a fellow being off his head and talking all kinds o' stufffor a bit. "

"You can't grasp it, Gedge, " sighed Bracy. 

"No, sir; wish I could. "

"What!"

"Only wish you had my shot in the back, and I'd got yours. "

"You don't know what you're talking about, my lad. "

"Oh, don't I, sir? I just do. Voluntary action, don't you call it? Ijust seem to see myself lying in yonder with old Gee coming to see me, and with a leg and a arm ready to go off as yours seem to do. My word, the times I've felt like giving old Gee one, but dursen't, because it'sstriking your sooperior officer. Just think of it, sir; knocking himright over all innercent like, and not being able to help it. Why, I'dgive anything to have your complaint. "

"Nonsense, nonsense! You are talking folly. "

"Can't help that, sir. It'd be worth months o' pain to see old Gee'sface, and to hear him asking yer what yer meant by that. "

"No, no; it's horrible--and it means, I'm afraid, becoming a hopelesscripple. "

"There, you're getting down in the mouth again. Don't you get thinkingthat. But even if you did, we'd make the best of it. "

"The best of it, man!" groaned Bracy. 

"O' course, sir. You could get me my discharge, I dessay, and I'd comeand carry yer or push yer in one o' them pramblater things as gents setsin and steers themselves. Then yer could ride o' horseback, or I coulddrive yer in a shay; and then there's boats as you could be rowed aboutin or have sails. It don't matter much about being a 'opeless cripple, so long as you're a gentleman and don't have to work for your living. Then, as to them two spring limbs, I could soon get used to them, sir, and learn to dodge 'em; and if I was too late sometimes, it wouldn'tmatter. All be in the day's work, sir. So don't you be down. "

Bracy was silent for a few minutes; and seeing that he wished to think, Gedge moved silently about the room, sponging up the water, that hadbeen spilled, taking down Bracy's sword and giving it a polish, rearranging his clothes upon a stool, and whistling softly, though hewas in a good deal of pain, till he began chuckling to himself, andBracy turned his head. 

"What are you laughing at?" he said. 

"Only thinking about old Gee, sir. He 'listed just at the same time asme, sir; and then, all along of his bumptiousness and liking to bullyeverybody, while I was always easy-going and friends with every one, hegets first his corp'ral's stripes, and then his sergeant's, and beginsto play Jack-in-office, till his uniform's always ready to crack at theseams. Just fancy, sir, being able to give him a floorer withouthelping it. Ho, my!"

Gedge had to wipe his eyes with the backs of his hands, so full of mirthseemed the thought of discomfiting the tyrant who had hectored over himso long; and Bracy lay looking at him till he calmed down again. 

"You don't believe in all this being involuntary, Gedge?" he said atlast. 

"Didn't at first, sir. I thought it was your larks, or else you wereoff your head. But I believe it all now, every bit, and I can't getover it. Just to be able to hit your sooperior officer, and nocourt-martial. Then the Doctor. Just to be able to make him feel abit, after what he has made us squirm over. "

"Then you do believe me now?"

"Of course, sir. And I tell yer it's grand to have a complaint likethat. I mean for such as me. No punishment-drill, no lines, no prison, no nothing at all, for bowling your sooperior officer over like askittle. "

Bracy turned his head wearily. 

"Ah, Gedge, you can't realise what it all means, to be a hopelesscripple, always in pain. "

"Wuth it, sir, every twinge; and as to being a hopeless cripple, what'sthat so long as there's plenty o' crutches to be had? Pst! Some uncoming, sir. "

Gedge was right, for directly after the Doctor entered the room, signedto Gedge to go, and then detained him. 

"How has Mr Bracy been?" he said sharply. 

"Bit low-sperrited, sir. "

"Yes; but has he exhibited any of those peculiar phenomena?"

Gedge passed his hand over his chin and stared. 

"Bah! Has he kicked at you, or struck you, or done anything of thatkind?"

"No, sir; not a bit. "

"That's right. Well, Bracy, you quite startled me, my lad; I was takenby surprise, and I looked at it from the commonplace point of view. I've had time to think of it now from the scientific side. Tell me, canyou control yourself when those fits come on? I mean, this involuntarynerve and muscular action!"

"Do you think that I should let it go on if I could, Doctor?" said Bracysadly. 

"No, of course not, my dear fellow. Pardon me for asking you. "

"Tell me, then: can you cure it? Can you stop these terriblecontractions?"

"Yes, with Nature's help, my dear boy. "

"Ha!" sighed Bracy: "then may it come. But why is it? I never heard ofsuch a thing before. "

"Naturally; and I never encountered such a case. It is all due to theirritation of the spinal nerves, and until we can get rid of the causewe cannot arrive at the cure. "

"But, Doctor--"

"Patience, my dear boy--patience. "

"Can you give me some?" said Bracy sadly. 

"I hope so, for I am going to appeal to your manliness, your strength ofmind. You must try to bear your sufferings, and I will help you bymeans of sedatives. "

"Thanks, Doctor. If you could only get me to be strong enough to act insome way. "

"Go out with the men and help them to shoot a few of the enemy--eh!"

"Yes, " cried Bracy eagerly. "It would keep me from thinking so, andwearing myself out with dread of my helpless future. "

"Well, listen to reason, " said the Doctor cheerily. "Your helplessfuture, in which you see yourself a miserable cripple, old before yourtime, and utterly useless--"

"Yes, yes, " cried Bracy eagerly; "it is all that which keeps me back. "

"Of course; and what is all that but a kind of waking ill-dream, whichyou invent and build up for yourself? Come, you must own that. "

"Yes, " said Bracy, with a sigh; "but I am very bad, Doctor. "

"Were. "

"I am still; but I will and can fight harder--"

"No, no; not as you did this morning, " said the Doctor, smiling. 

"I say, I can fight harder if you tell me that I may recover from theseterrible fits. "

"I tell you, then, that you may and will. There, you've talked enough. Shake hands, and I'll go. "

He held out his hand, but there was no response, for Bracy's right armlay motionless by his side, and a look of misery crossed the poorfellow's face. 

"Never mind, " said the Doctor quietly; and he took Bracy's hand in his, when the fingers contracted over his in a tremendous pressure, which hehad hard work to hear without wincing. But he stood smiling down at hispatient till the contraction of the muscles ceased, and Bracy did notknow till afterwards the pain that his grip had caused. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

ON THE BALANCE. 

The enemy had been very quiet for some days. The weather had been bad. Heavy rains had changed the rills and streams which ran along thegullies and ravines into fierce torrents, which leaped and boundeddownward, foaming and tearing at the rocks which blocked their way, tillwith a tremendous plunge they joined the river in the valley, which keptup one deep, thunder-like boom, echoing from the mountains round. 

Before the rain came the sun had seemed to beat down with double force, and the valley had become intolerable during the day, the perpendicularrocks sending back the heat till the fort felt like an oven, and thepoor fellows lying wounded under the doctor's care suffered terribly, panting in the great heat as they did, feeling the pangs of Tantalus, for there, always glittering before their eyes in the pure air, were themountain-peaks draped in fold upon fold of the purest ice and snow. 

"We should lose 'em all, poor fellows!" the Doctor said, "if it were notfor these glorious evenings and perfect nights. It wouldn't matter somuch if we could get a few mule-loads of the ice from up yonder. Can'tbe done, I suppose?"

"No, " said Colonel Graves sadly. "Plenty of men would volunteer, but, much as every one is suffering--the ladies almost as bad as yourwounded, Morton--I dare not send them, for they would never get backwith their loads. Many of the brave fellows would straggle back, ofcourse, but instead of bringing ice, Doctor, they would be bearing theirwounded and dead comrades. "

"Yes, that's what I feel, " sighed the Doctor, "and, Heaven knows, wedon't want any more patients. Must be content with what coolness we getat night. "

"And that's glorious, " said the Major, wiping his wet brow. 

"Delightful, " added Captain Roberts. "It's the making of poor oldBracy. He seems to hang his head and droop more and more every day, till the sun goes down, and to begin to pick up again with the firstbreath that comes down from between the two big peaks there--what dothey call them--Erpah and Brum?"

"Ha! wish it was coming now, " said the Doctor; "iced and pure air, tosweep right down the valley and clear away all the hot air, while itcools the sides of the precipices. "

"Why don't you let me go, Colonel!" said Drummond suddenly. "I want toget some ice badly for poor old Bracy. Six mules, six drivers, and adozen of our boys. Oh, I could do it. Let me go, sir. "

The Colonel shook his head, and every day at the hottest time Drummondproposed the same thing; till on the last day, after gradually growingweaker in his determination, urged as he was on all sides by thesufferers in hospital, the wan looks of the ladies, and the longings ofthe men, the Colonel said:

"Well, Mr Drummond, I'll sleep on it to-night, and if I come to adetermination favourable to the proposition, you shall go; but notalone. One of my officers must go with you. "

"Glad to have him, sir, " cried the subaltern eagerly. "Whom will yousend, sir?"

"I'll volunteer, sir, " said Roberts quietly. 

"Good, " said the Colonel; "so it will be as well for you and Drummondhere to quietly select your men and the mules with their drivers, plustools for cutting out the ice-like compressed snow. If I decide againstit there will be no harm done. "

"Better make our plans, then, as to which way to go. Study it all bydaylight with our glasses. "

"Needn't do that, " said Drummond eagerly. "I know. We'll go straightup the steep gully that I followed when I went after the bears, it'sawfully rough, but it's the best way, for the niggers never camp there;it's too wet for them. "

"Very well, " said the Colonel; and the two young officers went straightthrough the scorching sunshine, which turned the great court of the fortinto an oven, to where Bracy lay panting with the heat, with Gedge doinghis best to make life bearable by applying freshly wrung-out towels tohis aching brow. 

"News for you, old chap, " said Drummond in a whisper. "But send thatfellow of yours away. "

"There is no need, " said Bracy faintly. "I can't spare him, and he'sbetter worth trusting than I am. "

"Oh yes, we can trust Gedge, " said Roberts in a low tone, while the ladwas fetching a fresh bucket of water from the great well-like hole inthe court, through which an underground duct from the river ran, alwayskeeping it full of clear water fresh from the mountains, but in thesedays heated by the sun as it flamed down. 

The news was imparted by Drummond, and Bracy shook his head. 

"It would be glorious, " he said; "but you ought not to go. Gravesmustn't let a dozen men run such risks for the sake of us poor fellows. It would be madness. We must wait for the cool nights. "

"He will let us go, " said Drummond; "and we can do it. "

"No, " said Bracy, speaking with more energy, and he turned his head toRoberts. "I beg you will not think of such a thing, old lad, " he saidearnestly. 

"Well, we shall see. "

"Ready for another, sir?" said Gedge, coming in with the bucket. 

"Yes, yes, as soon as you can, " said Bracy. "This one feels boilinghot. "

The fresh, cool, wet cloth was laid across his forehead; and, rousing upfrom the disappointment he felt at Bracy taking so decided a viewagainst an expedition which the young subaltern had proposed to makealmost solely in his friend's interest, and moved by the boyish spiritof mischief within him, Drummond suddenly exclaimed:

"Look out, Gedge, or he'll bowl you over!--Oh, I beg your pardon, Bracy, old chap. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Knock me over, Roberts. I deserve it. "

For Bracy had winced sharply, and a look as of one suffering mentalagony came into his eyes. 

"It does not matter, " he said, smiling faintly and holding out his hand, which Drummond caught in his. 

"Ain't no fear, sir, " said Gedge, who was soaking the hot cloth. "Theguv'nor ain't had a touch now for a week. "

"Quiet!" whispered Roberts to the man. 

"He is quite right, Roberts, old fellow, " sighed Bracy; "I am certainlybetter. But if I could only get rid of that constant pain!"

"That must go soon, " said Drummond cheerily. "I wish I could take youragony-duty for a few hours everyday. Honour bright, I would. "

"I know you would, old chap, " said Bracy, smiling at him; "but I shallbeg Graves not to let you go. "

"Nonsense! Don't say a word, " cried Drummond. "If you do, hang me ifever I confide in you again!"

Bracy laughed softly. 

"I am pretty free from scepticism, " he said; "but I can't believe that. Now you fellows must go. The dragon will be here to start you if youstay any longer. Serve him right, though, Roberts, to let him go onthis mad foray, for he'd get wounded, and be brought back and placedunder Dame Gee's hands. "

"Oh, hang it! no; I couldn't stand that, " cried the young officer; and afew minutes later they left the room, for Drummond to begin grumbling. 

"I don't care, " he said. "If the Colonel gives us leave we must go. You won't back out, will you?"

"No; for it would be the saving of some of the poor fellows. But weshall see. "

They did that very night, for, instead of the regular cool wind comingdown the upper valley, a fierce hot gust roared from the other directionlike a furnaces-blast from the plains; and at midnight down came themost furious storm the most travelled of the officers had everencountered. The lightning flashed as if it were splintering the peakswhich pierced the clouds, and the peals of thunder which followedsounded like the falling together of the shattered mountains, whileamidst the intense darkness the sentries on the walls could hear thehiss and seething of the rain as it tore by on the rushing winds whichswept through gorge and valley. 

The next morning the storm broke dark and gloomy, with the rain fallingheavily and the river rolling along thick and turbulent, while one ofthe first things the sentries had to report was the fact that one of thehostile camps--the one nearest to the fort--was being struck. 

By night the tribe in another of the side valleys was withdrawn, andduring the days which followed one by one the little camps ofwhite-robed tribes-men melted away like the snow upon the lower hills, till not a man of the investing forces remained, and the long-harasseddefenders looked in vain from the highest tower of the fort for theirfoes. 

The falling rain had effected in a few days that which the brave;defenders had been unable; to compass in as many weeks; while thealteration from the insufferable heat to the soft, cool, moist air had awonderful effect upon the wounded, and made Doctor Morton chuckle andrub his hands as he rejoiced over the change. 

And still the rain went, on falling; the valley seemed surrounded bycascades, the streams rushed and thundered down, and the main riverswept by the walls of the fort with a sullen roar; while, as if dejectedand utterly out of heart, the British flag, which had flaunted out sobravely from the flagstaff, as if bidding defiance to the wholehill-country and all its swarthy tribes, hung down and clung and wrappeditself about the flagstaff, the halyard singing a dolefully weird strainin a minor key, while the wind whistled by it on its way down towardsthe plains. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

UNCOOKED MUTTON. 

Two days passed--two of about the wettest and most dismal daysimaginable. There was no sign of the enemy, and the scouts sent outcame back dripping, and always with the same news--that the hill-men hadgiven up the siege in disgust, and were right away making for theirhomes in the valleys at the foot of the mountain-slopes. 

There was no relaxation in the watchfulness of the garrison, however, the treacherous nature of the tribes being too well-known. Hence it wasthat the sentries in their heavy greatcoats stood in such shelter asthey possessed, keeping watch and ward, with the valley stretched outdark and gloomy, and the booming and roaring river dimly-seen throughthe gloom of the night, as it foamed and tossed itself in spray againstthe various obstacles it encountered on its way towards the lower gorgewhence Colonel Graves's regiment had made its appearance when it firstcame to the assistance of the beleaguered in Ghittah Fort. 

The rain had ceased and given place to a thick mist, so peculiar in itsappearance that one of two officers going the rounds, both nearlyinvisible in their long overcoats, said softly to the other:

"Might fancy we were at home after one of our muggy days. "

"Yes; just like a London suburban fog, old fellow. "

Then there was silence for a minute, as they walked on along theterraced wall, before the one who had just spoken said in a quickwhisper:

"I say, Roberts, oughtn't there to be a sentry here?"

"I was just thinking so, " was the reply. "I hope to goodness he isn'tasleep, for I hate having to report a man for neglect. "

He had hardly whispered the words when there was the click of a rifle, avoice challenged them, and they gave the customary response. 

"This is not your place, my man, " said Roberts then. 

"No, sir; twenty yards farther that way. But there's something downbelow then; that I can't quite make out. It seemed to come past and onthis way. "

"What! up on the ramparts?" said Drummond quickly. 

"No, no, sir; right down below the face of the wall, and I come on a bitso as to follow and look down. I didn't like to give the alarm. "

"Why?" said Roberts sharply. 

"Because it might be a false one, sir. "

"Better give a dozen false alarms, my lad, than miss a real danger. Now, then, what did you see?"

"Well, sir, if we was at home I should say it was a drove o' sheep or aherd o' pigs; but these hill-niggers are so artful and ready to be downupon us that I fancied it might be men. "

"Men haven't four legs, " said Drummond, laughing softly. 

"No, sir; but these Dwats don't think anything o' going down onall-fours. "

"But there have been none about lately, " said Drummond; "the rain seemedto be too much for them. "

"Yes, sir; but ain't they the more likely to come down on us when theythink we believe we're safe?--Change guard, sir. "

For steps were heard, and a party of men came up smartly, werechallenged, and the non-commissioned officer in charge answered. 

"That you, Gee?" said Roberts. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Come here. The sentry thinks there are people below there. Come andhave a look. "

"The sentry I've just relieved thought the same, sir, " replied Geesharply, "and I had a good look. They're sheep driven down from thehills by the bad weather. I was going to report to the Colonel, sir, and ask whether he'd order a sally from the gate to drive them in. Beuseful, sir. "

"To be sure. You'd better do it. Let's have a look over first. "

They stepped together to the embattled wall, and peered down into thedarkness; but nothing was visible now, and Roberts was about to give thematter up as all a mistake, when, from where the mist was most dense, there was the pattering of hoofs in the wet mud, followed by thepeculiarly human cough of one of the sheep of the district. 

"No mistake about what they are, sir, " said Sergeant Gee softly. "They've come down to the low grounds on account of the storm. "

"Yes, " said Roberts, "and because there are none of the Dwats to keepthem back. Why, Gee, we're in luck. We must have the men out and theflock driven in. "

"Not much room for them in the court, sir, " said the Sergeant. 

"No; but to-morrow we must have something in the way of hurdles to shutthem in close under the wall, and they can be driven out to pastureevery day by some of the men, with a guard to watch over them. You tryand keep them under your eye now while I go and tell the Colonel. "

The two young men peered down at where the pattering of hoofs could beheard through the mist twenty feet below them; though nothing wasvisible but a dimly-seen moving mass. 

A few minutes later they announced the find to the Colonel. 

"This is good news, gentlemen, " he said; "such a store of freshprovisions will be a treasure. Order out your company, Roberts, and youhad better get five-and-twenty or thirty of your men, Mr Drummond. "

"Yes, sir, " said the subaltern, smiling. 

"What's that you're thinking--rather absurd to get out two companies todrive in a flock of sheep?"

"Well, sir, I was thinking something of the sort, " said the young man, colouring. 

"I want them to strengthen the guard, " said the Colonel quietly. "Adozen of the native servants can be sent round the flock to head thesheep toward the open gates. There is nothing like being on your guardwhen dealing with a venturesome as well as a treacherous enemy. "

"You think the enemy may make a rush, sir, as soon as the gates areopen?"

"No, Roberts, " said the Colonel, laying his hand on the young man'sshoulder. "I think the enemy might make a rush if they were near; but, happily, I do not believe there are any of the hill-men for many milesround. The last reports are that they are heading homewards, and Ibegin to hope that the breaking-up of the weather has set us atliberty. "

The arrangements were soon made, everything being done quietly andwithout any display of lights. The Fusiliers and the draft of ColonelWrayford's regiment were stationed on either side of the gates, andabout twenty of the native servants, under the guidance of a couple ofthe friendly hill-men, accustomed to look after the camp live-stock, were detailed with their orders to divide as soon as the gates wereopened, and steal cautiously round to the far side of the flock beforetrying to head them in. 

Strict orders had been given to keep the court still and dark, so thatthe sheep might not take fright upon reaching the gates; while the newsspread very rapidly, and the men turned out of their rough quarters, seeking the walls, so as to try and see something of what was going on. 

At last, all being ready, the Colonel gave the order for the guardoccupying the two towers which commanded the gales to report the stateof affairs. Sergeant Gee had taken his place there, and he came down toannounce that the sheep were in a very large flock, apparently huddledtogether about a hundred yards from the gate. But they were quiteinvisible, and their position could only be made out by their fidgetymovements. 

"Sounds to me, sir, as if they'd got wolves hanging about them, or maybea bear. "

"Then they'll be all the more ready to come into shelter, " said theColonel, who then gave the word. The great leaves of the entrance weredrawn inward, and, each party under his leader, the native servantsslipped silently out in Indian file, turned to right and left, anddisappeared in the darkness, the mist seeming to swallow them up aftertheir third step. 

"Quite a bit of sport, old fellow, " whispered Drummond, who had chargeof the men on one side, Roberts being on the other, while the regularguard manned the tower and adjacent wall in strength, so as to see thefun, as they dubbed it. 

All was silent now, and the only lights visible were those of thewindows in the officers' quarters, so that it was hard to imagine thatmany hundred men, for the most part unarmed, were listening eagerly forthe first approach of the unsuspecting sheep. 

The listeners were not kept in suspense as to whether plenty of roastmutton was to supersede the short commons of the past. There was whatseemed to be a long period of silence and darkness, during which a cloudof dense mist floated in through the gateway to fill the court; andduring this time of waiting the watchers, by other senses rather thansight, pictured the dark scouts playing the same part as falls to thelot of a collie dog at home, doubling round the great flock, whoserestless trampling they could hear in the soft, wet soil. But at lastthere was the sound of many pattering feet, telling that the flock wasin motion; and the suspense deepened, for the question was, "Would themen be able to head the sheep in, or would they dash off to right orleft, avoiding the big opening through the gates as the mouth of atrap?"

"Will they--won't they?" muttered Drummond; and Roberts, like the men inthe angle hidden by the tower on the side, held his breath. 

The minutes seemed long drawn out now, as the pent-up excitementincreased; and Gedge, who was at the open window of the hospitalquarters, reached out as far as he could, his heart beating hard as helistened, hearing the pattering quite plainly, and reporting progress tohis officer, stretched upon his pallet. For the news had penetrated towhere they were. Gedge had heard it from an ambulance sergeant, andhurried in to Bracy. 

"Hoo-roar, sir!" he said excitedly, panting hard the while. "Tell yerdireckly. It's wonderful how soon I gets out o' breath since I had mylast wound, "--the knock-down from the stone in the pass was always "myfirst wound. "--"The boys have captured a flock o' sheep, sir, and it'sgoing to be cuts out o' roast legs and hot mutton-chops for us everyday. "

Bracy sighed on hearing this. 

"Ah, you go like that, sir, " said Gedge; "but just you wait till yousmell one o' them chops, frizzled as I'll do it, and peppered andsalted--wonder whether there is a bit o' pepper to be got. "

Gedge did not get the news till the arrangements were well in progress, and a pang of disappointment shot, through him, mingled with a longingto go and join in the fun. But he kept his thoughts to himself, and setto work to make his invalid participate as much as was possible bylistening and reporting all he could hear. 

"Just you hark, sir; can't hear a whisper, and it's as black as can be, "he said softly. "Hope; those chaps as they've sent won't muff it andlet the sheep get away to the mountains. "

"They most likely will, " sighed Bracy, who was more low-spirited thanusual that night. 

"That's what I'm afraid on, sir. Can't hear nothing, sir, " he saidmournfully. "Yes, I can; just a soft sort o' sound as is gettinglouder. It's pitter-patter o' little feet in the mud. Yes, that's it, sir. They're a-coming nigher and nigher. Oh! don't I wish I was outbehind 'em with a couple of those grey dogs without any tails thedrovers uses. I'd have 'em in through the gates in no time, withoutlosing one. "

"Are they going to drive the flock into the courtyard?" said Bracywearily. 

"Why, I telled him they were just now, " muttered Gedge; and then aloud, "Yes, sir, that's it; and here they come, and--I can't see, but I canhear--they're a-getting quite near. And of course, as soon as they'reall in, bing-bang our chaps'll swing them great gates to and make 'emfast, and there, you are. What a glorious grab, and won't the niggersbe wild! Say, Mr Bracy, sir. "

"Yes. "

"Don't you feel as if you want to shout?"

"No, Gedge, no. "

"I do, sir. I say, sir, if I was you I'd give me orders to see thebutchers, and buy four o' the sheepskins. I could dress 'em, and youcould have 'em made up into a rug, or let the tailor line your greatcoatwith 'em. For if we're going to be shut up here all the winter, everyone of them skins 'll be better for you than two ton o' coals. "

"Buy six for me, my lad, " said Bracy, "and have three to line your owncoat. "

"Oh, thank ye, sir; but--"

"No, no; three will do, my lad, for I shall be lying asleep under theturf before the winter comes. "

"Mr Bracy, sir!" cried Gedge in a husky voice. "Oh, sir, plee, sir, don't go and talk like that, sir! Oh, blow the sheep, and the mutton, and the skins!" he muttered; "what do I care about 'em now?"

He was turning away, when, regretting what he had said, Bracy raisedhimself a little on one elbow, and said softly, and with his voicesounding stronger:

"Why don't you go on telling me, my lad! Is the flock coming nearer?"

Gedge thrust his head out again, and then partly withdrew it. 

"Yes, sir--close in, sir. You can hear 'em now; they must be coming inat the gates. Oh, do be careful!" he whispered to nobody, once morefull of excitement, and imagining everything in the darkness. "Steady, steady! Mind, you nigger to the left. Yah! don't get waving your armslike that; you'll scare one o' them old rams. Can't you see him tossinghis head about? He'll bolt directly, and if he does the whole flock 'llbe after him and off and away to the hills. "

"Can you see them, Gedge?" said Bracy, beginning to take interest in thecapture now for his lad's sake, for deep down in his breast there was awell-spring of gratitude for all the poor, rough, coarse fellow haddone. 

"See 'em, sir? No; it's as black as the inside of a tar-barrel: but Ican hear and fancy it all, and I've helped drive many a flock outWhitechapel way when I was a small boy. Here they come, though, patter, patter, and the chaps have done it splendid; they haven't made a sound. Here they come; they must be half in by now. There's some on 'em closeunder the winder, sir. Hear 'em puffing and breathing?"

"Yes, yes; I can hear them there quite plainly, Gedge. I hope they willsecure them now, for every one's sake. "

"So do I, sir; but they're not caught till they're all in and the gatesis shut. Our sheep in London's wild enough when they take fright, whilethese things is more like goats, and you know how they can run up amongthe rocks. Oh, steady, steady, out there; look sharp and shut thosegates, " whispered the listener. "Oh, do mind! If I sees all them legso' mutton cutting their sticks off to the mountains I shall go mad. "

"What's that?" cried Bracy, as in the wild flush of excitement thatflashed through his brain it seemed as if he had received a galvanicshock, and he sat right up in his bed, to keep in that position, gazingwildly towards the darkened window. 

Gedge doubtless replied, but his voice was drowned by the wild, warlikeyell of triumph which rose from the court--a yell which told its owntale of the success of a _ruse_. The sheep had been driven into thecourt through the mist and darkness--a great flock; but with them fullya hundred tulwar and knife armed Dwats in their winter sheepskin-coats, who had crept in with the quiet sheep on all-fours, the placid animalshaving doubtless been accustomed to the manoeuvre, thought out andpractised for weeks past, with a so far perfectly successful result. 

The yell was answered by the Colonel's voice shouting clearly the orderfor the gates to be shut; but the massacre had begun, the mad Mussulmanfanatics who had undertaken the forlorn hope being ready to do or die;and, as the rattle of the moving gates began, an answering war-cry camefrom not far away, the rush of a large body of men making for theopening being plainly heard. 

"Taken by surprise!" shouted Bracy wildly as he realised the horror. "Gedge, it means the slaughter of the poor women and our woundedcomrades in the ward. Here, quick, my sword! my revolver! Quick! getone yourself. "

"I've got yours, sir, here, " cried Gedge excitedly as he snatched themfrom where they hung. "Don't--don't move, sir; you're too weak and bad, and I'll keep the window and the door, sir. They shan't come near yerwhile I'm alive. After that--here, ketch hold, sir--your pistol, sir--after that you must lie still and shoot. "

The light had been extinguished, so that the sheep should not be scaredby a glare from the window; and in the darkness, amidst the howls, yells, and shouts in the courtyard, Gedge felt for the bed so as tothrust the loaded revolver into Bracy's hand. But, to his astonishment, a strong hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the sword was snatchedfrom his grasp, while Bracy cried in a voice the lad hardly knew:

"Keep the pistol, close that door and window, and come on. Gedge, lad, we must try and keep the ward, before these savages get in. "

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

GHAZIS AND CUNNING. 

As Bracy, closely followed by Gedge, made for the door, the noise andconfusion in the darkness were horrible. There were nearly a score ofsick and wounded in the two rows of beds, some of whom were groaning andappealing for help; but the majority were making brave efforts to get onsome clothes, and one man was shouting for the nurse to go to thearmoury and bring as many rifles and bayonets as she could carry. Butthere was no answer to their appeals, as Bracy, tottering at first, butgrowing stronger as he passed between the two rows of beds, struggledfor the door at the end, and passed through into a little lobby, fromwhich another door led at once into the court, a mere slit of a windowat the side admitting a few faint rays of light. 

"Ha!" ejaculated Bracy in a tone of thankfulness. "The door's fast, Gedge, lad, and we must defend it to the last. We can do no goodoutside. "

"Who's this?" cried a harsh, sharp voice. "Bracy, my dear boy, youhere?" cried the Doctor almost simultaneously. 

"Nurse!--Doctor!" panted the young officer. 

"Yes, here we are, my boy, on duty; and bless this woman! she's asplucky as half-a-dozen men. "

"Nonsense!" said Mrs Gee harshly. "You don't suppose I was going tostand still and let the wretches massycree my patients--do you, Doctor?"

"No, my dear, I don't think anything of the kind, and certainly I won't. Have you got plenty of cartridges?"

"A dozen packets, and there's four rifles with fixed bayonets behind thedoor. "

"I'll have one, my lass. I was afraid I should have to take to mysurgical instruments. But, look here, Bracy, my boy, you can do nogood, so go back to bed and send that scoundrel Gedge here. He's hidingunder one of the beds. He could load for nurse, here, and me, while wefired. "

"If you warn't like one o' my sooperior officers, " snarled Gedge, "I'dsay something nasty to you, Doctor. Give us one of them rifles, oldlady; I'm better with them and a bay'net than with this popgun. Youtake your pistol, Mr Bracy, sir. "

"No, no--yes, yes, " said the Doctor hurriedly. "You may want it, myboy. Now, then, go back to your bed. You'll be in the way here. "

"In the way of some of these yelling fiends, I hope, Doctor, " saidBracy, thrusting the revolver into the waistband of his hurriedlydragged on trousers. "Now, then, where will they try to break in?"

"The first window they can reach, when they fail at this door. You, Gedge, watch that window. No one can get in, but some one is sure totry. "

The keen point of a bayonet was held within a few inches of the openingthe next moment, and then the little party, awaiting the attack, stoodlistening to the terrible sounds from without. It was hard work todistinguish one from the other, for the confusion was now dreadful; but, from time to time, Bracy, as he stood quivering there as if a strangethrill of reserved force was running through every vein, nerve, andmuscle, made out something of what was going on, and primarily hegrasped the fact, from the loud clanging, that the great gates had beenclosed and barred against the entrance of those who were rushing forwardto the support of the fanatical Ghazis who had been so successful intheir _ruse_. 

Then came other sounds which sent a ray of hope through the confusion;first one or two shots rang out, then there was a ragged volley, and amore or less steady fire was being kept up from the towers and walls. But this was doubtless outward, begun by the sentries, and aided by thetwo companies that rapidly mounted to their side by the orders of theirofficers, who felt that it would be madness to begin firing in the darkupon the Ghazis raging about the court, for fear of hitting theirunarmed friends. 

It was some minutes before the Colonel could reach the guard-room, whichwas held by the relief, and he had a couple of narrow escapes from cutsaimed at him; but he reached the place at last, in company with about adozen unarmed men, and in a few minutes there was one nucleus here readywith fixed bayonets to follow his orders. Other men made a rush fortheir quarters from the walls where they had flocked, unarmed, to bespectators of the capture; but to reach them and their rifles andammunition they had to cross the court, which was now one tossing chaosof cutting and slashing fiends in human form, rushing here and there, and stumbling over the frightened sheep, which plunged and leapedwildly, adding greatly to the din by their piteous bleating, many tofall, wounded, dying, and struggling madly, beneath the sword-cutsintended for the garrison. These were flying unarmed seeking forrefuge, and often finding none, but turning in their despair upon theirassailants, many of whom went down, to be trampled under foot by thosewhom they sought to slay. 

The firing now began to rapidly increase, the flashings of the riflesseeming to cut through the dense mist, now growing thicker with thesmoke, which, instead of rising, hung in a heavy cloud, mingling withthe fog, and making the efforts of the defenders more difficult as itincreased. For some time every one seemed to have lost his head, as, inspite of the efforts of the officers, the panic was on the increase, andthe Ghazis had everything their own way. Colonel Graves, as soon as hehad got his little force together, gave the word for a rush with thebayonet, and led the way, his men following bravely, but thedifficulties they encountered were intense. It was almost impossible toform in line, and when at last this was roughly achieved in thedarkness, and the order to advance was given, it was upon a mass ofstruggling sheep mingled with the yelling fiends; and, to the horror ofthe line of sturdy men, they found that to fire, or advance with thebayonet, would be to the destruction of friend as well as foe. 

To add to the horror, the wild and piteous shrieks of women arose nowfrom the portion of the fort containing the officers' quarters; and atthis Roberts, who was firing with his men down into the seething mass offresh assailants swarming at the gates and striving, so far vainly, tomount the walls, gave a sharp order. 

"Here, cease firing, my lads, " he yelled. "Drummond--Drummond! Where'sMr Drummond?"

"Gone, sir, " came from one of the men. 

"What! down?" cried Roberts. 

"No, sir; he said something about go on firing, and hooked it off alongthe ramp. "

An angry groan arose, and Roberts muttered something about his friendbefore shouting again. 

"Sergeant, " he cried, "take the command of your men, and keep these dogsfrom mounting the gate. I am going to lead my company to the officers'quarters. Ready, my lads? No firing. The bayonet. We must save thosewomen, or die. "

A loud, sharp, snapping hurrah rang out, seeming to cut through themist, and then at Roberts's "Forward!" they dashed after him at thedouble, to reach the next descent into the court, which meant rightamong the yelling Ghazis, but at the opposite end to that where ColonelGraves and the Major--who had reached them now with a couple of dozenmen, mostly armed with the Indians' tulwars--had managed to struggleinto line. 

Very few minutes elapsed before the shouting of Captain Roberts's men, as they dashed down, two abreast, cutting into the mass below, added tothe wild confusion, and for a time it seemed as if the struggle wouldbecome hopeless, as the brave fellows' strength began to yield toexhaustion, for the power to combine seemed gone, and the _melee_ grewmore a hand-to-hand fight, in which the savage Ghazis had the advantagewith their keen swords, their adversaries wanting room to use theirbayonets after a few fierce and telling thrusts. 

"This is useless, Graham, " panted the Colonel at last; "these sheephamper every movement. We can do nothing in this horrible darkness. Iam going to give the order for every man to make for the walls, where wemust defend ourselves with the bayonet as the fellows attack us. Wemust wait for morning, and then shoot them down. "

"And by then they will have slaughtered every woman and non-combatant inthe fort, " growled the Major savagely. 

"No; we must each lead a company or two for the quarters. You take asmany as you can collect straight for the ladies' rooms. "

"Roberts has gone ten minutes ago, and is fighting his way across. "

"Go round by the walls on the other side and get in behind. I am goingto rush for the hospital. Bracy and all those poor fellows must besaved. "

"Too late, " said the Major bitterly. "Two of the men here left a scoreof the hounds fighting their way into the ward. Oh, if we only had alight!"

Strange things occur when least expected, and there are times when, asif by a miracle, the asked-for gift is bestowed. 

"God bless you, Graves!" whispered the Major; "if we don't meet again, I'll do all that man can do. "

"I know it, Graham. You'll save the women, I'm sure. Ah! what's that?"

"Fire--fire!" shouted a voice, and a yell of triumph rose from theGhazis, to be echoed by the seething mob of fanatics outside the gates, who burst forth with their war-cry of "Allah! Allah--uh!"

"We're done, Graves, " said the Major in an awestricken, whisper. "It'sthe fodder-store, and it will attack our quarters soon. It's all ofwood. "

"If it does we shall see how to die fighting, " said the Colonelhoarsely, as a wreath of flame and sparks rolled out of a two-storybuilding at the far end of the court, lighting up the whole place andrevealing all the horrors of the scene. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

NON-COMBATANTS. 

Meanwhile, completely cut off by the enemy from the rest of thegarrison, the occupants of the hospital made such preparations as theycould to strengthen their defences. Little enough they were, consistingas they did of three or four pieces of wood placed like stays from thefloor to the cross-pieces of the roughly-made door; and when it was donethe Doctor said sadly:

"It's of no use. If they come with a rush they will drive that in as ifit were so much cardboard. "

"Let them, " said Bracy. "They will find three bayonets and asword-point ready for them to fall upon. "

"Yes; and then?" said the Doctor bitterly. "There will be four bodieslying in front of us between our breasts and the men who come on, and soagain and again till we have made a rampart of the wretched bodies. "

"Very well in theory, my good patient, " said the Doctor sadly; "but I'mafraid we shall have made part of the breastwork ourselves. TheseGhazis not only know how to fight, but they do fight as if there were nosuch thing as fear. "

"There's not much of that in British soldiers when they are at bay, "said Bracy proudly. "But it's of no use to talk, Doctor; we must defendthis door to the last, and then retreat into the ward, barricading thatnext. "

"And after that?"

"There are my quarters: but we must carry the helpless in there first. "

"And lastly?"

"Never mind that, " said Bracy coldly; "let us get through firstly andsecondly; a dozen things may happen before then. "

"Hist!" whispered Mrs Gee. "Some one is coming. "

All listened, and heard a swift movement like a hand being passed overthe rough door as if feeling for the fastening. Then there were severalhard thrusts, and directly after a quick whispering, a scratching as offeet against the wall, and then a slight change in the appearance of thewindow, the darkness growing a little deeper. In an instant there wasthe loud rattle of a rifle being thrown out to the full extent of itsholder's arms, the bayonet darting through the narrow slit; there was asavage yell, the dull thud of some one falling, and with a fierce shoutof rage two or three of the enemy flung themselves at the door, repeating the act again and again, but without result. 

"Can't some of us come and help, sir?" said a feeble voice. 

"Yes; there's six of us, sir, " said another; "and we've all got rifles. "

"Back to your beds directly, " cried the Doctor. "What's the use of metrying to save your lives, and--Well, it's very good of you, my lads, "he said, breaking off suddenly. "Fix bayonets, and stand outside theward ready to help if we, the first line, are driven in. "

There was a sharp crackety-crack as the metal sockets of the bayonetsrattled on the muzzles of the rifles, and the six invalids took theirplaces on either side of the ward-door, where the rest of the suffererslay in silence listening to the yelling outside and the firing now goingvigorously on. 

There was another crash against the outer door, but still it did notyield, though it sounded as if it was being dashed from its fastenings, and then a shuffling, scraping sound told that another attempt was beingmade by one of the mad fanatics to get in by the slit of a window. Butagain there was the peculiar rattling sound of a thrust being made witha rifle thrown right forward and grazing the sides of the opening. Awild shriek followed, and Gedge withdrew his piece, panting heavily andtrembling from weakness. 

"Did you get home?" whispered the Doctor. 

"Yes, sir, clean, " whispered back Gedge; "and oh, if that only was thechap as shot Mr Bracy that day!"

There was a crash at the door now, as if a mass of stone had been hurledat it; a couple of boards were driven out, and a strange animal odourfloated in, with a yell of triumph, heard above the piteous bleating ofsheep and the sharp rattle of the rifles. 

"Give me room, Doctor; I can do it. My man taught me, " said the nurse, standing with Gedge, friendly for the first time in their lives; andthey delivered rapidly thrust after thrust with their full strength, oneof the savage Ghazis going down at each. 

It was too dark to do much, and Bracy felt his helplessness, aftertrying to parry a cut or two delivered by one of the enemy; so, drawinghis revolver, he fired slowly shot after shot as the enemy reached in tocut at the defenders, their blows mostly falling upon the sides of thebroken door. 

"It's of no use to try and hold this place longer, Doctor, " he said, bringing now to bear his military knowledge. "We have to bear the fullrush of these men. "

"But it's like giving up to them, " panted the Doctor. 

"Never mind; let's retire into the ward. You see, the door is atright-angles to this, and when they press in they can only fill thislittle place, and we shall have to contend with four or five instead offifty. "

"That's good talk, " said the Doctor. "I'm not a soldier. Very well, then, back in, and I'll cover you. "

"No; you retire with the nurse and Gedge, and I will hold them at baytill you get in. Make the men present their bayonets as soon as we arein. Just give the word, and they will know. It will check the wretcheswhile we try to get the door closed. "

"No, " cried the Sergeant's wife through her teeth. "Bill Gedge and Iwill keep them off till you are in and tell us to fall back. "

"Right, " said the Doctor; "don't stop to parley, Bracy, my lad. Ah, what does that mean?" he cried sharply, for Mrs Gee and Gedge boththrust and then thrust again. 

"Means a roosh, gentlemen, " said Gedge hoarsely. "In with you; we can'thold 'em back any longer. "

"Back in, " said Bracy hoarsely. "We must do it, Doctor; they're mad forour blood. "

The Doctor stepped through the inner door, and Bracy followed. 

"Right and left, " he said sharply; "cover the advance as they fallback. "

A low hissing sound accompanied a quick movement, and then, afterdelivering a couple more thrusts, Gedge whispered:

"In with you, nurse. "

"You first, boy, " she answered, as she thrust fiercely again, a sharpcry following her delivery. 

"I don't go afore a woman, " said Gedge bluntly, as he delivered pointonce more. 

"Nor I before my patient, " said Mrs Gee, following his example, andfeeling the bayonet strike flesh. 

"Back, you two, at once, " cried Bracy sternly; and as the strangelyassorted couple took a step or two back and darted into the ward, ahedge of bayonets dropped down breast-high, in time to meet the rush ofGhazis who dashed forward with upraised swords. 

Then, to the surprise of all, there was the crackle of a little volley, and the faces of the fierce warriors were for a moment illumined, efforts being made to strengthen the position by dragging a charpoyacross, planting a second upon the first, and heaping thereon everythingthat could be seized upon in the darkness. There was a fresh burst ofyelling, the Ghazis raging in their disappointment and at the lossesthat had befallen them, just, too, when they believed that an entry hadbeen made. 

The Doctor took advantage of the pause in the attack to order everyinvalid who could move by his own efforts to seek refuge in theofficers' ward, and with groans and sighs they obeyed, one helping theother, and in many instances having to be helped in turn, while severalby slow degrees managed to crawl. A pause in the attack did not givetime for all this, the enemy coming fiercely on again before the wardwas half clear; but the bristling array of bayonets presented at thenarrow doorway kept them from gaining an entrance, each stroke of theirtulwars being received on the rifle-barrels, and several going down asdeadly thrusts were made. 

It was evident enough to Bracy and the Doctor that their defence couldnot last, much longer. A party of able-bodied men, dividing and takingtheir duty in turn, might have kept the whole body of the hill-men atbay for an indefinite time; but the efforts of Gedge and Mrs Gee weregrowing weaker, and at last it was all that the invalids could do tokeep their bayonets from being beaten down. 

"We must make for our last refuge, Doctor, " said Bracy at last. 

"Yes, and none too soon, " was his reply; "but first of all let's have asmuch of the bedding as we can get taken to the other room to form abreastwork. Half you men retire and carry mattresses and blankets tillyou are ordered to cease. "

This was done, and then the order was given, just as the enemy wasmaking one of its most savage attacks, the men pressing on with alltheir might, till a volley was fired which made them recoil. It wasonly to recover themselves and pour fiercely in through the dense smoke, to begin yelling with rage as they found by degrees that the long wardwas empty, and a fresh barrier of bayonets bristling ready for them atthe farther door, where a couple of charpoys had been hastily thrownacross one upon the other, and piled on the top was all the bedding, principally rough straw mattresses and blankets--a slight enoughbreastwork, but impervious to sword-cuts, while to reach over in orderto make a blow was to expose whoever struck to a deadly bayonet-thrust. Here the defence was gallantly maintained again, the attack as fiercelymade, till the floor became wet with blood, and several of thecarnage-seeking enemy slipped and fell, either to crawl or be draggedaway by their companions. 

"It's getting to be a matter of minutes now, " said the Doctor in awhisper to Bracy. "This is the last of it. "

"The window, " said Bracy, calmly enough now. "Take Mrs Gee and helpher out. Then you and Gedge climb out, and drop down; you may make yourescape in the darkness. You hear, Mrs Gee?"

"Yes, sir, I hear, " said the woman in her sourest tones; "but my mantold me I was to stick to my patients, no matter what happened. "

"And I order you to escape. "

"Yes, sir; but I'm not one of your men, " said the woman, with atriumphant masterful ring in her words, "and under your orders; but youare my patient and under mine. So you go and get as many of the poorboys away with you as you can. Off with you, Gedge; you're as bad asany of them, in spite of your brag. Then you others follow, one at atime; me and the Doctor can't leave, the rest, and we're going to stay. "

"Go!" said Gedge sharply. "Go and leave my comrades and my orficer ascan't help theirselves. Not me!"

There was a low murmur at this, and then a cessation of all words in thedesperate defence forced upon the little party; for, as if maddened bythe long resistance, and utterly reckless of the losses they hadsuffered, the Ghazis came on, howling and bounding to the door, leapingup and reaching in to strike downward with all their force, andgenerally paying the penalty of death; for even with their swordsextended to the full extent of the holders' arms, not once was adamaging cut inflicted. 

The result of this last rush was that, horrible to relate, thebreastwork was raised by the bodies of three fatally wounded Ghazis, whoin their dying moments sought to revenue their deaths by cuttingsavagely at their foes as they lay. 

"I can't bay'net chaps who are down, " muttered Gedge, shrinking back;while at the same moment Mrs Gee uttered a wild cry, for one of thedying men had inflicted a horrible upward cut, which, as she was leaningforward, took effect upon her chin. 

This movement on the part, of two of the strongest of the defendersseemed to be fatal. A weak place in their defence was displayed, andwith a fierce yell the enemy crowded on in a final attack. This wouldhave been fatal but for the bravery of the tottering invalids, who metthe rush with a sharp volley from half-a-dozen pieces, and the flash andsmoke were followed by a sudden burst of light, which flooded the ward, showing the enemy retiring a little, startled by the unexpected volleyand wondering at the glare. This gave time for reloading, and anothervolley was fired as the enemy came on again. 

This volley was followed by the commencement of a rolling fire outside, mingled with yells of rage, imprecations, loud orders, and the hoarsecommands of officers. For the light given by the burning building wasthe opportunity required; and minute by minute the firing increased fromthe walls, as the scattered soldiery, many of whom had remained unarmed, found their way into their quarters to obtain rifles and bayonets, andjoined their companions on the wall, able, and willing too, to take aimdown into the seething mob of savages in the court, without riskingdestruction to a comrade or friend. 

Three times over Colonel Graves summoned the enemy to surrender, andtwice over native attendants were dragged forth to yell down to theGhazis that their lives would be spared. All was in vain; theannouncements were received with shouts of defiance, yells of hatred atthe Christian dogs, and savage rushes were made at the steps leading upto the ramparts, in each case for the venturers to be partly shot down, the residue being hurled back from the point of the bayonet. 

"It's of no use, Graves--Roberts, " cried the Major; "it's their lives orours. Fire, my lads, fire!"

And by the increasing light of the flaming building, whose ruddy raysillumined the horrible scene of carnage, the fight went on, till thecourtyard was dotted with the bodies of the wounded and slain, thesurvivors of the great flock of sheep cowering together close to themain gate, while others lay trampled down amongst the fallen, theirthick fleeces having protected many from the cuts of the Ghazis' swords. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

A PAUSE. 

The moment the court could be crossed, a rush was made for the hospital, where the fight was still going on; but the mingled company of excitedmen were checked twice over by wounded and shamming Ghazis springing upto foot or knee to deliver one final blow at their hated Christianconquerors, and several of the soldiers were badly wounded by the deadlyrazor-edged tulwars before the wielder was borne to the earth bybayonets, struggling fiercely still, though riddled with wounds. 

Then the entrance to the hospital was reached, and the wild cheer of adozen men sent a reviving thrill of hope through the fast-fallingdefenders, and they held their _chevaux-de-frise_ of bayonets once morenow, though with trembling, unnerved hands. 

A minute before it seemed to them that their last blow had been struck, and that there was nothing else to do but die with their face to thedead and living enemy. But that wild British cheer sent a thrillthrough them; the massacre of the wounded was after all to be stayed, and they stood firmly there in the brightly illumined room, witnesses ofthe bayoneting, till the last savage lay dying on the floor. 

Roberts had headed his party, and was the first to return to try andsave his friend and comrade; and it was into his arms Bracy fell and wascarried out, while the men crowded in now to bear out Mrs Gee, theDoctor, Gedge, and the rest, those outside cheering madly as first oneand then another bloodstained, ghastly object was borne into the light;while, in the interval between two of the outbursts, poor Gedge, who wasbeing cheered by his comrades, seemed drunk with excitement, as hecontrived with failing arm to wave his rifle above his head and shout:

"Three cheers for Mr Bracy; three cheers for the Doctor and old MotherGee! Three cheers for us all!"

There was a tremendous roar at this, heard loudly above the cracklingfire kept up on the enemy still striving to force a way in from beyondthe walls. 

"Three more, " cried Gedge. "Cripples, all on us, but we held our own, and hip--hip--hip--hoo--"

Gedge did not finish his cheer, for half-way through the last word hefell forward, utterly exhausted, fainting dead away. 

It was just then that an officer with blackened face and sword in handsuddenly made his appearance high up in the golden light of the fire, and the moment he appeared a howl of execration was raised, which ranthrough the crowd of soldiery, while the officers scowled and turnedaway. 

The tall, thin figure stopped short in front of the burning building, togaze down wonderingly. 

"Drummond--Scotch coward!" roared a voice, and a yell of execrationburst forth. 

Just at that moment, from behind an angle of the building, four of theGhazis, who had lain hidden there and escaped the deadly fire, rushedforth yelling and waving their swords as they made for the figurestanding apparently beyond the reach of help. 

"Quick, some one--fire, fire!" shouted Roberts. 

The figure heard the cry, and turned just in time to face his enemies, two of whom reached him together, cutting at him with all their might. But, active as a cat, the tall, lithe youth avoided one of his foes byleaping aside, ran the other man through, and swinging round, with atremendous cut severed the wrist of the wretch he had avoided, whencoming at him for a second blow. 

The other two did not reach him, for half-a-dozen shots rang out, andthe true firing of the boy-regiment was again proved, the two Ghazisleaping high in the air, and falling backward on to the bayonets of themen below. There was another cheer at this, but it was dominateddirectly after by a renewal of the howl of execration which had brokenout before. 

The hearer looked for a moment or two puzzled, and hesitated to advance;but the next minute he turned half-face, doubled along the rampart tothe steps, and descended to the court, passing coolly among the menwhere Colonel Graves was standing giving orders. 

"Mr Drummond, " he said, "I am told that you left your men in a way thatdisgraces a British officer. "

"That I didn't, " cried the young man indignantly. "I heard you say thatif we only had light we could see to fire, or something of that sort. "

"Yes, sir, I did, " said the Colonel sternly. 

"Well, sir, I ran along the ramp and climbed up three times before Icould get to the store, and then set fire to the fodder; but it was everso long before I could get it to burn, and then I couldn't get out. "

"You did that?" cried the Colonel. 

"To be sure I did, sir. Wasn't it right? Oh, I see now; the menthought I went and hid to get out of the light. "

"My dear boy, " cried the Colonel; "of course. "

"Oh, " cried Drummond, "what jolly fools the lads can be! But I say, sir, who's hurt? and was old Bracy safe?"

A minute later the men cheered even louder than before, as they watchedDrummond--a hero now in their midst--place a bag of powder to blow downthe burning building and save the place from risk of the fire spreading. 

That was soon done. It was a risky task, but bravely set about; and, asthe place went up in a rush of flames and sparks, the assault fromoutside ceased, the enemy drawing off under cover of the mist; and anhour later silence fell upon the horrible scene of carnage, not even ableat arising from the sheep. 

But the fort was safe, the dim morning light showing the British flag, wet and clinging, but still hanging in its place upon the flagstaff;while by that time all save the doubled sentries upon the walls and thesuffering wounded lay plunged in a heavy sleep wherever a place could befound roomy enough for the poor fellows' aching limbs. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

BRACY'S NURSE. 

"Bracy, my dear old man!"

"My dear old chap!" These were the salutations of Drummond and Robertslater on in the morning, when they sought him out, to find him withGedge in a portion of the soldiers' quarters which had been temporarilyturned into a hospital. 

"Ah, Roberts, " sighed Bracy drowsily as he raised himself on one arm. "Not hurt, I hope?"

"Not a scratch. But you--you? Morton tells me you fought like a lionall through that horrible attack. "

"Like a very weak lion, " said Bracy, smiling faintly. 

"But how are you?"

"Oh, so much better, " said the young officer, with a sigh. "I feel sorestful, and as if I could do nothing but sleep. "

"Thank Heaven! But what a change in you!"

"And you, Drummond? But your face--blackened. Were you in thatexplosion I heard?"

"Yes; I helped to pop off the powder. "

"Helped!" cried Roberts. "Why, you placed the powder-bag and fired thefuse. "

"Well, what of that? Some one had to do it. I wasn't hurt there, though, old man. It was in setting fire to the store and coaxing itinto a blaze, for the blessed wood refused to burn. Spoiled my lovelylooks a bit--eh? But I say--it's harder work than you would think forto burn a--I say! Bracy, old chap!--Why, he's asleep!"

"Fast, " said Roberts, looking wonderingly at their friend, who had sunkback on his rough pillow, formed of a doubled-up greatcoat, and wasbreathing deeply, with his face looking peaceful and calm. 

"Here, I say, you, Bill Gedge, " cried Drummond; "this can't be right. Go and fetch the Doctor. "

"No, sir; it's all right, sir. The Doctor was here half-an-hour ago. He was fast as a top then; but he heard the Doctor speaking to me, androused up while he had his wounds looked at. What d'yer think o' that, sir?"

He drew a small, ragged scrap of something from his pocket, and held itout before the two officers. 

"Nothing, " said Roberts shortly; "but I don't like Mr Bracy's looks. This can't be right. "

"Doctor says it is, sir, and that it's exhorschon. He's to sleep asmuch as he can. You see, he had a horful night of it, sir, just when hewasn't fit. "

"But how in the world could he fight like the Doctor says he did?"

"I dunno, sir, " replied Gedge, grinning. "Doctor says it was theexcitement set him going, and then he couldn't stop hisself. You knowhow he was a bit ago, gentlemen, when he hit out and kicked, andcouldn't help it. "

Roberts nodded. 

"And he did fight wonderful, and never got a scratch. That's what theDoctor said it was, and when he zamined his bandages he found this hereunder his back. "

"That! What is it?" said Drummond, now taking the object and examiningit curiously. 

"His complaint, sir, that kept him bad so long. The bit of iron theDoctor said he dursen't try to get out. It worked out last night in thefight. He's going to get well now. "

It was Roberts's turn now to examine the little ragged scrap ofdiscoloured iron. 

"Seems wonderful, " he said, "that so trifling a thing as that shouldcause so much agony, and bring a man so low. "

"Oh, I dunno, sir, " said Gedge respectfully. "I had a horful toe onceas got bigger and bigger and sorer till I couldn't get a boot on, onlythe sole; and when my leg got as big as a Dan'l Lambert's, some un says, `Why don't you go to the orspital?' he says, sir; and so I did, and assoon as I got there I began to wish I hadn't gone, for there was a loto' doctors looked at it, and they said my leg must come off half-way upmy thigh, but they'd wait a day or two first, and they did; but only thenext morning one of 'em has another good look, and he gets outsomething--just a teeny bit of a nail as had gone into my toe out of myboot. "

"Humph!" said Roberts rather contemptuously. 

"Lor' bless yer, gentlemen, I was 'nother sort o' feller that night, andwas just like Mr Bracy here; hadn't had no proper sleep for weeks, andthere I was at it like one o'clock, going to sleep as you may say allover the place. Shouldn't ha' been here if it hadn't been for thatthere doctor. Wouldn't have had a one-legged un in the ridgiment, sir--would yer?"

"No, " said Roberts, who was leaning over and gazing at his sleepingcomrade curiously. "Yes, he is sleeping as peacefully as a child. Andwhat about you, Gedge?"

"Me, sir? Oh, I'm all right, sir. Bit stiff in the arms with all thatbay'net exercise, and got the skin off one elber with ketching it agenthe wall. Yer see, we'd no room. "

"We've been there this morning, " said Roberts, with a slight shudder. "The woodwork is chipped and cut into splinters, and the sight ishorrible. "

"Well, yus, I s'pose so, sir. It was horrible work, but we was obligedto do it; they'd have cut us all to pieces. Reg'lar butchers--that theyare--and deserved it. Coming on like that at a lot o' poor cripples anda woman, besides the nong-combytant. Savages they are to try and cutdown a doctor who's ready to 'tend to everybody, either side, and tie orsew them up. "

"You're right, Gedge, my lad; they are savages, " said Drummond, pattingthe speaker on the shoulder. 

"Hff! gently, please, sir, " said Gedge, flinching. 

"I beg your pardon. Are you hurt there?" cried Drummond hastily. 

"Oh, all right, sir, " said the lad, grinning; "but you said, `Hurtthere. ' Why, it's all over, sir. There aren't a place as I've foundyet where you could put a finger on without making me squirm. Doctormade me yell like a great calf. But there's nothing broke or cracked, and no fresh holes nowhere. "

"That's a comfort, " said Drummond. 

"Yus; but it aren't very comf'table yet, sir. He says I shall soon bebetter, though. "

"Yes, Gedge, you must regularly lie up till the pain has gone. "

"I mean to, sir, all the time that I can get from tending Mr Bracyhere. I must tend him. "

"You can stay with him; but someone else ought to be sent in. "

"No, sir, please; I can manage. It wouldn't be fair, sir, for some unelse to come in now the gov'nor's getting better. Doctor says I'vesaved his life so fur, and I wants to go on and save his life sofurther. See?"

"Yes, of course, " said Roberts, smiling. "It would not be fair for youto be robbed of the credit of what you have done. "

"Thank ye, sir. That does a chap good, sir. But I beg your pardon, Captain: you see, I'm noo to sojering and fighting. I thought we'd hadit tidy 'ot in the coming up along o' the stone-throwing. Then it was abit warm when Mr Bracy was shot down and I got my bullet. But that wasall like playing skretch-cradle to our set-to last night in the dark. Shall we have it much worse by-and-by?"

"Worse? No, " cried the Captain sharply. "Nothing could be worse thanlast night's work. "

"Oh, come, I'm glad o' that, sir; for arterward, when I begun to cooldown, it seemed to me that if it could be much worse I should begin tothink as sojering might get to be a little bit too strong. "

It was just then that Doctor Morton came in, and for the moment hefrowned; but the angry look passed off after a glance at Bracy. 

"I was afraid you would disturb him, " he said; "but there is no need tomind; he will sleep a great deal for days, till this state of exhaustionhas passed off. My dear boys, what a night we had! I wonder that anyof us are alive. "

"There were some narrow escapes, Doctor, " said Roberts. 

"Awful, awful; and what a morning for me! I feel as if I could do asBracy is doing--sleep for days; but here I am with a terrible load offresh cases on my hands, and my chief nurse turned into a patient--Gee'swife. What a woman! what a woman! She must have descended from theAmazons of old. But there, I must go; I only wanted to see that poorBracy was all right. "

"And you do think he is, Doctor?" said Roberts. 

"Sure of it, sir. He'll be back with his company before long. "

He nodded sharply, and after a word or two with Gedge, who looked tenyears older for his night's work, the room was left for sleep, and theyoung officers hurried off to their several duties. For there was amplework for every one of the defenders, whose loss had, however, beenwonderfully small, the Ghazis having been comparatively helpless aftertheir successful entry, their attacks being repulsed by the bayonet, andthe soldiery for the most part having the advantage of the walls, whiletheir fanatical foes were raging about the court, repulsed at everyattempt to get on close quarters with the infidels they sought todestroy. 

As the morning wore on, and the horrible traces of the deadly fray wererapidly removed by the fatigue-parties set to work, a soft breeze fromthe mountains waited away the heavy clouds of mist, the sun came out, and with it the horrors of the night faded away so rapidly that, had itnot been for the blackened ruins of the fodder-store, it would have beenhard to realise the fact that such a night had been passed. 

Scouting parties went, out in different directions, and returned allwith the same report--that the enemy had disappeared, not a trace ofthem being visible, not even one of the dead or wounded, though theirlosses must have been considerable. That evening a time of perfect restseemed to have descended upon Ghittah, which, by the light of thesinking sun, looked, with its magnificent surroundings of dazzlingsnow-peak, verdant hill, forest, and falling water, orange, golden, andsparkling in the reflections from the glorified sky. 

"Yes, lovely, lovely, " said Colonel Graves sadly, "if one could onlyfeel that we might lie down and sleep in peace. "

"Well, can't we?" said one of the younger officers. "Surely, sir, thishas been such a lesson as the enemy will not forget. "

"Quite right, " said the Colonel; "they will not forget it, nor rest tillthey have had revenge. "

"But look at their losses last night, " said the Major. 

"I do, " replied the Colonel; "but men are plentiful up here in thehills, and they all belong to a fighting race. If they were notfighting with us they would be among themselves, and it is the educationof their boys: being taught to fight. "

"Then you think they'll renew their attacks, sir?" said Roberts. 

"I feel sure of it, and they must find us more upon the _qui vive_ nexttime. I feel ashamed for allowing myself to be such an easy victim totheir cunning _ruse_. "

"Never mind now, " said the Major; "it has furnished us with a finesupply of fresh meat. "

"Yes, " said the Colonel sadly; "but at a heavy cost of wounded men. "

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

AFTER A REST. 

The Colonel was right; there were plenty of men in the hills, and theyall belonged to fighting tribes-men who, whether Moslem or of thevarious sects which inhabited the vast tracts of mountainous countries, looked upon it as a religious duty to cut off every one who believeddifferently, as an infidel or a dog. Many days, then, had not elapsedbefore there was another gathering of the fierce tribes, whose objectwas to secure the fort, with its wealth of arms and ammunition. Butduring the week of respite Colonel Graves and his officers were busyenough. The country round was foraged for stores; and, partly in fear, but as much for the sake of cheating good customers and makingeverything possible out of the people whom they might be helping toslaughter the very next day, a couple of the tribes brought in grain, fodder, and other necessaries largely. 

So the loss incurred by the burning of the store was soon made up, andthe fort was better provisioned than ever, even to being prepared tostand the stern winter when it should leave the hills and descend to thevalleys and plains. 

No despatches had reached the fort for some time past; but the last, inanswer to the Colonel's report of his having relieved the fort, whereall was well, and that he had no doubt of being able to hold it as longas was necessary, bade him go on holding it at any cost, and wait forfurther orders. But if he found reinforcements necessary to give thetribes a severe lesson, he was to communicate with the station in theGhil Valley, whence a Ghoorkha regiment would be immediately despatchedto his help. 

A little council of war was held, in which Colonel Wrayford managed totake part; and, after due consideration, it was decided that the helpwas not required, for the unanimous opinion was that the Ghittah forcecould hold its own, and that they did not need any regiment to come inand carry off part of the laurels they wished to keep for themselves. 

Doctor Morton had probably been the busiest man at the station; for, after the repulse of the night attack, every hospital-bed had beenoccupied, and an additional ward provided; but he had hardly a loss, andhe went about, as Gedge said, "looking as proud as a two-tailed peacockin a 'logical garden. "

Certainly he chuckled and rubbed his hands a great deal over hispatients; and one evening at the mess dinner, when the topic had arisenof the number of men he had sent back to duty cured, and all wererejoicing in the fact, that Bracy--looking thin and careworn, but nowwonderfully well--was back in his place, the Doctor, who was pleased andflattered, became exceedingly confidential, and talked more freely thanwas his wont. 

"There, dear boys, " he said: "I won't be a sham. I've worked hard amongmy cripples, of course, and I'm proud of what I've done. If you want anexample of the powers of surgery, there you are--look at Bracy. He's abetter man than ever now. Look at his condition--hard as a nail. Gotrid of all that superfluous fat. "

"Here, gently, Doctor, " cried Bracy, flushing. "What superfluous fat?"

"All that you got rid of, sir. "

"Why, I've always been thin. "

"You leave me to judge best what you have always been, sir. I know. Come, you'll own that you're well as ever now?"

"Certainly. "

"Be satisfied, then. Well, as I was saying, my dear boys, I'll be quiteopen with you all. I've been wonderfully successful with all my cases--have I not?"

"Wonderfully, " came in a chorus. 

"And frightfully modest, " whispered Drummond. 

"Eh! what is that, Mr Drummond?" cried the Doctor. "I heard what yousaid. Don't you offend me, for you may come under my care some day. Now, then, all of you--wonderfully successful. Yes, Mr Drummond, andmodest too, as you'll own if you'll let me finish my remarks before youstick yourself up as a judge. For I'm going to let the cat out of thebag. "

"Let's have her, Doctor, " cried the younger men merrily. 

"Here she is, then, " said the Doctor. "My colleague. She has done tentimes as much for the wounded as I have. "

"He means Mrs Gee, " said Bracy quietly. "Well, she is a splendidnurse. "

"Ha! what a woman!" said the Colonel. "She is quite well now, Doctor--is she not?"

"Always is, " said the Doctor. "Absolutely perfect. "

"I don't understand you, Doctor. The poor woman suffered a great dealin her daring defence of her patients. "

"Hah! we're playing at cross purposes, " said the Doctor importantly. "You're talking about Mrs Gee. "

"Of course. Weren't you?"

"Pish! Poo! Bah! No. I meant my great help and patroness DameNature. "

"Oh!" ran round the table, in disappointed tones. 

"Yes, gentlemen, " repeated the Doctor; "Dame Nature. She has set all mywounded right again, and put it to my credit. Why, if the poor fellowshad been in stuffy barracks down in the hot plains they'd have died likeflies. But up here, in this wonderfully pure mountain air, all I haveto do is to see that the wounds are carefully bandaged, and cuts andbullet-holes grow up and together again in no time. As for thehill-men, their surgeon seems to be the next man, who operates with abit of rag. "

"And kills or cures at once, " said Roberts, smiling. 

"Exactly, " said the Doctor good-humouredly; "but really it's wonderfulhow Nature does nearly all the work. Well, any news, Colonel?"

"About the enemy?"

"Yes; you've been doing nothing lately, and my last bed was vacatedto-day. "

"I am very sorry that you should be in so low a condition, Doctor, " saidthe Colonel coldly; "but you must understand that I shall do my best tokeep you so. "

"Why, of course, " cried the Doctor. "You don't suppose I want to havethe poor fellows cut or shot down to keep me busy--do you?"

"You spoke as if you did?"

"Then I spoke clumsily, " cried the Doctor. "But tell me--the Dwats arecollecting again--are they not?"

"Yes; they mean to give us no rest. "

"So much the better for the men. Keep 'em active. You boys had anysport to-day?"

"Yes; we got six mountain sheep, " said Roberts. 

"Safe into camp?" said the Doctor eagerly. 

"Oh yes. It was hard work, though; for three of them fell right downinto one of the deepest gorges from the snow-slope on which we shotthem--splendid shots Drummond made after our stalk, he killed with rightand left barrels. My one dropped at the first shot, but sprang up andwas going off again till my second barrel stopped him. "

"Had an awful job to get them out of the gorge and home; but the huntersfetched them out, and we got all safe into quarters. "

"Ha!" cried the Doctor; "I'm glad of that. Splendid gamy meat, thatmountain mutton. Glorious stuff for convalescents. It gives me theheartache when I hear of you leaving lost ones to the wolves andvultures. "

"I quite agree with the Doctor about the quality of the mutton, " saidthe Colonel gravely; "but I'm getting anxious about theseshooting-trips, gentlemen. Your guides belong to one or other of thetribes. "

"Yes, I suppose they do, sir, " said Roberts carelessly. 

"Well, what is to prevent them from leading you some day into a trap, and, instead of the news coming into mess of there being an extra supplyfor the larder, I hear that I am minus two or three of my bestofficers?"

"I don't know about best officers, sir, " said Roberts, laughing; "but Idon't think there is anything to fear. These hill-shikarees are verygenuine fellows, and their intense love of the sport will keep themhonest and true to us. You cannot think how proud they are of leadingus to the quarry if we are successful. "

"I grant all that, " said the Colonel, "knowing as I do what afreemasonry there is in sport, and how clever hunters have a feeling offellowship for men of their own tastes, whatever their religion; but youmust not forget that the hill-tribes are completely under the thumb oftheir Mullahs, and that the will of these priests is the law which theymust obey. Supposing one of these Mullahs to give them orders in theinterest of their tribe, they would lead you into an ambush for acertainty. "

"Oh, Colonel Graves, " cried Drummond, "this is spoiling the onlypleasure we have!"

"I hope not, " said the Colonel, smiling gravely. "Set it down tointerest in my officers' welfare. I only ask you to be careful--well onyour guard--and not to do anything rash. "

"Just as if it was likely that we should do anything rash, " saidDrummond pettishly later on. "I'm sure I'm always as careful as canbe. "

"Always!" said Roberts, laughing, and giving Bracy a peculiar look. 

"Here, I say--what does that mean? You two are chaffing me again. "

"Oh dear, no, " said Bracy. "Our consciences are smiting us for being soreckless, and we're making up our minds to be more careful in future. "

"Yes, as the Colonel suggests, " chimed in Roberts, "and take friendDrummond o' that ilk for our example. "

"Here! Yes, you are chaffing me, " cried Drummond anxiously. "I say, old chaps, though--you don't think I am rash, do you?"

"Rather, " said Roberts. 

"Bosh with your rather! Chaff, because I'm so tall and thin. Bracy, you're not half such a boy as the Captain. You don't think I'm wild andharum-scarum, do you--regularly rash?"

"Well, to speak frankly, "--began Bracy. 

"Of course I want you to be frank, " cried Drummond hastily. "That's whyI like you chaps. "

"Well, then, my dear boy, " said Bracy, "I do think you are about themost rash fellow I ever met. "

"Oh!" cried Drummond, with a look of distrust. 

"You do things that no thoughtful fellow would ever think of doing. "

"I? Come now; when?"

"Over those sheep, then, to-day. I felt quite sick to see you walkalong that shelf of snow, when the slightest slip would have sent youdown headlong a thousand feet on to the jagged rocks below. "

"Yes, it was horrible, " said Roberts. 

Drummond exploded into a tremendous burst of laughter, and sat at lastwiping his eyes. 

"Oh, I say, come. That is good. I like that. Dangerous--made one ofyou feel sick and the other think it was horrible!"

"Well, it's the truth, " said Bracy. 

"And you both came along it afterwards, and we got that magnificentsport. "

"I came along it after you had set the example, " said Bracy quietly. 

"But you are a couple of years older than I am, and ought to knowbetter. "

"I was not going to show the white feather after what you had done. "

"Same here, " said Roberts sharply. 

"Oh, that was it--eh? I was a boy to you, and you wouldn't let me thinkyou daren't. "

"Something of that kind, " said Bracy. 

"Humph!" said Drummond thoughtfully. "I suppose it was dangerous. "

"Of course it was, " replied Bracy. "You saw that the guide wouldn'tventure. "

"Yes; but that made me determined to do it. We can't afford to letthose chaps think we're afraid to go anywhere. Come now--didn't you twothink something of that kind too?"

"Probably, " said Bracy. 

"But it didn't seem dangerous when I was doing it, " cried Drummond. "Inever thought about toppling down, only about getting right across andafter those moufflons. "

"Same here, " said Roberts. 

"Well, I did look down once and think of what might happen, " said Bracy. 

"Ah, that's where you were wrong. Never do that, lad. Keep perfectlycool, and you can get almost anywhere up yonder in the snow. I've gotto be quite a climber since I've been here. "

"Well, I gave myself the credit of being pretty good on ice and snowto-day, " said Bracy, smiling. "I mean pretty well for a cripple. Iwish I had done as well over the shooting. That was a miserable show ofmine. Thanks for not exposing me at the mess. "

"Rubbish!" said Drummond. "Who's going to tell tales out of school? Isay, though, that ice-climbing in the mountains is splendid--isn't it?The more one does the easier it seems. It feels quite cool andcomfortable. "

"Which one can't help feeling on the ice, " said Bracy, laughing. "Butseriously, we are getting pretty good at it up yonder in the snow. "

"Regular climbers, " said Drummond; "and I vote that we do as much of itas we can while our shoes are good. There, don't look at a fellow likethat--your shoes, then, that you gave me. But I didn't mean shoesliterally. I mean before the old man puts a stop to our hunting andclimbing. "

"He soon will, you may depend upon that, " said Roberts. "He's gettingnervous about us all. "

"Because we are such splendid officers, " put in Bracy merrily. 

"Well, we are what he has; and, judging from the way we are shut in andleft by the authorities, he is not likely to get a fresh supply if heloses us. "

"What about the messengers he has sent, Bracy? Think they get throughwith the despatches? I feel sure they do not. Either they are killedor so scared by the dangers they run that they destroy their despatchesand dare not show their faces again. "

"Well, I hope that's not the case, " said Bracy. "I don't want to givethe poor fellows the credit of being treacherous. "

"Like enough it is that, treacherous as we deem it; but they are so muchaccustomed to the tricks and cunning amongst which they have beenbrought up that they look upon such a thing as being very venial--a kindof cleverness by which we, their conquerors are bested. "

"Here, I say, don't get into a dissertation upon the moral character ofthe natives, " cried Drummond, "because there is no end to that. Here, Isay--"

"Say away, " said the others. 

"I've been thinking about what old Graves said as to the shikareesselling us to the enemy. They won't. "

"I hope not, " said Bracy, laying his hand upon his chest. 

"Hullo! What's the matter? Wound hurt?"

"Gives me a stab like that sometimes when the weather is going tochange. We shall have rain, I think. "

"Ha! and that means snow higher up. Hoo-roar! as the lads say. A nicelight coating of fresh snow, and every bear footprint showing clearly. We mustn't miss one. Bear ham is good, and then there are the skins. We shall want 'em in the winter for warm rugs. "

"You mean to stay the winter, then?" said Bracy, laughing. 

"We shall have to; see if we don't. "

"We shall get no bearskins, " said Roberts. "The Colonel will stop ourgoing on account of his uneasiness. I heard him say that we should berunning upon some prowling body of the enemy one of these times, andnever be heard of any more. "

"He doesn't know what he's talking about. Just as if it were likely. They sneak along in the lowest valleys; they never go up among thesnowfields. No one does but the hunters. It's the same as it was inSwitzerland; you never caught the people climbing the mountains till theEnglish taught them, and bribed them to come as carriers. They'd neverhave made the ascent of any of their mountains. I tell you that in ourshooting-trips up yonder we're as safe as we are here. Safer, for thebeggars keep away from there, while here they're lying up in every holeand corner all around. "

"He's about right, " said Roberts thoughtfully; "and, now you're strongenough again, I don't like to lose our trips. We don't get muchpleasure up here. Let's make our hay while the sun shines. "

"Even if it is in the snow, " said Bracy. "Very well; I'm glad enough togo, for the mountain air seems to send fresh vigour through me everytime I climb. "

The result of this was that whenever the way up into the mountains wasclear, and the Dwats who acted as guides to the different hills came inwith news, the young officers had their excursions, and generallyreturned with their men pretty well laden, while the three friendsbecame masters of the district among the heights in a way that suggestedyears of active residence in that silver land. 

There were plenty of alarms, plenty of little encounters with theparties who were always on the lookout to harass the occupants of thefort; but a little extra work for the Doctor and excitement for the men, to keep off the stagnation which threatened them, was all that ensued. 

In the interim the Colonel sent off five more messengers withdespatches, in the hope that they would get through the enemy and bringback letters; but they were seen no more; and the Colonel's face grewmore serious day by day. 

"Thinks the tribes mean to starve us out, " said Roberts one evening whenthe Colonel went away from the table looking more depressed and anxiousthan usual. 

"And they won't, " said Drummond. "Why, there are mountain sheep enoughup yonder to keep us for years. "

"They get more difficult to shoot, though, " said Bracy. 

"Pooh! not they. A few close by are a bit shy; but, look here, when weget right up on the shoulder of that left-hand peak and look north whatdo we see?"

"Mountains, " replied Bracy. 

"And when we were right up on that farthest peak last week, and lookednorth, what did we see then?"

"More mountains. "

"That's it; and you might go on and on for a month, and it would be thesame--more mountains. "

Bracy nodded and looked thoughtful. 

"Yes, " he said at last; "the world's a long way from being played outyet. We can see hundreds of peaks, and the soft blue valleys betweenthem, which I suppose have never been traversed by man. "

"That's right enough, and that's where the wild sheep and goats are justas they always have been, perfectly undisturbed. Thousands--perhapsmillions, without counting the goats and yaks, which look as if theywere a vain brood of beast who try to grow tails like a horse. "

"I suppose you're correct, Drummond, " said Bracy. 

"Of course I am; and if we shoot down all the sheep near at hand onemonth, more will come down from the north next month. "

"Just the same as when you catch a big trout out of a hole at home, another is sure to come within a day or two to take his empty house. "

"Why, they do up here, and the little seer in the river too, " criedDrummond. "I say, I wish this was a bigger and deeper stream, so thatit held the big forty and fifty pound fish. "

"Quite deep and swift enough for us, " said Bracy merrily. 

"Ah, yes, " said Drummond slowly; "I haven't forgotten our going for thatnice long walk. "

"No, " said Roberts; "that was a close shave for all of us. How manymore times are we going to run the gauntlet and not get hit?"

"Hundreds, I hope, " replied Drummond; and Bracy, who was very quiet, thought, by no means for the first time, of his escapes, and of how itwould be at home if a letter reached them some day reporting that one ofthe lieutenants had been checked once for all in his career. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

PERIL IN A POSHTIN. 

Another fortnight passed, during which the officers had a day's shootingas often as they could be spared; and, though the Colonel's face grewmore and more serious he made no further objection to these excursionsso long as they were sensibly carried out, for he had realised howthoroughly the enemy avoided the higher portions of the mountains, thesnow-line being rarely crossed; and when they did break through theirrule, it was only in crossing from one valley to another, and it wasnecessitated by the pass which linked the two being more than usuallyhigh. 

It was a bright, sunny morning, and glasses had been busy in the fort, for certain well-known signs suggested that the day would not passwithout their hearing from the enemy, of whom glances were obtained, first in one well-known locality, then in another, which they seemed toaffect as a matter of course, showing very little disposition to breakout of their regular routine, while one tribe followed in the steps ofanother so closely that it was generally possible to prognosticate wherethe attack would be made, and make arrangements to foil it. 

The officers were chatting together; and in the group where Drummondstood with his friends he started a good grumbling discourse, somethingafter this fashion:

"It's always the case. So sure as I overlook my tackle, and have a goodclean up of the rifles ready for a long day amongst the muttons, some ofthese beggars come and plant themselves just in the way we mean to go. "

"Mr Bracy, " said an orderly, coming up and saluting, "the Colonelwishes to see you. "

"Ha, ha!" laughed Drummond; "it's to tell you that we are not to attempta shoot to-day. Tell him, Bracy, that we had given it up. "

Bracy nodded, and went straight to the Colonel's room, to find himbusily writing. 

He just glanced up and nodded. 

"Sit down, Bracy, " he said, and he went on writing, his table being acouple of bullock-trunks, with a scarlet blanket by way of cover. 

"Enemy are out pretty strong this morning. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Ha! yes. "

There was a pause, filled up by a good deal of scratching of the pen, before the stern-looking officer began again. 

"You are quite strong now, Bracy?" he said at last, without looking up. 

"Never felt better in my life, sir. "

"I said strong, Bracy. "

"Nor stronger, sir. "

"That's right, " said the Colonel, reading over his despatch and crossingi's and dotting i's here and there. 

"Wound trouble you much still?"

"Gives me a sharp sting, sir, at times, back and front; but I alwaysfind that it is when we are going to have a change of weather. "

The Colonel paid no heed, and Bracy added:

"I dare say it will soon pass off, though. "

"It will not, " said the Colonel quietly, and to the young man's dismay. "You will feel it more or less all your life. Yes, " he added, lookingup and smiling, "a twinge to remind you that you were once a braveofficer of the Queen. "

Bracy coughed, for he felt a little husky, and as if he were standingnear a fire. 

"Now, Bracy, business. I cannot go on sending despatch after despatch, none of which reach their destination. Either going or coming, mymessengers have come to a bad end or been unfaithful. "

Bracy made no reply, for none was expected; and the Colonel now lookedup, and, with his hands resting upon the table, gazed full in the youngman's eyes. 

"I want a messenger whom I can trust, " he said, "a man who willundertake the task of delivering my despatch as a duty to his country. There are plenty of good, trusty lads in the regiment. Whom would youselect--the best you know?"

Bracy was silent for a few moments before speaking. 

"I should be sorry to see him go upon so dangerous a mission, sir; butif I had to select a lad in whom I should have perfect confidence, Ishould choose Private Gedge. "

"A very good selection, Bracy; but I want an officer. "

The young man stalled, and drew his breath hard. 

"There is Andrews, or Elder, or Morrison, " continued the Colonel, "orDrummond, of Wrayford's; but he is too volatile. Roberts would be asplendid fellow for the task, for, like Drummond, he is strong amongstice and snow, and my messenger will have to take to the snow nearly allthe way to save being stopped. "

"A wise plan, sir, " said Bracy eagerly; "one that should succeed. "

"I think it will; but my messenger will be face to face with death fromthe hour he starts, doubly facing it--from nature as well as man. But Icannot spare Roberts. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir; you wish me to volunteer. "

"Yes, Bracy, " said the Colonel, holding out his hand, which Bracy caughtin both his. "God bless and protect you, my dear boy! I do. "

"Yes, sir, " said the young man firmly. "I'll go. "

"Not alone. Take that man Gedge with you; he has had little to doamongst the snow, but--"

"Yes, sir; he'll learn anything. When am I to start?"

"As soon as you can be ready. Then, I will clear the way for you bymaking a feint, so that you can make at once for the upper ground. "

"Not by the mountains above the Gor Pass, sir?"

"No; the other direction entirely. You are to make for the Ghil Valley, and bring back the Ghoorkas, Bracy. It is time that we took theoffensive; the enemy must be driven back before the autumn closes in. No; you are going upon an extremely dangerous mission, Bracy; I tell youso frankly. I will be quite open with you. I am sending you upon thishorribly risky journey; but it is as a soldier to risk your life to saveours. "

"To save yours, sir?" said Bracy wonderingly. 

"Surely the fort is quite safe if you act on the defensive. "

"It would be, my dear boy, if we had an ample supply of ammunition. "

Bracy started, and gazed wide-eyed at his Colonel, who had leaned acrossthe table and said these last words almost in a whisper. 

"I am speaking quite openly to you, Bracy--telling you what must be asecret between us two; and I tell you because it is just to one sentupon such a perilous enterprise that he should feel satisfied as to theurgency of the need. "

Bracy made a gesture, but the Colonel checked him. 

"Yes; I know what you would say, " he continued: "that dangerous or no, you would do your duty. I know you would. I have perfect faith in myofficers; but this is a matter of conscience on my side. Bracy, I findthat our ammunition will not last a month. Once that is gone, we are nolonger the superiors of the enemy. The bayonet is a splendid weapon;but these hill-tribes are magnificent swordsmen, and when, many timesoutnumbering us as they do, they come on to a hand-to-hand fight, addingtheir reckless religious fervour to their natural bravery, they mustmaster us in the end; and that means taking the fort, and--you know whatwould follow. "

Bracy bowed his head; he could not speak. 

"An indiscriminate massacres a horrible death to every man and woman inthe place. "

"Horrible, sir, " cried Bracy excitedly. "Oh, Colonel Graves, surelythings are not so bad as you think!"

The Colonel smiled. 

"You ought to know me by this time, Bracy, " he said quietly. "I don'tthink I am a man likely to raise bugbears. "

"No, no, sir! I beg your pardon. "

"That will do, " said the Colonel quietly. "When you leave me, beprepared to start. You must not confide in your nearest friend; goabout your work cheerfully, and as if only to bear a despatch, butconscious the while that our lives here depend upon your success. Youunderstand?"

"Yes, " said Bracy gravely, "I understand; and if I do not bring thehelp, sir, it is because--"

"You have died trying to do your duty to your friends. I know. There, we need no more words, Bracy. Look here. "

He took the despatch from the table and tore it up into bits. 

"Your appearance before the Ghoorka Colonel will be sufficient, and youwill have no alarming announcement upon you if you are taken prisoner. Certainly it would be by people similar to those who are besieging us;but one never knows what soldiers of fortune may be among them, ready tobe summoned by a chief to interpret the message. "

"I understand, sir. "

"Once you are well on the road you must make your companion fullyunderstand the importance of the mission, so that if you go down theremay still be the chance left to us of this man carrying on the news ofour urgent need. "

Bracy nodded shortly and drew a deep breath, waiting for the Colonel tospeak again. 

"As to preparations, " said Colonel Graves at last, "go as you are; butyou will each need a _poshtin_ [long sheepskin coat] to cover yourKharkee uniforms, for concealment and warmth. You will be a great dealamong the snow and rocks, and nothing can be less likely to attractattention. You will take sword, revolver, rifle, and bayonet. See thatGedge carries the same weapons. In addition, take as much simpleprovisions and ammunition as you can carry. "

"And rob you all at such a time of need, sir?"

"The amount you two can carry away in cartridges will not be missed ifit comes to the worst, Bracy, " said the Colonel, smiling. "Once more, are you quite satisfied that you have selected the right lad?"

"A man who will carry his wounded officer, with the enemy firing down athim from both sides of a rocky defile, cannot be bettered, sir, " saidthe young officer quietly. 

"Right, Bracy, " cried the Colonel. "He is the man. Ha! here comesRoberts to announce the advance of the enemy. I could hear thewar-cries. --Yes, Roberts--the rascals worrying us again?"

"Yes, sir; coming down the right gully in strong numbers. Will you comeand look?"

The Colonel picked up his glass and held out his hand. 

"I shall lead the men to-day, Bracy, " he said, "for a change. MajorGraham will be in command here. I shall tell him of your mission. Within an hour I shall depend upon you making your start. "

"Within an hour, sir, " said Bracy, as Roberts looked on in wonder. 

"I have been thinking that a mule would help your journey at the first. What do you think?"

"I think not, sir, " said Bracy quietly. "We should be better free toclimb anywhere. A baggage animal would tie us down to tracks. "

"Quite right. Go as we arranged. --Roberts, " he continued, turning tothe Captain, "Bracy is going to take a despatch for me. He startsdirectly. "

"Directly, sir?" said Roberts, looking aghast. 

"Yes; he has his instructions. You can have half-an-hour with himbefore he starts; but you will ask no questions, only help him in anyway you can to start without delay, while I am keeping the enemy wellemployed at this end of the valley. "

"Yes, sir. "

"After Bracy has started you can bring your company along the uppertrack to act as a reserve, and cover us if it is necessary when weretire. That will do. "

The two officers left the Colonel's quarters and hurried out. 

"My dear boy, " cried Roberts excitedly, "this is horribly sudden. Hadyou any idea of it before this morning?"

"Not the slightest, " said Bracy gravely. 

"Glad of it, for I should have been hurt if you had not told me. "

"But you will not be hurt now? You heard what Graves said. "

"I was not to question you? Yes. Still, you have some confidences tomake?"

"Not one, old fellow. "

"But surely--it is such a risky thing. Oh! it is preposterous; he oughtnot to have sent you. It is like sending a good man and true to hisdeath. "

"The Colonel thinks it best, and I agree with him. As to the risk--isit not risk enough to stay?"

"But Bracy, old fellow, if--"

"If, " said the young man calmly. "Soldiers should not talk to oneanother about the `if. ' Let that be. "

"Tell me this, though: are you satisfied to go?"

"Quite. Help me to get off--"

"I will; but--"

"By being silent, and then putting everything in one good grip of thehand. "

"I see, " he said, accompanying Bracy to his quarters. "Now, what can Ido?"

"Send for Gedge. "

"What for? Surely you have not chosen him for your companion?"

"I have. The Colonel said he could not spare you. "

"Ha! That's better, old fellow. I was beginning to feel horribly setaside. "

"I was to have one of the men for my companion. Can you suggest abetter?"

"No, " said Roberts, and he hurried out to seek the lad, who was standingin line with his fellows of the company, looking gloomy anddiscontented, for the sally-party to follow the Colonel, who was to leadthem himself, did not include "Roberts's lot, " as they were termed. 

"Fall out, Private Gedge, " said Roberts sharply. 

"Didn't hear what I said, did he?" muttered the lad, with an anxiouslook, for he had been growling at what he called the favouritism servedout to some of the companies in choosing them to go out and have thefirst chance of being shot; and this, he told himself, was mutinous. 

But he pulled himself together and stood as erect as a ramrod, waitingfor the next order, which came directly:

"Right face; march!"

And he marched after his Captain, with heart beating heavily, and thensinking deeper and deeper, as he found himself led to the officers'quarters. 

"It's court-martial for a threep'ny-bit, " he muttered. "Next thing 'llbe `Disarm!' and all because I wanted to go and fight. Oh! they arejolly 'ard on us chaps in the ranks. "

"Come in, my lad, " said Roberts, stooping to enter the low door, andGedge's heart went down to its lowest point as he found himself face toface with Bracy. 

"Them two to drop on me!" he thought. "Wouldn't ha' keared if it hadbeen the Major. "

The next moment poor Gedge's heavily plumping heart jumped, as heafterwards expressed it from his boots right up to his throat. 

"Gedge, " said Bracy coldly and quietly, "I am going on a very dangerousmission. "

"Oh, sir, please don't go without me!"

"I have sent for you to say that I have selected you for my companion. "

"Hoo--beg pardon, sir, " cried the lad, turning scarlet. 

"No cheering, no nonsense, no boy's tricks, my lad. This is desperatemen's work. I have chosen you to go with me on a journey of many days, during which we shall suffer terrible hardships. "

"That's right, sir; used to it ever since I was--"

"Silence, man!" said Bracy sternly. "We shall go with our lives in ourhands, and probably never get to our journey's end; but we shall have totry. Now then, if you feel the slightest qualm, speak out honestly, andI will choose some one else. "

"Don't do that, sir, please; but I will speak out honest. I must, whenyou axes me to. "

"Ah!" cried Bracy. 

"I'm strong as a horse again, sir; but sometimes I do get a sorter digin the back, just as if a red-hot iron rod were touching up my woundwhen the bit o' iron--"

"No, no, man, " cried Bracy, laughing. "I mean qualm of dread, orshrinking about running the risk. "

"Oh, that, sir? Not me. Ain't I just as likely to be shot if I stopquiet here? They're allus trying to do it. I gets more sniping thanany chap in the company. "

"Then you will go with me?"

"I just will, sir. Anywheres. "

"Thank you, Gedge. I'll say no more, for I know that you will stick tome like a man. "

"Ha!" ejaculated Gedge, exhaling an enormous amount of pent-up emotion, and drawing his arm across his thickly perspiring brow, while apleasant, contented smile lit up his plain features, as he drew himselfup more stiffly to attention, waiting for orders. 

"Well done, Gedge!" said Roberts softly. --"You've picked the right lad, Bracy. "

Gedge did not move a muscle, but stood as upright as the rifle at hisside, and looking as inanimate, but quite as dangerous, while his twoofficers said a few words in a low tone. The next moment Roberts wentout of the room, and Bracy turned to the lad. 

"We have to carry everything ourselves, and we must take all we canwithout overloading, my lad, for we shall have to climb a great dealamongst the snow. Now, mind this: we have just three-quarters of anhour for preparation. Then we must pass out of the gate. "

Gedge did not move, but stood as if carved out of a block of hardenedputty by the hand of an artistic drill-sergeant; listening, though, withhis ears, which looked preternaturally large from the closeness of theregimental barber's efforts, and seeming to gape. Then he left hisrifle in a corner, and was off. 

The result was that, with five minutes to spare, officer and man, strangely transformed by their thick, woolly overcoats, stood ready inthat room. Haversacks of provisions hung from their broad leatherbands; revolvers balanced dagger-bay'nets from their belts; as muchammunition as they could carry was in their pockets, and necessary oddsand ends were bestowed in satchels. 

"All ready?" said Roberts at last. 

"All ready. Nothing forgotten that I can think of. "

"Then you will start at once. I have warned the men that you are to beallowed to slip out quietly, or they would have cheered you. "

"Thanks, " said Bracy. --"You hear that, Gedge?"

"Yes, sir. "

"You will follow me without a word. "

Gedge's face now looked as if if had been carved in oil-stone, it was sohard, and he made no reply. But mentally he was discoursing vigorouslyin his wild state of excitement, for he could judge of his ownappearance by that of his officer. 

"Just like a couple o' second-hand Robinson Crusoes out of a pantymime, and bound for the North Pole. Talk about a lark. Oh, don't I wish mypoor old mother could see her bee-u-tiful boy!--Poor old chaps! Poorold pardners! Won't they be waxy when they knows I'm gone! Here, blessed if I can get, at my clean pocket-'ankychy, and I wants to shed apurlin' tear for poor old Sergeant Gee. "

"Ready!" came to check the flow of Gedge's thoughts, and, picking up hisrifle, the fellow to that placed ready for Bracy, he stepped out intothe court, to find all the men left in the fort gathered to see themstart, for the news was every one's property now; and as they marchedtowards the gates there was a low murmur, but no man stirred. 

It was different, though, with the women; though here, too, all was donein silence. Officers' wives stepped forward to press Bracy's hands, with the tears standing in their eyes, and many a "God-speed!" wasmurmured in the ears of both. 

"But no one shakes a hand with me, " said Gedge sadly to himself; andthen, "Well, I'm blessed!"

For Sergeant Gee was on one side of him to lay a hand upon his shoulder. 

"Good-bye, Gedge, " he said in his harsh, uncompromising way; "you'llstick to your officer like a brave lad, I know. "

"Thank ye, Sergeant; and same to you, " growled Gedge; and then the tearsstood in his eyes, for Mrs Gee had hold of his unoccupied hand, topress it hard, with a grip, in fact, like a man's. 

"Here, " she said, taking a small, flat, black packet from her breast, and Gedge saw that it was envelope-shaped, but home-made in oil-skin, and instead of being adhesive; there was a neat button and buttonhole. "Put that in your breast-pocket, my boy, " she said, "and never part withit. Bandages, oiled silk, needles and thread, and a pair o' scissors. And mind this: plug a bullet-hole directly; and whatever you do, cleanwater, and lots of it, for all wounds. "

"Thank ye, missus. "

"For you and Mr Bracy too. There, Bill Gedge, you're a brave lad, andI'll kiss you for your mother's sake, in case you don't come back; andif ever I return to England I'll write and tell the Queen how her braveboys are always ready to do or die, though I know she won't get myletter if I do. "

The men nearly disobeyed orders when Mrs Gee took hold of Gedge by hiswoolly _poshtin_ and gave him a sounding kiss first on one cheek andthen on the other, but they forbore; and the brave lad's eyes verynearly brimmed over the next moment, for, leaving Bracy, now on his wayto the gate, the officers' ladies crowded round Gedge and shook hands, two dying to thrust upon him packages of what would have been luxuriesto them in nights to come; but he was obliged to shake his head, for hewas already laden to the fullest extent. 

"Now, Gedge!" came from the gate, and the next minute it had been openedand closed after two bulky, stooping figures, who, with rifles at thetrail, started off in Indian file along the track by the river-side, making for the upper portion of the valley, but without uttering a word. 

Their ears were listening, though, to the sounds of firing in thedistance, the reports of many pieces coming reverberating out of thechasm-like rift leading south. Their eyes, too, were as much upon thealert as those of some timid animal whose life depends upon itswatchfulness from day to day, existing, as it does, in the midst ofnumberless enemies, who look upon it as their natural prey. 

But though their rolling eyes scanned every spot familiar, from longexperience, as the lurking-place; of an enemy, there was not a glimpseof a white coat nor the gleam of a polished weapon to be seen. At thesame time, careful watch was kept upon the track they traversed everytime it opened out sufficiently for a forward glance of any extent, andthe heavy, matter-of-fact, hill-country-looking pair had nearly reacheda spot from whence a good view of the fort could be obtained before aword was spoken. 

Then the silence was broken by Bracy, who said abruptly:

"Don't look back, my lad. "

"No, sir, " came promptly from the front. 

"Our lookout is forward from this hour till the time we bring back helpto those we leave behind. "

Gedge was silent, and kept on the watch, as, with rounded shoulders andcamelled back, he planted his puttee-bandaged legs in the safest partsof the rugged track. 

"Well, don't you want to know where we're going?"

"Yus, sir; 'orrid. "

"Over the mountains to bring back a Ghoorka regiment, my lad. "

"Right, sir. "

"And by the hardest way we can find. "

"Something like them ways over the snow, like you goes for the bears andsheep, sir?"

"Yes: and harder ways still, Gedge: for to meet any of the people maymean--"

Bracy paused, and Gedge waited for him to end his sentence. But hewaited in vain, till he was tired, and then finished it to himself, andin the way he liked best. 

"May mean, " he said, and then paused--"having to put bullets throughsome o' these savage savages, for I'm blest if I'm going to let 'em havethe first shot at us. Yes, " he added, "savages; that's what's abouttheir size. I never see such beasts. Yes, that's what they are--wildbeasts. I don't call such things men. The best of it is, they thinksthey're so precious religious, and sticks theirselves up to pray everymorning and every night, I'm blest!--praying!--and often as not withtheir knives and swords! Ugh! and phew! My word! it's warm walking inthese here coats. Wish I hadn't got mine. "

Is thought electric, or magnetic, or telepathic, or scientific, some wayor another, that so often it is communicated from one person to anotherfree of cost, and without a form, or boy to leave it, and wait for ananswer? Certainly it was in that, clear mountain air, which blew softlyamong the cedars in the valley, coming off the clear ice and dazzlingsnow from one side, getting warmed in hot sunshine, and then rising upthe mighty slopes on the other side, to grow from pure transparency, inits vast distance and extent, to be of a wonderfully deliciousamethystine blue. 

Anyhow, Gedge had no sooner given himself his opinions about the heatengendered by walking in a thick, sheepskin coat than Bracy said:

"Find the _poshtin_ hot, Gedge?"

"'Ot ain't the word for it, sir, " was the reply. "I ain't quite surewhether it's me, or whether they didn't scrape the fat off proper whenthey tanned the skin, sir; but something's running. "

"Steady down, then. It is very warm here among the cedars; but theyhide us from the enemy, my lad. As soon as we begin to climb we shallbe getting out of summer into winter; and by the time it's dark, and welie down to sleep, we shall think it would be pleasanter if we had twoapiece. "

"Shall us, sir? Well, you know, sir; but all this caps me. Here weare, as you say, in summer, and we've on'y got to climb up one o' themmountains and there we are in winter. They say it freezes there everynight. "

"Quite right, Gedge. "

"But all the snow melts away some time in the year?"

"Never, my lad. Up there before you, where the sun shines on thoseglorious peaks, it is eternal winter, only that there is so much meltingin the hottest parts of the day. "

"To make the rivers, sir?"

"Of course!"

"And the rain helps when they're all in the clouds up there, I suppose, sir?"

"Rain!" said Bracy, laughing; "there is no rain there, my lad; when theclouds discharge their burden it is in the form of snow. But now, silence once more. The less we talk the better till we are among thesnow, for at any moment we may be walking into a trap. "

"Like we did, sir, when you three gentlemen come and whistled us fromthe side o' them falls?"

"Yes. "

"Well, we don't want none o' that sort o' thing, sir, or we shall neverbe bringing that ridgement back. "

"Right. Now you see the necessity for taking to the snow where thehill-men rarely climb. "

"Yus, sir, going; but what about coming back?"

"The same, or a nearer way. "

"But with a ridgement, sir?"

"Oh yes; the Ghoorkhas will go anywhere if they are told. "

"So'll us, " said Gedge to himself; and then, with a word or two at timesfrom behind, he trudged on and on towards the mighty snowfields, butever with his eyes on the lookout for the danger--keen knife, tulwar, matchlock, ball, or spear--invisible so far, but which at any momentmight be so near. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

FIRST CHECKS. 

The last echoes of the distant firing had quite died out; the windingsof the river valley had long enough hidden away the mountainous hillswhich surrounded the fort; and far below where they slowly toiled alongthe faintly-marked track, worn where there was pasture by the feet ofthe mountain sheep, the river rushed, torrent-like, along in a greatlynarrowed bed, whose perpendicular shrub and fern decked sides hid itsleaping and tearing waters from the travellers' gaze. At rare intervalsthe river made a plunge over some mighty rock and flashed into sight, though its position was often revealed by a cloud of spray, which roselike steam into the sunshine, to become brilliant with an iris which, rainbow-like, spanned the falls. 

The ascent had been gradual but marked, for, though trees were inabundance, rising in clumps of spires, their tops were well below theadventurers, while, where they trod, the forest was dwarfed andscrub-like, but thick enough to greatly hinder their advance. 

Hardly a word had been spoken for hours, during which the watchfulnessobserved had been painful, especially when they had crept along undercover by three lateral valleys, familiar to both as the roads by whichthe enemy had approached for their attacks, one to the east being thatmade unenviable by the terrible adventure when they had received theirwounds. 

The passing of the mouths of these gorges was a crucial task, from itsbeing almost a certainty that part of one or the other of the tribeswould be, stationed there. But the slow approaches and all the cautionexercised, as far as Bracy could judge, were waste of energy: not anenemy was seen, and when, twice over, rifles were brought to the ready, and their bearers stood prepared to fire at the foe rustling along amongthe low growth and tangle, it was to find, to their great relief, thatthe alarm was caused in the first instance by goat-like sheep, and inthe other by a bear, which had been feasting upon the berries growinglow down the cliff towards the hidden torrent. 

The sun was long past the meridian, and, in spite, of the height, theirshut-in position made the breathless valley seem hotter than ever, whilethe thorny nature of the low growth hindered them so much that at lastBracy had hard work to force his way through a tangled mass, whosethorny hooks clung to the _poshtin_ he was wearing, and kept on robbingit of its wool. This brought them to a standstill, and Gedge, who hadjust freed himself from similar hindrances, stepped back, with hisdagger-like bayonet in his hand, with which he delivered a few sharpcuts, and Bracy struggled out. 

"Ha!" he said; "that's better. "

"Yus, sir; these are handier tools than the old-fashioned bay'nets; butwhat we ought to have had was a couple o' those pretty, bill-hookyblades the Ghoorkha boys use. They'd make short work of briars andbrambles and things. Toothpicks, our lads calls 'em; and the littlefellows the Toothpick Brigade. --Tired, sir?"

"Terribly!" said Bracy. "This is awful going; but we shall be out ofthe wood before many hours have passed. We might have avoided this bystriking up to the left, but I felt that it was not safe. Better beslow and sure. Look, my lad, it is more open yonder, and seems like away down to the torrent. We've earned a rest, and we must have one. Let's get down to where we can reach water, and lighten our load bymaking a meal. "

Gedge's eyes sparkled, and he led on at once, reaching at the end ofsome hundred paces a sharp slope, which showed traces of the moss andferns having been trampled down, while twigs were broken here and there, some being left hanging, and others snapped sharp off!

"People been along here, Gedge, " said Bracy, taking suspicious notice ofthe signs around. 

"No, sir, I think not, " said the lad, whose keen eyes were busy. "Ishould say it was only goats. Pst!"

Gedge had been speaking in a low tone, but the "Pst!" was sharplydistinct, and had its effect. For in an instant there was a rush, andsomething brown came into sight, making the adventurers present theirrifles in the full belief that they were about to be face to face withan enemy. But the next moment the object rose up to peer over thebushes and all around, proving to be a great brown bear, whose little, pig-like eyes flashed and glistened as it scanned the place, lookingwonderfully human in its actions as it balanced itself upon itshind-legs, its fore-legs hanging half raised on either side, till itcaught sight of the disturbers of its solitude, when it uttered agrowling grunt, dropped down on all-fours again, and dashed up the slopetowards the mountains. 

"Might easily have shot him, sir, " said Gedge as the sounds of thebreaking twigs died out. 

"Easily, " said Bracy; "but we have as much as we can carry now, and--Hark!"

Gedge was already listening, for, from up in the direction taken by thebear--which, unfortunately, was the continuation of their route--thereport of a gun rang out, followed by another and another. Then therewas a burst of exultant shouts, and the pair drew back more intoshelter. 

"They've hit him, whoever they are, sir, " whispered Gedge excitedly:"and they'll be along here direckly. Which way will you go, sir? Wecan't go that. "

"Away towards the water, my lad, " said Bracy, quickly. "They're comingdown to reach the fort. "

He led the way himself now, following the easier portions of the slope, and when close to where the now narrow river came thundering down, heplunged in amongst a chaos of creeper and fern hung rocks, down in ahollow of which they sank into a kneeling position, crouching low andwaiting. 

"Well hidden, are we not, Gedge?" whispered Bracy. 

"Splendid, sir. Couldn't see us 'less they was close to, and if we keptour heads down they'd take us then for sheep. "

"And fire at us. "

"They'd better not!" growled Gedge. "But, say, sir, as we're restingmightn't we just as well have a bite?"

"Could you eat now?" whispered Bracy. 

"Could I eat now, sir?" said the lad wonderingly. "It's couldn't I eat!My! If you only knew what I've been feeling ever since dinner-time youwouldn't ask that. "

"Go on, then, " said Bracy, and as he listened he saw his companion takea packet of bread and meat from his haversack and begin to munch, whenthe sight of the food so woke him up to the state of his own appetitethat he opened his wallet, drew out some hastily-cut mutton andbread-cake sandwiches, and went on eating till there was the sound ofvoices close at hand, followed by the rustling of leaf and twig, withthe dull tramp of soft feet telling that a large body of men werepassing in Indian file, talking loudly; but the hidden pair were wellconcealed and satisfied that they were perfectly safe, till all at oncea voice was raised, and they heard the word "Water" uttered in the Dwatdialect. 

There was an eager buzz of voices at this, and instead of continuingtheir course the party clustered together, and, to Bracy's horror, beganto descend the sharp slope as if coming right upon their hiding-place, but turning off by one of the bigger rocks, and rapidly crushing throughthe thin shrubs and ferns so close that Bracy, as he lay there, couldhave touched one man by stretching out the barrel of his rifle. 

For the next ten minutes the position was agonising, the men coming andgoing, and even the noise they made in drinking just below was plainlyheard; while Bracy, as he cowered down among the ferns, felt that it wasimpossible for them to escape the observation of the keen-eyedmountaineers. 

But still the discovery was deferred; and, as the drinking went on, agleam or two of hope illumined the position, but only to be dampedagain, and Bracy held his revolver ready, for there was a suddenmovement on the part of one of the men, whose sword and shield seemed tobe of a superior type, like his cotton clothes and the turban he wore. 

It was as if this man had just caught sight of them, and, his curiositybeing excited, he came straight on, drawing his keen tulwar and strikingwith if to right and left so as to clear the way towards the rocks, hiseyes seeming to be fixed upon those of Bracy, who slightly raised themuzzle of his revolver, his finger resting upon the trigger. 

Probably never was man nearer to his death, for the slightest additionalpressure of the young officer's finger would have sent a bullet crashingthrough the man's breast, as he came on till almost within touch, whenhe suddenly turned round, and seated himself upon a mossy rock just infront, his broad back, in its loose while cotton garb, effectuallyhiding the fugitives from the men going up and down. 

Bracy felt as if he would have given anything to have been able to uttera low "Hah!" of relief, as he breathed long and heavily, instead ofcrouching there nearly suffocated by holding it back; for he knew thatthe slightest movement, the faintest sound, must result in the man, evidently the leader, turning sharply, sword in hand, to discover thepair lying so close. 

"I should have a bullet through him 'fore he could lift his sword, " saidGedge to himself; "but what's the good o' that? Twenty or thirty wouldbe upon us before we could get away, and a nice condition we're in forthat! Why, I feel like a fat sheep at Christmas. Couldn't run if Iwanted to, and I don't, 'less he runs fust, and he won't, I know. Knowhim too well. "

Bracy's thoughts were many as he crouched there. He wanted to feeldecisive; but the weary walk, heavily-laden as he was, had dulled hisbrain a little, and he could not come to a conclusion as to whether itwould not be best to take the initiative and attack at once, trusting totheir sudden appearance and the shots they could be creating a panic;for it was not likely that the enemy would imagine such an attack wouldbe made unless by a force at least equal to their own. 

The idea was tempting; but, on the other hand, it seemed madness to makeso wild a venture; and he was giving it up, when they were both startledby half-a-dozen of the party who were going and coming stopping shortjust in front of their leader, to begin taking out some blackish-lookingcakes. Then others beginning to join them, they looked round, and acouple of the party pointed to the rocks behind which Bracy and Gedgewere hidden. 

That was fatal, and from the movement which followed it was evident thatthey were about to make this their resting-place. 

At the same moment Gedge's hand stole forward and touched his leader'sarm, when Bracy softly turned his head, to see his follower holding hisrevolver in his right hand, signing as if asking should he use it. 

Bracy did not delay his silent reply, for, quick as lightning, he hadrealised that in another few moments they would be forced to fight indefence, and that it was far better to take the initiative and make theenemy believe that they had fallen into an ambuscade. He gave a shortnod, raised his own revolver, glanced at Gedge to see that he was ready, and then roared at the top of his voice:

"Fire!"

Gedge's shot followed his sharply, and then in rapid succession theyfired again and again till a dozen bullets had gone hurtling over theirsheltering rock amongst the trees, and then, springing up, they fixedbayonets with a rattle, and stood ready to fire again; but not an enemywas visible to charge or be shot down. 

For at the word "Fire!" the chief had made a sudden bound from thestone, upon which he had sat, and rushed at his men, who turned and fledat full speed away in the direction from which our adventurers had come:and for the next few minutes Bracy and Gedge stood listening as theyrecharged their revolvers, hearing the distant crackling and rustling ofleaf and twig till all was still. 

"Think they'll rally, Gedge?" said Bracy at last. 

"Not them, sir: it was too much of a scare, and so sudden. It's hardwork to start these beggars running, but once you do get 'em on the moveit's twice as hard to stop 'em. "

"You are right, " said Bracy quietly. 

"They'll go on till they come upon the next lot o' their pardners, andthen they'll tell 'em they were attacked by two whole ridgements, andshow their wounds, if they've got any. Don't think I hit one, sir. Didyou?"

"I did not even try to, " said Bracy. "I only thought of firing asquickly as I could. Now, then, a drink of water apiece, and forward. We can't stop to rest, but must eat as we go. "

They hurried down in turn to where the tribes-men had refreshedthemselves, each watching while the other drank hastily, and remountedto the track; after which, food in hand, they were about to recommencetheir journey, when Gedge started. 

"What is it?" said Bracy quickly. 

"One on 'em down, sir. Didn't think we had hit any of 'em, but yonder'sone lying among the bushes. "

"Yes, " said Bracy; "perfectly still. I saw and covered him while youwere drinking, and was going to see if he is dead as we went by, in casehe might be only wounded, and dangerous. "

"Pouf!"

"What is it?" said Bracy wonderingly, for Gedge had broken into a quietlittle laugh. 

"It's the bear they shot, sir, and brought into camp with 'em. Won'tcome back to fetch it--will they?"

"We will not stop to see, " said Bracy quietly. "Now, forward oncemore. "

Their path took them by the dead bear, whose paws were bound togetherwith twigs, and a freshly-cut pole was thrust through, showing how thetrophy had been borne so far. The next minute the pair were steadilyclimbing again, and finding by degrees that, though the slope increased, the way was less cumbered with dense growth, so that the advance waseasier; while as the sun sank lower a gentle breeze sprang up to refreshthem, making Gedge stretch out and increase the pace, in spite of thepath growing more steep. 

"Don't think they're after us--do you, sir?" said the lad at last, asthey trudged on, watching the gradual ascent of a shadow on one of thehills in front. 

"No; I think we succeeded in our scare. "

"Because it makes a lot o' difference, sir. "

"I don't understand you, " said Bracy. 

"We've a lot to do to-morrow, sir; and while it's dark I s'pose you'llbivvywack. "

"I shall keep on till it's too dark to see, my lad, " said Bracy, "andthen we must sleep till it is light enough to see, and go on again. Iwant to get twenty-four hours' walking between us and the fort. "

"Exactly, sir. Be safer then. "

"Perhaps, " said Bracy, smiling grimly. 

"O' course, sir, " said Gedge sharply; "but I was thinking aboutto-night. Is it to be watch and watch, sir--one on dooty, t'other off. "

"No; our work will be too hard for that, Gedge, " replied Bracy. "Wemust have as many hours' heavy sleep as we can, or we shall never get tothe Ghil Valley. The work to-day has been play to some of the climbingwe shall have. "

"Yus, sir; I s'pose so, " said Gedge cheerily; "lot o' uphill, o'course. "

"Up mountain, my lad. "

"Yus, sir; only got in the way o' calling all these snow-pynts hills;but it'll be very fine; and after getting up one there must be somedownhill on the other side. Do you know, sir, I've been reg'larlonging, like, ever since we come here, to go up a mountain--a reg'larbig one; but I didn't think I should ever have the chance, and here itis come. "

Instead of rapidly growing darker a glorious sunset lit up cloud andmountain, till the peaks literally blazed and flashed with the coloursof the various precious stones, wondrously magnified, till theever-changing scene rose higher, fading rapidly, and only a few pointsburned as before. Then, in a minute, all was grey, and a peculiar senseof cold tempered the climbers' brows. 

"We shall just have time to reach that great patch of firs, Gedge, " saidBracy; "yonder, this side of the snow. "

"Right, sir, I see; but it's a good two mile away. "

"Surely not, " said Bracy sceptically. 

"'Tis, sir, " persisted the man. "Distances is precious deceiving. "

They kept on, with the gloom darkening rapidly now in the valleys, andthe peaks in the distance standing up of a ghastly grey; while Gedgeshook his head and said to himself:

"Gov'nor ought to know; but it 'll be dark 'fore we get there. "

The next minute Gedge was looking in wonder at the peculiar rosy glowwhich suddenly began to suffuse the great mountain. The chilly greydied out and the ruddy glow grew richer and brighter for a time, whilethe sky in the west seemed to be blazing and as if the glow were beingdragged backward, to aid the weary messengers till they could reach thefir-tree forest that was to form their camp. 

"Think there's a tremenjus fire somewhere, sir?" said Gedge at last. 

"No; it is only what people call the Alpenglow, " said Bracy softly, forthe wondrous beauty of the scene impressed him. "It will soon die outagain, but it will help us on our way: for you were right, Gedge; thatpatch of trees was fully two miles from where we stood, and we have allour work cut out to reach it before dark. If we cannot we must shelterbeneath the first wind-screen of rock we can find. What about yoursheepskin coat? Is it too hot?"

"Not a bit, sir; I'm cooling down fast; and, I say, there goes the lastof the light. Shall we get to the wood?"

"I'm afraid not, " said Bracy. "Look to the left, and I'll look to theright. We'll stop at the most likely spot we see. "

"Don't, sir. I can keep my eye on that tall tree that goes up like aspike, and hit it if it gets twice as dark. Wind feels cool now;by-and-by it'll be like ice up here. Hadn't we better get right, intoshelter?"

"Go on, then, my lad. I was thinking of you. "

"Then don't, please, sir; I can keep on as long as you. "

The next minute--it seemed so close--the stars were shining brightly outof the deep purple sky, and it was as if their coming brought on acooler breath of wind, which Gedge suggested had a sniff of frost in it. But they had no time for conversation; and, making a final effort toovercome their weariness, they pressed on till it had grown so dark thatthey felt that it would be hopeless to persevere, for the forest couldnot be readied. The next minute the darkness was profound; they were nolonger stumbling along a stony way, but passing silently over a thickcarpet of fir-needles; the sky was blotted out as if by a dense blackcloud; and there was a strange humming overhead as of the sea upon theshore. For they had unwittingly reached and plunged into the forestwhen giving it up in despair. 

"Mind the trees, sir, " said Gedge warningly. "I've just ketched myselfan awful rap. "

"Feel your way with your rifle, " said Bracy hoarsely. "We need only goa little farther, so as to be well in shelter. "

So, after cautiously advancing about a hundred yards, feeling their wayfrom trunk to trunk, they stopped short beneath one of the largesttrees, and sank down amongst the fir-needles. 

"Shall I make a fire, sir?" said Gedge; "here's heaps of wood as 'llburn like hoorrah. "

"Fire! Are you mad?" cried Bracy. 

"No, sir; but I was feared you'd be cold. "

"No fire, and no watch, my lad, " said Bracy. "It would be impossiblefor any one to find us here. Make the best meal you can in the dark;then take out your revolver, and lie down with it in your hand, as Ishall. You must sleep as hard as you like till daybreak. Think youcan?"

Gedge said something indistinctly, for he had begun eating, but tenminutes later his voice sounded clear again. 

"Likely to be any bears, sir?" he said. 

"Very likely, " replied Bracy. "If one comes supper-hunting he'll wakeus by pawing us about and sniffing. Use your revolver then, only makesure of his head. Good-night, my lad. "

"Good-night, sir, " said Gedge, snuggling himself as close as he could, and nestling among the fir-needles. "Here, " he muttered; "and I wasgrumbling because I had to carry this here coat. Why, it's a patentfeather-bed, wool mattress, and blankets, all in one. Scrumptious!--Howmy trotters aches!--And if one comes supper-hunting he'll wake us bypawing us about and sniffing. `Use your revolver then, only make sureof his head, ' he says. Just as if I was going to fire at his tail! Isay, though, have bears got tails? I never see one at the 'LogicalGardens as had--and it don't matter now. Well, this here is a change, and--and--"

The next muttered word somehow stretched itself out thin, and into along deep-sighing breath, which seemed to be the echo of another closeat hand, and to have nothing to do with the cool breeze which rushedthrough the pines, making that soft peculiar sound as of the seabreaking upon a sandy shore; for the two adventurers, relieved of theirloads, and tightly buttoned up in their _poshtins_, were sleeping thesleep of the weary through that long night, undisturbed by enemy, wildbeast, or dream. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

HUMAN STALKING. 

"Eh? Yes, sir. All right, sir? I'm awake. Didn't know it was my turnto-night. "

"It is morning, Gedge, " said Bracy as he bent over his companion, whoseface was just visible in the faint grey light which seemed to becreeping in beneath the fir-boughs. 

"My word, sir, so it is! I thought I was being called for sentry-go. Nights seems precious short up here in the hills. " Bracy laughed. 

"Oh no, " he said; "we've had a good long rest. Now, then. We must haveour wash at the first stream we come to. Let's get on at once. "

"Ready in a jiffy, sir. Seems a pity, though, not to have ourbreakfast, first. "

"Why?" said Bracy sharply as he slung on his haversack. 

"Such a nice lot o' dry wood to make a fire, sir. "

"To make tea or coffee, or to boil eggs, my lad?" said Bracy. 

"Think o' that, now! I forgot, sir. Seemed to come nat'ral for me toget your breakfast ready, sir. Think o' that. "

In two minutes Gedge was as ready as his officer, and he finished off byshaking and beating the fir-needles off his _poshtin_, and stroking hisvery short hair down first with one hand and then with the other, so asto look as respectable and smart as he could when going on what hecalled parade. 

"Forward!" said Bracy suddenly. "We'll halt at the edge of the forest, and have a good reconnoitre, though it is not light enough for us to seefar. "

Bracy was quite right; for as they cautiously advanced to the open theycould see very little but the tall pyramidal peaks here and there, oneof which stood out more clearly than the others, and served as afamiliar landmark by which to steer for that day's journey, anotherwhich Bracy had noted on the previous evening being set down as to besomewhere about the end of their second day's march; but it was notvisible yet, a pile of clouds in its direction being all that could beseen. 

"Right. Forward!" said Bracy as he finished his careful look round. "Two hours' good walk in this cool air, and then breakfast. To-morrowwe must begin to look out for anything that will serve for our futuremeals, and use our rifles. "

"Not try at any of the villages?"

"Villages!" said Bracy, smiling. "By that time we shall be far aboveany villages, and up amongst the snow. "

"Right, sir; all the same to me. I love a bit o' sport, though I nevergot no farther at home than rats. "

"Talk lower, " said Bracy. "Sound travels far when everything is sostill. "

Striking to the right now, and keeping near the deep gully along whichthe river ran, Bracy sought for a spot where they could cross to the farside, and before long they came upon a rock-strewn part opposite towhere another of the several streams joined it from the east. Here, with a little careful balancing and stepping from stone to stone, theyhad not much difficulty in crossing to the other side; where, the minoraffluent being also crossed, their course was directed up its right bankto the north and east. The side of the little ravine being surmounted, a far wider scope of view was obtained, the mountain before hidden inclouds now showing its crest in the coming sun; and, satisfied as to thecourse he was to take, and marking it down by the little pocket-compasshe carried, Bracy pointed to a sheltered spot amongst some scrub pine, and a halt was made for a short time for the promised breakfast. 

Nothing could have been more simple, nothing more delicious. For theglorious mountain air gave a wonderful zest to everything; and in abouta quarter of an hour they were ready to resume their journey, refreshed, in high spirits, and with their task in the bright morning sunshine, which glorified the wondrous panorama of snow-peaks, seeming to assumethe aspect of a holiday trip. 

"I'll take one look round first, " said Bracy, "in case our friends ofyesterday are anywhere upon our track;" and, before exposing himself, hedrew out the little glass he had brought, and swept the sides of thevalley they had ascended, then slowly turned his glass upon the ridgethey had gained, following it to where it joined the main valley, andafterwards turned from the varied panorama of grassy upland forest androck, over the boundary-line to where to his right all was snow--purewhite snow, which looked deliciously soft, and sparked with a millionrays. 

"All seems clear, Gedge, " he said at last. "So let us start. That isto be our resting-place to-night, or as near to it as we can get. "

"That mountain with a big point and a little un, sir?"

"Yes. "

"Don't seem half a day's journey, sir. Everything's so clear thatthings look close to yer. But I know better now. Ready, sir?"

"We'll keep a little to the left, so as to get nearer to the snow, andwhere it seems easy walking we'll take to it; but for the most part Ishall keep to the division-line between the snow and the scrubby growth. It will be rough travelling; but we shall not have to cut our waythrough briars. I'll lead now. Forward!"

They started at once, and soon found the journeying far more rough thaneither could have imagined, for what had looked in the distance a pebblytrack was a slope burdened with blocks of shaley rock, which yielded totheir tread, and slipped and rattled to such an extent that Bracy wasglad to strike off higher still, towards the snow, which ran up in abeautiful curve towards one of the nearest mountains, round whoseshoulder they could make a cut which would bring them out miles nearertheir goal. 

At the end of a couple of miles the bottom of the snow-slope wasreached, and the line of demarcation was boldly marked, the flattened, broken stones ending at once, so that the leader stepped directly uponthe dazzling crystals, which filled in all the little rifts and hollows, and treacherously promised smooth, easy going for miles. But Bracy wasundeceived at the first step, for he plunged his leg to the knee ingranular snow, as yielding and incoherent as so much sand. Withdrawingit, he walked on a few steps and tried again, to find the frozenparticles just as yielding; while Gedge had the same experience. 

"Not much chance o' sliding and skating over this stuff, sir, " he cried. 

"No. It is impossible. We should be done up at the end of a mile. Wemust keep to the rocks and stones. "

Bracy was looking wistfully at the soft, tempting-looking expanse, whena quick movement on Gedge's part took his attention. 

"What is it?" he asked. 

"Didn't you say we must soon be thinking of shooting something forrations?"

"Yes. But it is too soon yet. We don't want anything more to carry. But what can you see?"

"Looks like a drove o' somethings, sir--goats, I think--right across thesnow yonder, where there's a dark mark like rocks. I can't quite make'em out; for I dessay it's a couple o' miles away; but it's moving. "

"Wait a moment, " said Bracy; and he got out his glass, set the butt ofhis rifle on a stone, and rested the glass on the muzzle, so as to get asteady look. 

"I see nothing, " he said--"nothing but field after field of snow, with afew rocky ridges; and beyond them, rocks again, a long slope, and--Yes, I see now. Why, Gedge, man, there must be a couple of hundred. "

"Well, sir, we don't want 'em, " said Gedge, on the fox and grapesprinciple; "and goat's meat's awful strong, no matter how you cook it. "

"Goats? Nonsense! Armed men, Gedge, for I could see the flashing ofthe sunshine off their weapons. "

"Phee-ew!" whistled Gedge. "See us, sir?"

"I hope not. But they are going in a direction which will take themright across our road just at the same time as we reach the spot. "

"That's awk'ard, sir. But I thought we'd been getting high up herebecause there'd be no people to hinder us. "

"So I thought, my lad; but this is an exception. These people arecrossing the mountain-passes, possibly to join the tribes besieging thefort. "

"And what about them yonder?" said Gedge, nodding to the right. 

"What! You don't mean to say that you can see more in that direction?"

As Bracy spoke he snatched out the glass he was replacing, and held ithalf-way to his eyes, for he did not need it. The object seen was tooplain against the sky-line, where a few tiny figures could be seen, andtrailing down a slope from them towards the east was a long, white, irregular line, which the glass directly after proved to be a strongbody of followers. 

"Same sort, sir?" said Gedge coolly. 

"Yes; going as if to cut us off. Gedge, we must start back into thelittle valley, and follow it up, so as to get into another. It meansmiles more to tramp; but we can do nothing in this direction. "

"Right, sir. When you're ready. "

"But we can't walk right away, for these last would see us. We mustcrawl for a few yards to those rocks below there. "

The next minute they were on all-fours, crawling from stone to stone--alaborious task, laden as they were; but, short as the distance was, theyhad not half-covered it before Bracy whispered sharply:

"Flat down. Perhaps they have not seen us. "

"Not they, sir. They were too far off. "

"Hush! Don't you see--right in front, four or five hundred yards away--those four men stalking us? Why, Gedge, they see our coats as we crawl, and are taking us for sheep. "

"Ah-h!" ejaculated Gedge, as for the first time he realised the freshdanger threatening them, in the shape of a little party, evidentlycoming from the direction of their last night's resting-place. As hesaw that one of them had thrown himself down, and, dragging his gunafter him, was making for a heap of stones, from whence he evidentlyintended to fire, Gedge prepared to meet the shot in military fashion. 

"Trying to stalk us, sir. You're right; that's it. Give me the word, and I'll open fire. He'll think he never stalked such a sheep as mebefore. "

"It was my fancy, Gedge, " said Bracy. "They belong to the party whom wescattered yesterday, and they've been following on our track. Quick! wemust have first fire. "

The last words had not quitted his lips when Gedge's rifle cracked, andthe danger was averted, for the man's long gun dropped from his hands ashe sprang up, crawling though he was, into a curious position onall-fours, rolled over on to his side, and them back again, to spring tohis feet, and run as hard as he could after his companions, who hadalready taken to their heels. 

"That's a bad shot, and no mistake, sir, " said Gedge. 

"The best you ever made, Gedge, " cried Bracy; "for it has done all werequired. "

"Took him in the arm, sir, and spoiled his shooting for a month, I know. As good as killing him, I s'pose. "

"Better, " said Bracy. "We don't want the poor wretch's life; only tosave our own. Now, what next? We'd better lie still for a bit to seeif they rally and come on again. "

"Yes, sir, " said Gedge, watching the retreating party, and fiddling withthe sighting of his rifle--"five hundred yards--six--eight, "--and lastof all "thousand. I think I could send a bullet among their legs, sir. Shall I? Let 'em see that they'd better keep their distance. "

"Try and scatter the stones close to them, " replied Bracy. And as helay upon his chest, with his feet raised and legs crossed, Gedge took along and careful aim, pressed the trigger gently, and the next momentthe retreating party bounded apart, scattering, and running swiftly on. 

"Another good shot, " said Bracy; "though I could not see where itstruck; it is evident that it did strike close to their feet. "

The glass was in the young officer's hand, and he followed the enemy'smovements with it, seeing the little party close up again, and then makefor a ridge in the distance--one which threatened to conceal them assoon as it was passed; but there was something else to see, for all atonce the solitude of the elevation was broken by a figure springing intosight, to be followed by a large group, who began to descend slowly tomeet the retreating four; and of their movements Bracy kept hiscompanion aware with a word or two at intervals, without changing hisposition or removing his glass from his eye. 

"They're close together now--the last man has joined them--they'relooking in this direction--they've turned round, and are going up theslope again. Ha! the last man has passed over--gone. "

"Would you mind having a look at the other two lots now, sir, to seewhat they're doing?" said Gedge quietly. 

The little glass was slowed round on the instant, and Bracy examined theparty to the right, and then, turning to the left, made a longexamination of the danger there, before closing the glass again. 

"They are keeping steadily on along those slopes, Gedge, as if toconverge some miles farther on. "

"Hadn't we better play the same game, sir?" said Gedge quietly. 

"What do you mean?"

"Do a bit o' converging, sir, whatever it is. "

"I don't set; how we can at present, " replied Bracy, laughing sadly. "No. It seems as if the only thing left for us to do is to lie stillhere till the coast is clear--I mean, the enemy out of sight; then keepon cautiously, and trust to getting beyond them in the darkness. It isterribly unfortunate, Gedge. "

"'Tis, sir, and wastes so much time. Think they have seen us?"

"No. "

"Nor those chaps as was stalking us?"

"The distance is too great unless they have powerful glasses. "

"That's good, sir. Then all we've got to mind is those chaps we've beenskirmishing with. They'll be like the rest of 'em, I expect--hangingafter us till they can get a shot. "

"Yes; and I'm afraid that they will descend into yon little side valleyto try and get ahead of us, so as to lie in wait, farther on. "

"Like as not, sir. Just the sort of mean thing they would do, neverstopping to think as we could easily have shot their chief in the backwhen we were in ambush, just as I could have dropped that chap in histracks just now. I don't want to brag, sir; but I could. "

"It is not boasting, my lad, " said Bracy. "You have your marks for goodshooting. But we must countermarch those fellows. We have nearly amile the start of them, and I don't suppose those two bodies of men arelikely to take any notice of such a pair of rough-looking objects as weare; so come along. "

"Which way, sir?"

"Straight for our mountain yonder. What we want is a deep gully intowhich we could plunge, and then we could walk fast or run part of theway. "

"And hide again, sir? Well, it'll be strange if in all this greatmountainy place we can't puzzle those fellows behind. "

"We can, Gedge, " said Bracy, "if once we get out of their sight. "

"So we are now, sir. "

"We don't know that. Several pairs of keen eyes may be watching ourmovements, for I dare say as soon as we stand up our figures will showplainly against the snow. But we must risk all that. There, we mustchance it now, so let's get on our way. "

Bracy took another good look round with his glass from where he lay uponhis chest among the stones; and though the enemy looked distant, themountain he had marked down seemed to have doubled its remoteness, andthe snowy passes and peaks which moved slowly across the field of hisglass raised themselves up like so many terrible impediments to themission he had set himself to carry through. Only a brief inspection, but there was time enough for a rush of thoughts to sweep to his brain, all of which looked dim and confused in the cloud of doubt which aroseas to the possibility of reaching the Ghil Valley. 

It was horrible, for he could see in imagination the scene at the fort, where all were gathered to see him off, and every eye was brightenedwith the hope its owner felt; each countenance looked full of trust inone who, they felt sure, would bring back success, and save the fort inits terrible time of need. While now a cold chill seemed to be stealingthrough him, and failure was staring him in the face. 

A quick mental and bodily effort, a blush of shame suffusing his face, and he was himself again--the young soldier ready for any emergency; andthe next minute he was biting his lip with vexation at his momentaryweakness. For there was Gedge watching him patiently, his follower wholooked up to him for help and guidance--his man ready to obey him to thedeath, but, on the other hand, who looked for the payment of being caredfor and protected, and not having his services misused by the cowardlyaction of a superior. 

"It is just as I felt that day when I was swimming a mile from shore, "he said to himself. "I felt that same chill, and thought that there wasnothing for me to do but give up and drown. Then the same feeling ofshame at my cowardice attacked me, and I struck out quietly, and went onand on to land. The fort is my land this time, and I'm going to reachit again by being cool. Oh, what a brain and power of self-control aGeneral must possess to master all his awful responsibilities! but hedoes, and leads his men to victory against tremendous odds; while here Ihave but my one man to lead, and am staggered at a difficulty that maydissolve like a mist. Gedge!"

"Sir?"

"Forward for that patch of rocks a quarter of a mile away in front, without hesitation or turning to look back. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Once there, I'll bring the glass to bear again on our rear. Make abee-line for it, as if you were going to take up new ground for yourcompany. Once there, we can make for another and another, and if we arepursued each clump of rocks will make us breastworks or rifle-pits. Up!Forward!"

Gedge started on the instant, talking to himself, as he felt that heought still to maintain a soldierly silence. 

"Quarter of a mile--eh? That's a good half, or I've failed in judgingdistance, after all, and turned out a reg'lar duller. Cheeky, though, to think I know better than my orficer. Dunno, though; I've done twiceas much of it as he have. --Wonder whether them beggars have begunstalking us again. Dessay they have. Sure to. My! how I should liketo look back! That's the worst o' being a swaddy on dooty. Your souleven don't seem to be your own. Never mind; orders is orders, and I'mstraight for them rocks; but natur's natur', even if it's in a savagenigger with a firework-spark gun and a long knife. If those chaps don'tcome sneaking after us for a shot as soon as they've seen us on themove, I'm a Dutchman. "

Bill Gedge was not a Dutchman, but East London to the backbone, andquite right; for, before he and the officer were a hundred yards ontheir way to take up new ground, first one and then anotherwhite-clothed figure came cautiously into the wide field of view, quitea mile away, but plainly seen in that wonderfully clear air, and came onin a half-stooping way, suggesting hungry wolves slinking steadily andsurely along after their prey. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

A QUESTION OF HELMETS. 

Bracy felt quite sure that they were being tracked, but he did not lookround till they were well within the shelter of the rocks for which theyaimed. Then, as soon as he could feel that he was certain of beingunobserved, he raised his head above one of the blocks, and took hisglass to read more fully their position. For, in a long line, atintervals of some ten yards or so, the enemy was coming on, without asign of haste, but in the quiet, determined way of those who know thatthey are following an absolute certainty, and that it is only a matterof time before their prey drops down at their mercy. 

The day was gloriously bright, and the vast landscape of rock, forest, and gleaming water to their left, and the dazzling stretch of peak, snowfield, and glacier, with its many gradations of silver and deliciousblue, on their right, presented a scene which the mind might haverevelled in for hours. But Bracy saw nothing of Nature's beauties, forhis attention was centred in the long line of tribes-men coming slowlyon, their movements being so full of suggestion and offering themselvesfor easy reading. 

Bracy closed his glass, and turned with wrinkled brow to Gedge, who tookthis as an invitation to give his opinion; and he went on at once, as ifin answer to a few remarks from his officer. 

"Yes, sir, " he said; "it is a nice game, and no mistake. The cowards!Look at 'em, sir. That's what they mean to do--come sneaking alongafter us, waiting for a chance to rush in and take a stroke, and thenslipping off again before we can get a shot at 'em. That's what theythink; but they're making the biggest mistake they over made in theirlives. They don't know yet what one of our rifles can do. "

"You think they mean to follow us up, Gedge?"

"That's it, sir. They'll hang about for a chance. These niggershaven't got anything to do; so, when they see a chance of doing a bit ofa job so as to get something, they give theirselves up to it and go on, spending days and weeks to get hold of what they could have got honestlyin half the time. But, look here, sir. "

"Yes, " said Bracy, nodding, as his companion tapped his rifle. "Wecould keep them off by good shooting, Gedge, while it is light; but whatabout the darkness?"

"Yes; that's what bothers me, sir. They don't try the shooting then, but sets their guns on one side, and lakes to those long, sharp knives. "

Bracy nodded again, and Gedge drew back, and began to make quick pointswith his rifle, acting as if the bayonet were fixed. 

"That'll be it after dark, sir. Bay'net's more than a match for anyknife in the dark. "

"Yes, " said Bracy; "but it means one of us to be always awake, and insuch a journey as ours this will be distressing. "

"Never mind, sir. We'll take double allowance of sleep first chanceafterwards. Yes; I see, sir; that patch o' stones, one of which liesover o' one side--to the left. "

"Forward!" said Bracy; and the spot indicated was reached, the shorthalt made, and they went on again, after noting that the enemy wasslowly following on their track. 

That seemed a day of days to Bracy, and interminably long and wearisome. They kept along as near the edge of the snow as they could, and watchedthe two bodies of men to right and left till they were hidden by theinequalities of the ground; but they came into sight again and again. About midday the two parties were seen to meet, and then come to a halt, about a mile from where Bracy and his companion crouched, as usual, inamong some loose rocks, in the unenviable position of being between twofires, the enemy in the rear halting too, and making no effort to cometo close quarters after the lesson they had learned about the long, thin, pencil-like bullets sent whistling from Gedge's rifle. 

"Can you make out what they are doing, sir?" asked Gedge. 

"Sitting together, and I think eating. "

"That's what you said the others were doing, sir. "

"Yes. "

"Then wouldn't it be a good time for us to be having a refresher, sir?"

"Very good time indeed, Gedge, if you can eat, " said Bracy meaningly. 

"If I can eat, sir?" said Gedge, turning over his officer's words. "Why, sir, I feel famished. Don't you?"

"No, " said Bracy sadly. "I suppose the anxiety has taken away myappetite. "

"But you must eat, sir. Make your load lighter, too. There are timeswhen I feel as if I should like to eat all I want, and then chuck allthe rest away. One don't seem to want anything but cartridges; butthen, you see, sir, one does, or else the works won't go. I'm wonderfullike a watch, I am--I want winding up reg'lar, and then I go very tidy;but if I'm not wound up to time I runs down and turns faint and queer, and about the biggest coward as ever shouldered a rifle. I'm just nouse at all, not even to run away, for I ain't got no strength. Yes, sir, that's how it is: I must be wound up as much as a Waterbury watch, and wittles is the key. "

"Go on, then, " said Bracy, smiling; "wind yourself up, Gedge, and I'lldo the same. "

"Thank ye, sir; that's done me no end o' good, " cried the lad, brightening up. "You've give me a reg'lar good appetite now. "

Gedge proceeded to prove this fact at once, and his words and theexample set him had the effect of making his leader begin to eat a fewmouthfuls, these leading to more; and at the end of a minute or two bothwere heartily enjoying their repast, although the prospect before themseemed to promise that this would be the last meal of which they wouldpartake. 

As they watched the enemy in front and rear they could only come to theconclusion that it was as impossible to continue their journey as it wasto retreat. There was the open north to the left of their intendedcourse, but as far as they could make out it was impassable. By sternendeavour they felt that they might in time wade through the deep snowand reach the mountains; but, as far as they could judge, fartherprogress in the way of striking through them, and then turning round totheir right, was not possible without the aid of ice-axe and rope. Andagain, there was the less mountainous part of the country across theside valley they had traversed, and where they might climb the ridge andmake a circuit to the left; but that course would probably lead themmore amongst the encampments of the enemy besieging the fort; and theyhad hardly begun discussing this course when Gedge exclaimed:

"Take your spy-glass, sir. There's game or something on the move overyonder to the south. "

"A strong body of men, Gedge, " said Bracy decisively. "The country'salive with the wretches, and these are evidently going to join those inour valley. "

"Hard lines for the two Colonels and our poor lads, sir, " said Gedge, with his face puckering up. "If it wasn't for orders I wouldn't mindthem beggars behind; we'd get through them somehow, for it would be farbetter to go at 'em sharp and have it out, so that it might end one wayor t'other, than keep creeping on here, never knowing when they may makea rush. "

"I feel the same, Gedge, " said Bracy firmly; "but we have our orders, and that mountain we must reach by night. "

"Right, sir; I'm not grumbling; we're a-going to do it; but don't itseem rum? Only the other day the place was empty everywhere, and it wasjust as if the enemy had all been shot and buried theirselves, whilewhen you gents went out shooting, and the Colonel sent out littleparties to scout and cover you coming back, in case the niggers showed, we went about over and over again, and never see a soul. And now, justbecause you've got to take word to the Ghoorkha Colonel that we wanthelp, all of 'em have turned out so as to send us back to our quarters. "

Bracy let his companion chatter on; but he was actively busy the whilewith his glass, which gave him a clear picture in miniature of everymovement of their pursuers, at the same time convincing him that neitherthe enemy in front, nor those, perfectly plain now on the ridge acrossthe little valley, were aware of their presence. 

"We must be getting on, Gedge, " he said at last; "the enemy behind is onthe move, and they are opening out to the left. "

"That means getting down to the hollow yonder, sir, to come upon ourflank or cut us off. Oh! don't I wish you could detach a partyskirmishing, ready to counter upon them and send 'em back; but the forcearen't strong enough, sir. You see, you want me to form the reserve. "

Bracy smiled, and once more they stepped out, making for patch afterpatch of rocks, the more boldly now that they saw the enemy in front wascrossing their intended track as if to get to the ridge on the otherside of the valley, and form a junction with the men there. 

"Double!" said Bracy suddenly; and they trotted now wherever the groundwould allow of such a way of progressing, and in the hope of gettingwell forward; but, to their disgust, it was to find that theirindefatigable pursuers imitated every movement, running when they ran, and settling down again to a walk as soon as they slowed. 

And so the afternoon wore on, with the position in the rear unchanged, but the front clearing as the sun sank lower in the west. 

"There's a more hopeful lookout yonder, Gedge, " said Bracy, "but thesescoundrels seem more determined than ever. "

"That's right, sir; and the worst of it is they won't come, within shot. They're waiting for the dark. That's their game. Couldn't we steal amarch on 'em somehow, sir? for this is getting a bit stupid. "

"We can steal the march as soon as it's dark, " replied Bracy. "I havebeen thinking of that; but then there is the difficulty of getting alongin this rough place, and we may be getting out of the frying-pan intothe fire. "

"Well, I don't know as if would be any hotter, sir. Don't you thinkwe'd better lie down behind some of the stones and pick a few of 'em offas they come up?"

"It might cheek them, if we could do it; but if you look through theglass you will see that they keep sending a couple of men up all thehigh places, who keep watch, and they'd signal to their companions thatwe were in ambush. "

"I was afraid so, sir, " said Gedge grimly; "that's always the way withmy plans. There's always a hole in the bottom o' the tub I make 'em in, and they run out like sand. "

"How would this do?" said Bracy. "Suppose we pick out a good place justas it is getting dark, and settle ourselves down to watch. "

"That sounds right, sir, " said Gedge encouragingly. "Then, as soon asthey have got used to seeing us there looking over the stones, supposewe slip off our 'elmets, and leave them on the rocks, and creep away forsome distance before we rise, and then go on as fast as we can so as the'elmets may keep 'em off for a bit, sir. "

"Yes; I see what you mean, but the trick is too old. Remember how themen put their helmets or caps above the breastworks to tempt them tofire. Depend upon it they would suspect. "

"May be, sir, may be not; but we're in a fix, and we must do something. "

"But the thing is what?"

"If we wanted to go back, sir--to retreat, " began Gedge. 

"Which we do not, " said Bracy coldly. 

"Of course not right away, sir; but to make a fresh start, that dodgewould do. "

"What do you mean?"

"Why, this, sir; suppose we put our 'elmets on the tops o' two stonesjust as it's getting dark. "

"Well, go on, " said Bracy impatiently. 

"Then we keep our eyes upon our gentlemen to see whether they come innigh enough first so as to give us a shot, and if they don't we waittill it's dark enough. "

"And then go on as fast as we can, and without our helmets, to beexposed to the sun by day, the cold wind and snow by night, if we werenot overtaken and finished. Bah, my lad! that will not do. "

"No, sir; but that ain't the way my story goes, " said Gedge, grinning. 

"Let's have your way, then, " said Bracy impatiently, as he scanned theenemy in the distance with his glass. 

"I mean this, sir. We puts our 'elmets as 'fore-said on the rocks, watches till it's quite dark, and then, instead o' doubling off on ourjourney, we just creeps away to right or left, say a hundred yards, andthen lies down. "

"Yes?"

"Bimeby, one by one, my gentlemen comes creeping up with their longknives, ready to cut us up in the dark, supposing that we're there onthe watch. Dessay dozen of 'em would come, front, right, left, andrear; and then, after they've surrounded our 'elmets, they goes right infor us, and slashes them instead of us. Next minute there's a reg'larhoo-roar, and most likely, if we're lucky, they've chopped one; anotherawful. But whether they have or not, they've found out we're not there, and that they've been done; and on they goes in a passion right away, hoping to catch up to us again in the morning to carry on the same gameof following us and giving us no rest till we're quite done, and the jobto finish us is as easy as that. "

He kissed his hand by way of illustrating the simplicity of thebusiness. 

"Yes; we should get rid of their hideous, heart-wearing pursuit, " saidBracy thoughtfully, "and then be able to make a fresh start, of course. But what about covering for our heads?"

"Oh, don't you worry about that, sir. I'm on'y a thin un, and there'splenty o' spare stuff in this skin coat to spare for a couple o' woollybusbies as 'll suit us for this journey far better than 'elmets. Theniggers at a distance would take us for the real article then. Now thespikes on our heads says English to every one as sees 'em. "

"Yes, " said Bracy thoughtfully; "that might be done if we could make thewool hats. "

"Don't you worry yourself about that, sir. It's on'y like cutting twobig long squares to measure, and doubling 'em over sidewise, and sewingtwo edges together. Then you sews the top edges, turns the thing insideout, and--"

"Well, and what?" said Bracy, for the lad stopped short and grinned. 

"Puts 'em on, sir. That's all. "

"And we have scissors and needles and thread and thimbles, of course, "said Bracy mockingly. 

"That's right, sir. In my pocket. Didn't Mother Gee give me 'em allready for sewing up bandages and seeing to wounds? I'd a deal rathermake caps with 'em; wouldn't you?"

"Of course, of course, Gedge, " Bracy hastened to say. "Here, it's timewe began to put our plan in action. "

"Time to get on a bit farther first, sir. But do you really think thatdodge would do?"

"I think enough of it to make me say that we'll try it, Gedge; and, ifit succeeds, I tell you what, hard as it may be, we'll try the snow. "

"That's the place to hide in, sir, when we creep away. "

"Of course. Capital!"

"Might roll ourselves over in it, and it would stick to our coats, andthey'd never find us. But I don't know about going on that way, sir. "

"We must; I see no other. "

"But what about footmarks afterwards, sir? It's like putting down a loto' holes to show 'em the way we've gone. "

"Holes that the sun would soon till in, or fresh snow fall to hide. Butwe need not study that. The enemy would go on and never think of comingback to make a fresh start. Even if they did, they would never find theplace again that they went to in the dark. "

"Not by the 'elmets, sir?"

"No; they'd make sure of them--carry them off as trophies. But I see aterrible difficulty. "

"Do yer, sir? I'm very sorry. "

"Suppose, while we're lying in the snow, one or two of the ruffians comeand stumble right over us?"

"I hope they won't, sir, " said Gedge, with a grim look in his eyes, ashe drew his dagger-like bayonet out and touched the point with histhumb. "That's pretty sharp, sir, and we should be on the lookout, andholding 'em in our hands, as what Sergeant Gee calls a shiver-de-freexe. They might tumble on them. "

"Gedge, my lad, you're full of resources, " said Bracy eagerly. "We'lltry your plan, exactly as you propose. "

"Thank ye, sir, " said the lad uneasily; "but I don't want you to thinkI'm cocky and knowing, and like to be thought double cunning. "

"That will do, " said Bracy, smiling. "Let's think of the task we havein hand. It is no time to discuss trifles. This is all part offighting for our lives. "

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

IN THE SNOW. 

In the tramp which followed, with the hill-men creeping on after them inthe same slow, untiring way, Gedge had his eyes about him, and drewforth a sharp order from his officer when he began to deviate a littlefrom the straight course towards a dwarf clump of pines, the highest ofwhich was not above six feet. 

"What are you going there for?"

"Want 'em, sir, for rifles, " was the reply. Bracy nodded; and uponreaching the clump, a few sharp strokes from the lad's bayonet cut downand trimmed what formed a couple of longish walking-sticks, one of whichhe handed over to his officer, who used his in the latter capacity, Gedge soon following suit. 

"That's what I want them to think, sir, " said Gedge, digging his down atevery second pace. "Now, sir, what do you say? Don't you think wemight edge in more towards the snow?"

"Soon, " said Bracy, pointing. "There's just the spot we want;" and, raising his glass, he stopped to examine a group of blocks of stone somefifty yards from the edge of the snowfield, which here sent down a fewsharp points, giving it the appearance at a distance of a huge, vandykedpiece of white lace. 

"Couldn't find a better place if we tried, sir, " said Gedge; "but weain't left ourselves time enough. If we had thought of it sooner, Icould have cut out and made the busbies. "

"We shall have plenty of time for that to-morrow, " said Bracy. "We mustmanage by tying on handkerchiefs for to-night, and pulling up the greatcollars as if they were hoods. "

A short time after, each with his handkerchief over his head, the paircrouched behind two stones, upon which their helmets had been placed;and beside them the two sticks were planted, so that at a short distanceany one would have been deceived and made to believe that a couple ofmen were on the watch for danger. 

Two men were on the watch for danger, but in a different way, both lyingprone, Bracy, with his glass to his eyes, carefully sweeping thedistance, and keeping it fixed upon the enemy, who looked strangelyquiet, as they grouped together and seemed to be feasting. 

"Looks as if they meant to settle there, then, for the night, sir, " saidGedge, as Bracy reported to him everything he noted. 

"Yes; it looks so. "

"But we don't trust 'em, bless yer, sir. That's their artfulness;foxing--that's what they're doing. Won't be able to see 'em muchlonger--will you, sir?"

"No; it's getting dark very fast; but I can make them out, I dare say, till they begin to move. "

"Hope you will, sir, " said Gedge softly, and lying with his knees bent, kicking his feet about in the air, after the fashion of a boy in a fieldon a sunny day, and looking quite unconscious of the fact that thisnight might be one of the most terrible they had ever been called uponto pass. 

Some minutes elapsed now in perfect silence, during which a fiery lookon the topmost peak of one of the mountains died out slowly into cherryred, and finally became invisible, a few stars twinkling out as the redlight died. 

"Gedge, " said Bracy in a quick whisper, such as he might have utteredhad the enemy been close upon them, and about to spring, instead of manyhundred yards away. 

"Sir?"

"They are on the move. "

"Can't see 'em, sir. "

"No; and they cannot see us, but I can dimly make them out with theglass. They are separating from their centre, and coming on. Ha! gone. I can see no more. "

He put away the glass in the darkness, which now seemed to roll downupon them like a cloud from the mountains, giving the snowfield aghastly look which made Bracy hesitate. 

"I'm afraid it would be better to go off to the left among the stones. "

"Don't, sir, pray, " said Gedge earnestly. 

"But our dark bodies will show against the snow. "

"Not they, sir. We'll roll in it, and it'll be darker in half-an-hour. They'll be all that before they get here--won't they?"

"Quite. They are sure to come on very slowly, and allow time for partof them to get right into our rear. "

"Yes, sir; that's right. "

"Now, then, are you ready?"

"Yes, sir. "

There was again silence, and, but for the ghostly glare of the snow, allwas very dark. 

"We seem to be going into the most dangerous place, " whispered Bracy, with his breath coming thickly. 

"And that's the very place they'll never think we should hide in, sir, if they were likely to think we were going to hide. No, sir: their keeneyes 'll just make out them two 'elmets, and they'll think o' nothingelse but driving their long knives into them as wears 'em, from behind. I do hope we shall hear 'em blunting the points against, the stones. "

"Have you everything?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then, forward! Go fifty paces slowly over the snow. I shall followclose behind you in your steps. "

The snow yielded, so that they were knee-deep, but it was still looseand so sand-like in its grains that as each foot was withdrawn the icyparticles flowed together again into each freshly-made hole. 

Five minutes later the adventurous pair lay softly down, and rolled overand over a few times, before lying prone upon their chests, each withhis head towards the invisible helmets, and near enough to whisper ortouch one another with the hand. Their rifles lay by their sides, withthe cartouche-boxes handy: and, in case of a close attack, theirrevolvers were in the right sides of their belts, half dragged round tothe back, while each held his dagger-like bayonet in his band. 

"Do you feel the cold, Gedge?" whispered Bracy. 

"Cold, sir? Why, I'm as hot as hot. This work's too warm for a fellowto feel the cold. Do you, sir?"

"No; my face burns as if with fever, and every nerve tingles withexcitement. There, we must not even whisper again. "

"Right, sir. "

"The first moment you hear a sound of any one approaching, touch my leftarm. "

"Right, sir; but hadn't I better lie t'other side of you? They'll comethat way. "

"They'll come from all round at once, my lad. There, don't be afraid. If we are going to have trouble, I dare say you will get your fullshare. Now, silence; and when they come you must hardly breathe. "

Then silence ensued, and seemed to Bracy the most oppressive that he hadever encountered in facing danger. For the solemnity of the night inthe great mountains was brooding over them, out of which at any momentdeath, in the shape of a keen knife, might descend. There was not abreath of air, but an icy chill dropped down from above, making the snowcrystals turn sharp and crisp, crackling softly at the slightestmovement. But the frosty air had no effect upon them, save to maketheir blood tingle in their veins and a peculiar, pricking sensationplay about their nostrils as they drew their breath, tiny needles of icetwining as they respired, and making a hoar-frost upon Bracy'smoustache. 

The time went on as if the movement of the earth had been checked by thefrost; but, listen as they would, the silence was profound, and a fullhour seemed to have passed, though it was not a fourth part of thattime. 

"They will not come, " thought Bracy, as his eyes were turned in everydirection he could force them to sweep, and the change appeared verystriking from the black atmosphere in front, and right and left to thefaint light suggestive of electricity or phosphorescence which made thesnow dimly visible. 

But the enemy made no sign: and, with that horrible stillness as ofdeath reigning and seeming to crush them into the snow, they lay waitingand longing for some sound--for the coming of the enemy; for the wildexcitement of an encounter would, Bracy felt, be far preferable to thatmaddening suspense. 

As he lay there and thought, his ever-active brain was full ofsuggestions regarding what would take place. The enemy would not dareto come, and a night's sleep would have been lost--they would come, seethem with their penetrating eyes, pounce upon them, there would be a fewsavage unexpected strokes, and all would be over; while poor ColonelGraves would watch and wait, looking ever for the succour that did notcome. 

"But he will not lose faith in his messengers, " Bracy thought, with athrill of satisfaction running through him. "He will know that I stroveto do my best. "

Then his thoughts took another direction. Why should not--after thecareful preparations made--the _ruse_ be successful, the enemy bedeceived, and go in pursuit according to their ideas, leaving the twoadventurers free to make their fresh departure? But that, the mostnatural outcome of the plan, Bracy, in his excitement, set aside asbeing the least likely to occur, and he lay in agony, straining everynerve to condense his faculties into the one great sense of hearing, till it seemed to him that his companion's breathing soundedpreternaturally loud. 

"Why, he's asleep! The miserable, careless scoundrel!" thought Bracy. "Those men have no thought beyond the present. How can one trust them?How easily we might be surprised if he were the watch!"

A flush of shame made the thinker's cheeks burn the next moment, he had, in his annoyance, stretched out his left hand to reach dodge's shoulderand give him a violent shake. But half-way he checked the progress ofhis hand; for, sotting aside the danger of waking a sleeper and makinghim start and utter some ejaculation, which might betray them to alurking enemy, he recalled the fact that a touch was to be the signal toannounce the coming of the enemy. 

The next moment, as his hand lay upon the snow where he had let it fall, another hand was laid upon it, and his fingers were gripped by a set offingers which held it fast and gave it a firm, steady pressure, to whichhe warmly responded, his heart beating fast, and a genial glow ofsatisfaction running through him in his penitence for misjudging hisfaithful companion. 

Then the hand that grasped his was snatched away, and he lay listeningand gazing in every direction that he could command for the danger justsignalled to him by Gedge. Nothing to right or left, and he dared notstir to look back over the snow. Nothing in front, not a sign of anyone near; and in his excitement he began to wonder whether his companionhad made a mistake in his over-eagerness, for the silence was moreoppressive than ever. 

"What was that?"

A spasm shot through the listener, making every nerve and muscle tenseas steel; his breath came thick and fast, and the dull, heavy throb, throb of his heart sounded loudly in his brain--so loudly that he heldhis breath and would have checked the pulsations if he could. 

There was no doubt now: the enemy was close at hand, and Bracy's fingersclosed over the hilt of his bayonet with a tremendous grip, for he feltthat his revolver would be useless in that terrible darkness, and heshrank from wasting a shot. 

He could see nothing, but there was the danger just in front in the snowof those thirty yards which lay between them and the rocks. That dangerwas represented to the listeners in imagination by the figure--twofigures--of the white-coated enemy, crawling slowly as huge worms might, have progressed over the snow. At times they were perfectly still, butever and again there was the extremely gentle, crackling sound of theicy grains rubbing together with a soft, rustling sound, no more than asnake would have made passing along a dusty track. 

Bracy strained his eyes, but he could see nothing. He could not tellwhether the two enemies were a yard or ten or twenty away from where helay; but his straining ears told him that they were there, passing himfrom right to left, and he felt convinced that others must be movingslowly from all directions towards that one point, where the helmetswere placed upon the pieces of stone. 

So far, then, all was right; but he felt that at any moment he mighthear others coming along behind, and those might strike the very spotwhere they two were lying. 

Thought after thought of this kind flashed through Bracy's brain, as hetightened his hold of the bayonet, and held it point upward ready foruse against his first assailant, while the strange crepitation of thefrozen snow went on for what seemed like a long period, so greatly waseverything magnified by the excitement through which it was mentallyviewed. 

By degrees, though, the creeping sound, which had seemed to stop morethan once, ceased entirely, and the listeners waited quite half-an-hour, fancying twice over that they heard the faint click of stone againststone; but they could not be sure, and they dared not communicateotherwise than by a pressure of the hand, for there was still thepossibility of the enemy being close in front. Though as the minutescrawled slowly by, and no fresh sound was heard, the feeling grewstronger and stronger that they had attributed the creeping noise to theenemy, when it was probably some inoffensive wild creature seeking forfood, while the enemy had passed the spot in the dark, and were by nowfar away. 

Bracy had just come to this conclusion, and had begun to think of thewisdom of crawling off the snow, which was beginning to melt beneath himfrom the warmth of his body, when his heart gave a leap as if some nervehad received a sudden twitch. For there came low and clear from a shortdistance away a peculiar sound such as might be produced by a night-birdon the wing. Then all was still once more. 

"Was that a signal?" thought Bracy; "or have we been deceived?"

He thought earnestly, and felt that, after all, the enemy would underthe circumstances act just as they were acting. There seemed to be anexcess of caution, but none too much, approaching as they would be tosurprise whoever was on the watch, and going with their lives literallyin their hands. 

"Phit!"

The same low, peculiar sound again, making Bracy start into a wild fitof excitement. Then there was a quick running as of many feet towardsthe central spot, followed by clink, clink, clink--the striking of steelon stone, and then a momentary silence, followed by a peculiar rumblingand a burst of voices. 

"Gug!"

Bracy turned sharply, bayonet in hand, ready to strike, for the horriblethought struck him that Gedge had just received a tierce thrust whichpinned him to the frozen snow; but as he leaned in his direction a handtouched his wrist and gave it a grip, holding it tightly, and making himdraw a deep breath full of relief. 

Meanwhile the voices increased, their owners talking fiercely, andthough the tongue was almost unintelligible, a word was caught here andthere, and they grasped the fact that every man seemed to want to talkat once, and to be making suggestions. 

But the speakers did not keep to one place. As far as Bracy could makeout, they had broken up into parties, which hurried here and there, onecoming so near to where the listeners lay that they felt that their timefor action had come at last, and, palpitating with excitement, theyprepared to meet the first attack. 

And now Bracy heard a sound as of some one breathing hard, and turnedhis head sharply to whisper a word of warning to his companion; but itwas not uttered, for the sound came from beyond him, and with itsrepetition came the sound of laborious steps being taken through thesnow, he who made them panting hard with the exertion as he came on towithin a couple of yards of Gedge, and then suddenly turned off and madefor the rocks. 

He made so much noise now that he knew there was no need forconcealment, that Gedge took advantage of the man getting more distantto reach over to his officer and whisper, with his lips close to Bracy'sear:

"That chap 'll never know how near he was to leaving off snoring likethat, sir, for good. "

"Hush!" whispered Bracy, and a fresh burst of talking arose as if togreet the man who had returned to the rocks from making a circuit roundthe trap. 

And now it seemed as if the whole party were spreading out and comingtowards where the couple lay, for the voices sounded louder and camenearer, making Bracy gently raise himself ready to hurry his followeraway: but the sounds came no closer, the speakers pausing at the edge ofthe snow, where it sounded as if their plans were; being discussed. 

Then all at once the talking ceased, and the beat of many feet, with therattling of loose stones, fell on the listener's ears, telling that theenemy was in motion; and the sounds they made grew fainter and fainter, and then died out entirely. 

"They seem to be gone, " whispered Bracy, with his lips close to Gedge'sear. 

"Oh yes, they're gone, sir, at last, " was the reply. 

"We must not be too sure. A few may be left behind to keep watch. "

"Not them, sir. I can't see as it's likely. "

Bracy was silent for a few moments, during which he listened intentlyfor the faintest sound; but all was still. 

"Get up, " he said briefly, and then started at his own voice, it soundedso husky and strange. 

Gedge uttered a sigh of relief as he shook the adhering snow from hiswoolly coat. 

"Stiff, Gedge?" said Bracy. 

"Horrid, sir. A good fight wouldn't come amiss. Hear me laugh, sir?"

"When you made that sound?"

"Yes, sir: that bit would come out, though I'd shut my mouth with myhand. "

"What made you laugh at such a time?"

"To hear them cuttin' and stabbin' at the rocks, sir, and blunting theirknives. "

"Oh, I see!"

"Wonder whether they chopped our 'elmets, sir. Would you mind orderingme to see if there's any bits left?"

"The task is of no good, " said Bracy. "But we'll walk back to the placeand try if we can find them. Take out your revolver. No. Fixbayonets--we could use them better now. "

There was a faint clicking, and then, with their rifles levelled, thepair marched laboriously off the snow, and then cautiously felt theirway among the stones, Bracy's main object being to find out for certainthat there were no sentries left. The noise they could not help makingamong the stones proved this directly, and they unwittingly, in spite ofthe darkness, went straight to the spot where they had set up the sticksand helmets, when Gedge uttered a low cry full of excitement. 

"Why, they never come across 'em, sir. I've got 'em, standing here justas we left 'em. Well, I'm blessed! I know the difference by the feel. That's yours, sir, and this is mine. Talk about luck! Ha! I feelbetter now. Woolly busbies is all very well, but they don't looksoldierly. I could have made some right enough, but we should ha'wanted to take 'em off before we got back to the fort. "

"A splendid bit of luck, Gedge, " said Bracy as he drew the strap of hishelmet beneath his chin. "Now for our next step. What do you think?"

"Wittles, sir. Can't think o' nothing else just now. I should say, with what we've got to do, the next thing's to begin stoking before ourfires go out. "

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

AWFUL MOMENTS. 

It was with serious feelings of compunction that Bracy set this exampleto his eager companion, by seating himself on one of the stones andbeginning to combat the weary sensation of faintness which troubled himby partaking of a portion of his fast-shrinking store of provisions. For the fact was beginning to stare him in the face that, going on asthey had begun, their little store could not by any possibility last, till they reached the Ghoorkha camp, and that in depending upon theirrifles for a fresh supply they would be leaning upon a very rotten reed, since, surrounded as they seemed to be by enemies, it would beimpossible to fire, while everything in the shape of game had so farbeen absent. But his spirits rose as he refreshed himself. 

"I will not build imaginary mountains, " he said mentally; "there areplenty about us at last. "

"There, sir, " said Gedge, breaking in upon his musings suddenly; "I'mready for anything now. I should like to lie down and have a goodsleep; but I s'pose we mustn't do that. "

"Not till we have crossed that ridge up to the north, Gedge. It will behard work, but it must be done. "

"And get into the valley on the other side, sir, 'fore we go oneast'ard?"

"Yes. "

"S'pose there'll be a valley t'other side, sir?"

"No doubt about it. "

"Then, when you're ready, sir, I am. If we've got it to do, let's beginand get this soft bit over, for we shan't get along very fast. "

"No; the soft snow makes the travelling bad; but we go higher at everystep, and by-and-by we may find it hard. Now then, I'll lead. Theridge must be right before us, as far as I can make out. "

"Don't ask me, sir, " said Gedge. "Wants a cat to see in the dark; but Ithink you must be right. Best way seems to me to keep on going uphill. That must be right, and when it's flat or going downhill it must bewrong. "

Bracy made no reply, but, after judging the direction as well as hecould, strode off, and found that his ideas were right, for at the endof a few minutes the snow was crackling under their feet. 

"Now for it, Gedge. You'll have to lift your feet high at every step, while they sink so deeply. Hullo!"

There was a sharp crackling as he extended his left foot, bore down uponit, and with a good deal of resistance it went through a crust of ice, but only a short way above the ankle. Quickly bringing up the otherfoot, he stepped forward, and it crushed through the hardening surface, but only for a few inches. The next step was on the rugged surface ofslippery ice, and as they progressed slowly for about a hundred yards, it was to find the surface grow firmer and less disposed to give beneaththeir weight. 

"There's one difficulty mastered, " said Bracy cheerily. "The surface isfreezing hard, and we can get on like this till the sun beats upon itagain. "

"I call it grand, sir; but I hope it won't get to be more uphill. "

"Why?"

"Because if we makes one slip we shall go skating down to the bottom ofthe slope again in double-quick time. I feel a'ready as if I ought togo to the blacksmith's to get roughed. "

"Stamp your feet down if you are disposed to slip, my lad. I do notwant to do this, but if the slope grows steeper we must fix bayonets anduse them to steady us. "

"Take the edge off on 'em, sir. "

"Yes; but we must get across the ridge. Forward. "

They toiled on, the task growing heavier as they progressed, for thegradient became steeper, and they halted from time to time for a rest, the plan of using the bayonets being kept for a last resource. Butthere were compensations to make up for the severity of the toil, one ofwhich was expressed by the travellers at one of the halts. 

"Makes one feel jolly comf'table and warm, sir. "

"Yes; and takes away all doubt of our going in the right direction, forwe must be right. "

"I didn't think we was at first, sir. 'Tain't so dark neither. "

"No: we are getting higher, and the snow and ice are all round us. Nowthen, forward!"

Crunch, squeak, crunch went the snow as they tramped steadily, with thesurface curving slowly upward, till all at once there was a slip, athud, and a scramble, Gedge was down, and he began to glide, but checkedhimself with the butt of his rifle. 

"I'm all right, sir; but I was on the go, " he said, panting. 

"Hurt?" replied Bracy laconically. 

"Not a bit, six. Knocked some o' the wind out o' me, but I'm all rightagain now. "

"Forward!"

Bracy led on again, to find that the curve made by the snowfield rosemore and more steeply, and the inclination to slip increased. But hestamped his feet down as he kept on, with his breathing growing quicker, and had the satisfaction of hearing his follower imitate his example, till he began to find that he must soon make another halt. 

His spirits were rising, however, with an increasing hopeful feeling, for this was evidently the way to avoid pursuit or check. They were onthe ice, and to this they must trust for the rest of their journey tillthey were well within reach of the Ghil Valley, to which they mustdescend. 

Slip. 

In an instant Bracy was down, starting on a rapid descent toward theplace they had left; but at his first rush he heard beneath him a sharpblow delivered in the glazed surface, and he was suddenly brought up bythe body of Gedge. 

"Hold tight, sir! All right. I've got something to anchor us. "

"Ha!" ejaculated Bracy breathlessly. "It was so sudden. "

"Yes, sir; don't give you much time to think. You'd better do as I do. "

"What's that?"

"Keep your bay'net in your hand ready to dig down into the ice. Stoppedme d'reckly, and that stopped you. "

"Yes, I'll do so. A minute's rest, and then we'll go on again. "

"Make it two, sir. You sound as if you haven't got your wind back. "

"I shall be all right directly, my lad. This is grand. I hope bydaylight that we shall be in safety. "

"That's right, sir. My! shouldn't I have liked this when I was ayoungster! Think we shall come back this way?"

"Possibly, " said Bracy. 

"Be easy travelling, sir. Why, we could sit down on our heels and skimalong on the nails of our boots, with nothing to do but steer. "

"Don't talk, my lad, " said Bracy. "Now, forward once more. "

The journey was continued, and grew so laborious at last from thesmoothness of the ice, which increased as the gradient grew heavier--themelted snow having run and made the surface more compact during thesunny noon; and at the end of another couple of hours the difficulty ofgetting on and up was so great that Bracy changed his course a little soas to lessen the ascent by taking it diagonally. 

This made matters a little better, and tramp, tramp, they went on andon, rising more swiftly than they knew, and little incommoded now by thedarkness, for the stars were shining out through the cloudy mist whichhung over the slope, while their spirits seemed to rise with the ascent. 

"Have we passed the rocks along which we saw that body of men moving?"said Bracy at last. 

"I s'pose not, sir, or we must have felt 'em. They must have been along way off when we saw 'em going along. "

"Yes; the distances are very deceptive, and--Ah! stones, rocks. Here isthe rough track at last. "

They halted again, for by walking here and there they could make outthat there was a rough track to right and left, comparatively free fromsnow, and if this were followed to the right there would be travellingwhich would necessitate their waiting for daylight, since it was all inand out among huge masses of stone. 

"We couldn't get along here, sir, very fast, " said Gedge after making afew essays. 

"No, it is impossible now, " replied Bracy. "It would be a dangerousway, too, for it must, as we saw, cut the valley when; the enemy willcome out. "

He stood looking back and around him, to see that the darkness waslightened by the strange faint glare from the ice and snow around him;then, turning, he crossed the ridge of broken rocks and tried what theslope seemed like upon the other side, to find that it was acontinuation of that up which they had toiled, and apparently much thesame, the gradual curve upward to the mountain being cut by this band ofrocks. 

"Forward again, Gedge, " he cried. "This must be right, for we aregetting a trifle nearer to our journey's end, and more out of reach ofour pursuers. "

"Then it is right, sir; but I suppose we shall get a bit o' downhillsome time. "

They tramped on for the next hour, but not without making several halts, three of which were involuntary, and caused by more or less suddenslips. These were saved from being serious by the quick action ofdriving dagger-like the bayonet each carried into the frozen snow; andafter repetitions of this the falls seemed to lose; their riskycharacter, the man who went down scrambling to his feet again the nextinstant and being ready to proceed. The still air was piercingly cold, but it only seemed to make their blood thrill in their veins, and asense of exhilaration arose from the warm glow which pervaded them, andtemptingly suggested the removal of their woollen _poshtins_. But thetemptation was forced back, and the tramp continued hour after hour upwhat seemed to be an interminable slope, while fatigue was persistentlyignored. 

At last, though, Bracy was brought to a halt, and he stood panting. 

"Anything wrong, sir?" whispered Gedge hoarsely. 

"No; only that I can get no farther in this way. We must fix bayonets, and use our rifles as staves. "

"Right, sir. "

"Be careful not to force your barrel down too far, so as to get itplugged with the snow, " said Bracy; and then, as soon as thekeen-pointed weapons were fixed, he started onward again, the riflesanswering this new purpose admirably, and giving a steadiness to theprogress that had before been wanting. 

Consequently far better progress was made for the next half-hour, withmuch less exertion, and Bracy made up his mind that the first patch ofpines they came to on the lower ground should supply them with a coupleof saplings whose poles should have the bayonets fixed or bound uponthem, so as to take the place of the rifles. 

"I'm longing for the daylight, Gedge, " said Bracy suddenly, for they hadplunged into a mist which obscured the stars, "so that we can see betterin which direction to go, for we ought to be high enough now to be safefrom--Ha!"

Then silence. 

"Safe from what, sir?" said Gedge, stopping short. 

There was no reply, and after waiting a few seconds, feeling alarmed, the lad spoke again. 

"Didn't quite hear what you said, sir; safe from what?"

There was no reply, and Gedge suddenly turned frantic. 

"Mr Bracy, sir, " he said hoarsely, and then, raising his voice, hecalled his officer by name again and again; but the same terribledarkness and silence reigned together, and he grew maddened now. 

"Oh Lor'!" he cried, "what's come to him?" and he went upon his handsand knees to crawl and feel about. "He's gone down in a fit, andslipped sudden right away; for he ain't here. He's half-way down themountain by now, and I don't know which way to go and help him, and--Ah!" he shrieked wildly, and threw himself over backwards, to beginrolling and sliding swiftly back in the way he had come, his rifleescaping from his grasp. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

A PRAYER FOR LIGHT. 

Gedge glided rapidly down the icy slope for a good fifty yards in thedarkness, with the pace increasing, before he was able to turn on hisback and check himself by forcing his heels into the frozen snow. 

"And my rifle gone--where I shall never find it again, " was his firstthought, as he forced back his helmet, which had been driven over hiseyes: but, just as the thought was grasped, he was conscious of ascratching, scraping noise approaching, and he had just time to flingout his hands and catch his weapon, the effort, however, sending himgliding down again, this time to check himself by bringing the point ofthe bayonet to bear upon the snow. And now stopped, he lay motionlessfor a few moments. 

"Mustn't be in a flurry, " he panted, with his heart beating violently, "or I shan't find the gov'nor, and I must find him. I will find him, pore chap. Want to think it out cool like, and I'm as hot as if I'dbeen runnin' a mile. Now then; he's gone down, and he must ha' gonestrite down here, so if I lets myself slither gently I'm sure to comeupon him, for I shall be pulled up same as he'd be. "

He lay panting, still, for a few minutes, and his thinking powers, whichhad been upset by the suddenness of the scare, began to settlethemselves again. Then he listened as he went on, putting, as hementally termed it, that and that together. 

"Can't hear nothing of him, " he said to himself. "He must have gonedown with a rush 'stead o' falling in a fit as I thought fust; but itain't like a fall. He wouldn't smash hisself, on'y rub some skin off, and he'll be hollering to me d'reckly from somewheres below. Oh dear!if it only warn't so precious dark I might see him: but there ain't nomoon, and no stars now, and it's no use to light a match. I say, whydon't he holler?--I could hear him a mile away--or use his whistle?He'd know that would bring me, and be safer than shouting. But I can'thear nothing on him. Here: I know. "

Gedge rose to his feet and drove his bayonet into the snow to steadyhimself, without turning either to the right or the left. 

"Mustn't change front, " he said, "or I may go sliding down wrong andpass him, " he thought. Then raising his hand, he thrust two fingersinto his mouth and produced a long drawn whistle, which was a nearimitation of that which would be blown by an officer to bring his mentogether to rally round him and form square. 

"That ought to wake him up, " he thought. "He'd hear that if he wasmiles away. "

There was a faint reply which made his heart leap; and thrusting hisfingers between his lips, he whistled again in a peculiar way, with theresult that the sound came back as before, and Gedge's heart sank withsomething akin to despair. 

"'Tain't him, " he groaned. "It's them blessed eckers. I'll make sure, though. "

He stood listening for some minutes, and then, with his heart feelinglike lead, took off his helmet and wiped his dripping brow. 

"Oh dear!" he groaned; "ain't it dark! Reg'lar fog, and cold as cold. Makes a chap shiver. I dunno how it is. When I'm along with him I feelas bold as a lion. I ain't afeared o' anything. I'd foller himanywheres, and face as many as he'd lead me agen. 'Tain't braggin', forI've done it; but I'm blessed now if I don't feel a reg'lar mouse--apoor, shiverin' wet mouse with his back up, and ready to die o' frightthrough being caught in a trap, just as the poor little beggars do, andturns it up without being hurt a bit. I can't help it; I'm a beastlycoward; and I says it out aloud for any one to bear. That's it--acussed coward, and I can't help it, 'cause I was born so. He's gone, and I shan't never find him agen, and there's nothing left for me to dobut sneak back to the fort, and tell the Colonel as we did try, but luckwas agen us. 

"Nay, I won't, " he muttered. "I'll never show my face there again, evenif they call it desertion, unless I can get to the Ghoorkha Colonel andtell him to bring up his toothpick brigade. 

"Oh, here, I say, Bill, old man, " he said aloud after a pause, duringwhich he listened in vain for some signal from his officer, "this herewon't do. This ain't acting like a sojer o' the Queen. Standin' stillhere till yer get yerself froze inter a pillar o' salt. You've got tofetch your orficer just as much now as if if hailed bullets and bits o'rusty ragged iron. Here goes. Pull yourself together, old man! Yerwanted to have a slide, so now's your time. "

Grasping his rifle, he squatted down on his heels, and laid the weaponacross his knees preparatory to setting himself in motion, on the faintchance of gliding down to where Bracy would have gone before him. 

"Would you have thought it so steep that he could have slithered awaylike that? But there it is, " he muttered. "Now then, here goes. "Letting himself go, he began to glide slowly upon his well-nailed shoes;then the speed increased, and he would the next minute have been rushingrapidly down the slope had he not driven in his heels and stoppedhimself. 

"Well, one can put on the brake when one likes, " he muttered; "but hecouldn't ha' gone like this or I should have heard him making just thesame sort o' noise. He had no time to sit down; he must ha' gone on hisside or his back, heads up or heads down, and not so very fast. If I godown like this I shall be flying by him, and p'raps never stop till Iget to the end of the snow. I know--I'll lie down. "

Throwing himself over on his side, he gave a thrust with his hands andbegan to glide, but very slowly, and in a few seconds the wool of his_poshtin_ adhered so firmly to the smooth surface that he was brought upand had to start himself again. 

This took place twice, and he slowly rose to his feet. 

"Wants a good start, " he muttered, and he was about to throw himselfdown when a fresh thought crossed his brain. 

"I don't care, " he said aloud, as if addressing some one who had spoken;"think what yer like, I ain't afraid to pitch myself down and goskidding to the bottom, and get up with all the skin off! I sez heain't down there. I never heerd him go, and there's something more thanI knows on. It is a fit, and he's lying up yonder. Bill Gedge, lad, you're a-going wrong. "

He stood trying to pierce the thickening mist, looking as nearly as hecould judge straight upward in the course they had taken, and was aboutto start: but, not satisfied, he took out his match-box, struck a light, and, holding it down, sought for the marks made by the bayonets in theclimb. But there was no sign where he stood, neither was there to hisleft; and, taking a few paces to the right, with the rapidly-burningmatch close to the snow, the flame was just reaching his fingers when heuttered a sigh of satisfaction: for, as the light had to be dropped, there, one after the other, he saw two marks in the freshly-chipped snowglistening in the faint light. Keeping their direction fresh in hismind, he stalled upward on his search. 

"How far did I come down?" he said to himself. "I reckon 'bout ahundred yards. Say 'undred and twenty steps. "

He went on taking the hundred and twenty paces, and then he stoppedshort. 

"Must be close here somewhere, " he muttered; and he paused to listen, but there was not a sound. 

"Nobody couldn't hear me up here, " he thought, and he called hiscompanion by name, to rouse up strange echoes from close at hand; andwhen he changed to whistling, the echoes were sudden and startling inthe extreme. 

"It's rum, " said Gedge. "He was just in front of me, one minute talkingto me, and then `Ha!' he says, and he was gone. "

Gedge took off his helmet, and wiped his wet brow again before replacingit. 

"Ugh, you idjit!" he muttered. "You were right at first. He droppeddown in a sort o' fit from overdoing it--one as took him all at wunst, and he's lying somewheres about fast asleep, as people goes off in thesnow and never wakes again. He's lying close by here somewheres, andyou ought to have done fust what you're going to do last. 

"Mustn't forget where I left you, " he muttered as he gave a dig downwith his rifle, driving the bayonet into the snow, and sending somescraps flying with a curious whispering noise which startled him. 

"What does that mean?" he said, and he caught at the butt of his piece, now sticking upward in the snow, but dropped his hand again to hispocket and again took out his match-box. 

"Sort o' fancy, " he muttered; and, getting out a match, he struck it, after shutting the box with a snap, which again made him start, something like an echo rising from close at hand. 

"Why, I'm as nervous as a great gal, " he muttered, as the tiny matchburst into a bright flame which formed a bit of a halo about itself, and, stooping to bring the tiny clear light burning so brightly close tothe surface, he took two steps forward, the ground at the second givingway beneath him, and at the same moment he uttered a wild shriek ofhorror, dashed the match from him, and threw himself backward on to thesnow. For the tiny light had in that one brief moment revealed a horrorto him which was a full explanation of the trouble, and as he laytrembling in every limb, his shriek was repeated from a short distanceaway, and then again and again rapidly, till it took the form of a wildburst of laughter. 

"Get up, you coward!" growled Gedge the next minute, as he made a braveeffort to master the terrible shock he had sustained, for he felt thathe had been within an inch of following his officer to a horrible death. 

The self-delivered charge of cowardice brought him to himself directly, and he sprang to his feet. Then, with fingers wet with a coldperspiration, and trembling as if with palsy, he dragged out hismatch-box, took out one of the tiny tapers, and essayed to light it, butonly produced streaks of phosphorescent light, for he had taken thematch out by the end, and his wet fingers had quenched its lightingpowers. 

With the next attempt he was more successful; and, setting aside allfear of being seen, he held out the flaming light, which burned withoutmotion in the still air, and, holding it before him, stepped towards theedge of the snow, which ended suddenly in a black gulf, over which hewas in the act of leaning, when once more he sprang back and listened, for the snow where he stood had given way, and as he remained motionlessfor a few moments, there suddenly came up from far below, a dull thud, followed by a strange whispering series of echoes as if off the face ofsome rocks beyond. 

"Oh!" he groaned. "That's it, then. It was down there he went; and hemust be killed. "

It was one of the young soldier's weak moments; but his life of late hadtaught him self-concentration and the necessity for action, and herecovered himself quickly. The trembling fit passed off, and he lookout another match, lit it, stepped as near as he dared to the edge ofthe gulf, and then pitched the burning flame gently from him, seeing itgo down out of sight; but nothing more, for the place was immense. 

He lay down upon his breast now, and crawled in what seemed to begreater darkness, consequent upon the light he had burned having madehis eyes contract, and worked himself so close that his hand was overthe edge, a short distance to the left of where he had broken it awaywith his weight. Here he gathered up a handful of the frozen snow, threw it from him, and listened till a faint pattering sound came up. 

His next act was to utter a shout, which came back at once, as if from awall of rock, while other repetitions seemed to come from right andleft. Then, raising his fingers to his mouth, he gave vent to a long, shrill whistle, which he repeated again and again, and then, with astrange stony sensation, he worked himself slowly back, feet foremost, at first very slowly, and then with frantic haste, as it suddenly dawnedupon him that he was going uphill. For the snowy mass was sinking, andit was only just in time that he reached a firmer part, and layquivering in the darkness, while he listened to a rushing sound, for hisweight had started an immense cornice-like piece of the snow, which wentdown with a sullen roar. 

"It's no use while it's like this, " groaned Gedge. "I can't do nothingto help him till the day comes. I should on'y be chucking my own lifeaway. I'd do it if it was any good; but it wouldn't be no use to try, and I might p'raps find him if I could only see. "

He had risen to his knees now, and the position brought the words to hislips; the rough lad speaking, but with as perfect reverence as ever camefrom the lips of man:

"Oh, please, God, can't you make the light come soon, and end thisdreadful night?"

Poor, rough, rude Bill Gedge had covered his eyes as he softly whisperedhis prayer; and when he opened them again, it was to look upon no marvelgreater than that grand old miracle which we, with leaden eyes sealedup, allow to pass away unheeded, unseen. It was but the beginning ofanother of the many days seen in a wild mountain land; for the watchingsand tramps of the two adventurers had pretty well used up the hours ofdarkness; and, black though the snow lay where Bill Gedge knelt, rightbeyond, straight away upon the mighty peak overhead, there was a tinypoint of glowing orange light, looking like the tip of some huge spearthat was heated red-hot. 

For the supplicant was gazing heavenward, and between the sky and hiseyes there towered up one of the huge peaks of the Karakoram range, receiving the first touch of the coming day. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

THE LIGHT THAT CAME. 

Gedge knelt there gazing upward, unable to grasp the truth of that whichhe saw; for all around him seemed blacker than ever; but as he lookedthere was another glowing speck high up in the distance, and thenanother and another started into sight, while the first he had seen wenton increasing in brightness; and, as he still kept his eyes fixed uponit, the fact came to him at last--the belief that it was indeed the sunlighting up the glittering peaks of the vast range--and he started tohis feet with a cry of exultation. 

"Why, it is to-morrow morning!" he shouted. "Ah! I can help him now. "

But for a time he could only wait on patiently, and watch the brightglow extending, and stealing slowly downward, in a way which suggestedthat it would be hours before the spot where he stood would be lit up bythe full light of day; and, hardly daring to move, he listened, andtwice over gave one of his long, piercing whistles, which were echoedand re-echoed in a way which made him shudder and hesitate to raise thestrange sounds again. 

"It's o' no use, " he said. "He's gone down there, and he's dead--he'sdead; and I shall never see him again. --Yah! yer great snivellingidjit!" he cried the next moment, in his rage against himself. "The oldwoman was right when I 'listed. She said I wasn't fit for a sojer--nogood for nothing but to stop at home, carry back the washing, and turnthe mangle. I'm ashamed o' myself. My word, though, the fog's not sothick, but ain't it cold! If I don't do something I shall freeze hard, and not be able to help him when it gets light. "

It was a fact; for, consequent upon standing still so long, a peculiarnumbing sensation began to attack his extremities, and it was none toosoon when he felt his way down the slope for a few yards, and thenturned to climb again. A very short time longer, and he would have beenunable to stir; as it was, he could hardly climb back to the place fromwhich he started. Cut he strove hard to restore the failingcirculation, keeping his body in active motion, till, by slow degrees, his natural activity returned, and, forgetting the weariness produced bysuch a night of exertion, he felt ready to do anything towards findingand rescuing his officer. 

"There's no mistake about it, " he muttered, "standing still up in theseparts means hands and feet freezing hard. It's wonderful, though, howthese sheepskins keep out the cold. I ought to feel worse than I do, though, at a time like this; but it's because I won't believe thegov'nor's dead. It ain't possible, like, for it's so much more suddenthan being caught by a bullet through the heart. Oh he ain't dead--hecan't be--I won't believe it. Tumbled down into the soft snowsomewhere, and on'y wants me to go down and help him out. "

He took another turn up and down to keep up the circulation, and by thistime he could move about freely, and without having to climb the ascentin dread of going too far and reaching the perilous edge, with itstreachery of snow. 

"Getting lighter fast, " he said, "and I shall be able to get to worksoon. And that's it. I've got to think o' that. There's no help to begot. You've got to find all the help in yourself, old man. My! ain'tit beautiful how the light's coming! It's just as if the angels waspouring glory on the tops o' the mountains, and it's running more andmore down the sides, till these great holes and hollows are full, andit's day once more. "

As the golden rays of sunshine came lower, the mountain in front grewdazzling in its beauty. Minute by minute the glaciers which combed itssides leaped into sight, shining with dazzling beauty, like rivers andfalls of golden water; the dark rifts and chasms became purple, lightening into vivid blue; and the reflected light kept on flashingupon hollows and points, till, saving the lower portions, the vast massof tumbled-together ice and snow shone with a glory that filled theignorant common lad with a strange feeling of awe. 

This passed off directly, however; and, as the darkness on a level withwhere he stood grew more and more transparent, Gedge's active mind wassearching everything in the most practical way, in connection with thetask he had in hand. He could see now dimly that the snow to right andleft of him curved over the vast gulf in front--vast in length only;for, thirty or forty yards from where he stood, there was the huge blankface of the mountain going downward, as one vast perpendicular wall ofgrey rock, streaked with snow where there were ledges for it to cling. In fact, the snow from above hung hen; and there as if ready to fallinto the black gulf, still full of darkness, and whose depths could notbe plumbed until the light displaced the gloom, and a safe coign ofvantage could be found from which the adventurer could look down. 

In fact, the young soldier was on the edge of a stupendous_bergschrund_, as the phenomenon is termed by Swiss climbers--a deepchasm formed by the ice and snow shrinking or falling away from the sideof a mountain, where the latter is too steep for it to cling. And then, after a little examination to right and left, Gedge, with beating heart, found the place where Bracy had stepped forward and instantaneouslyfallen. There was no doubt about it, for the searcher found the twospots where he himself had so nearly gone down, the snow showing greatirregular patches, bitten off, as it were, leaving sharp, rugged, perpendicular edges; while where Bracy had fallen there were twofootprints and a deep furrow, evidently formed by the rifle, to which hehad clung, the furrow growing deeper as it neared the edge of the snow, through which it had been dragged. 

Gedge's face flushed with excitement as he grasped all this and provedits truth, for, between where he stood and the footprints made throughthe crust of snow, there were his own marks, those made by his bayonet, and others where he had flung himself down, for the snow here was farsofter than upon the slope. 

In spite of the darkness still clinging to the depths, Gedge began atonce searching for a safe place--one where he could crawl to the edge ofthe gulf, get his face over, and look down; but anywhere near whereBracy had gone down this was in vain, for the snow curved over like somehuge volute of glittering whiteness, and several times over, when heventured, it was to feel that his weight was sufficient to make the snowyield, sending him back with a shudder. 

Baffled again and again, he looked to right and left, in search of someslope by whose means he could descend into the gulf; but he looked invain--everywhere the snow hung over, and as the light increased he sawthat the curve was far more than he had imagined. 

"Oh, if I only knowed what to do!" he groaned. "I can't seem to helphim; and I can't leave him to go for help. I must get down somehow; butI dursen't jump. "

This last thought had hardly crossed his brain when a feeling of wildexcitement rushed through him; for faintly heard from far away below, and to his left, there came the shrill chirruping note of an officer'swhistle, and Gedge snatched at the spike of his helmet, plucked it off, and waved it frantically in the air. 

"Hoorray!" he yelled. "Hoorray! and I don't care if any one hears me. Hoorray! He ain't dead a bit; he's down somewhere in the soft snow, andhoorray! I'm going to get him out. "

At that moment the whistle chirruped faint and shrill again, the notebeing repeated from the vast wall. 

"He's this side somewhere, " cried Gedge. "Out o' sight under thiscurl-over o' snow. There he goes again, and I haven't answered. Of allthe--"

The cramming of his fingers into his mouth checked the speech, and, blowing with all his might, the young soldier sent forth a shrillimitation of the officer's whistle, to echo from the mountain face; andthen, unmistakably, and no echo, came another faint, shrill whistle fromfar to the left. 

"All right, Mr Bracy, sir! Hoorray! and good luck to you! I'ma-coming. "

He whistled again, and went off in the direction from which his summonsseemed to have come, and again he was answered, and again and again, till, quite a quarter of a mile along the edge, the young soldierstopped, for the whistles had sounded nearer and nearer, till he feltconvinced that he had reached a spot on the snow hanging just above hissummoner's head. 

As he stopped he whistled again, and the answer sounded shrill and near. 

"Below there! Ahoy!" he yelled, and mingling with the echoes came hisname, faintly heard, but in the familiar tones. 

"Oh dear! What's a chap to do?" panted Gedge. "I want to holler andshout, and dance a 'ornpipe. Here, I feel as if I'm goin' as mad as ahatter. Hi! Oh, Mr Bracy--sir--ain't--half--dead--are--yer?" heshouted, as if he had punctuated his words with full stops. 

"Not--much--hurt, " came up distinctly. 

"Then here goes!" muttered Gedge. "I must try and get a look at yer, tosee where yer are. "

The speaker threw himself on his faces once more, and began to crawltowards the edge of the cornice, to look down into the fairly-lightchasm; but shrank back only just in time to save himself from going downwith a great patch of snow; and he listened, shudderingly, to the dullrush it made, followed by a heavy pat and a series of whispering echoes. Then faintly heard came the words: "Keep back, or you'll send anavalanche down. "

"What's a haverlarnsh?" muttered Gedge. Then aloud, "All right, sir. Can yer get out?"

"I don't know yet. I must rest a bit. Don't talk, or you'll be sendingthe snow down. "

"All right, sir; but can't yer tell me what to do?"

"You can do nothing, " came slowly back in distinct tones. "The snowcurves over my head, and there is a tremendous depth. Keep still whereyou are, and don't come near. "

"Oh, I can keep still now, " said Gedge coolly. "It's like being anotherman to know that's he's all alive. Oh! can't be very much hurt, or hewouldn't call like he does. Poor chap! But what's he going to do?Climb up the side somehow? Well, I s'pose I must obey orders; but Ishould like to be doing something to help him out. "

Gedge was of that type which cannot remain quiet; and, feeling irritatednow by his enforced state of helplessness, he spent the time in lookingdown and around him for signs of danger. 

The sun was now above the horizon, lighting up the diversified scene atthe foot of the mountain, and away along the valleys spreading to rightand left; but for some time he could make out nothing save a few specksin the far distance, which might have been men, or a flock of somecreatures pasturing on the green valley-side, miles beyond thetermination of the snow-slope up which they had climbed. He made out, too, the continuation of the stony track leading to the head of thevalley, and along which the party of tribes-men had been seen to pass;but there was apparently nothing there, and Gedge drew a breath full ofrelief as he felt how safe they were, and beyond the reach of the enemy. 

Then, turning to the gulf again, he went as near as he dared to theedge, and stood listening to a dull sound, which was frequentlyrepeated, and was followed by a low rushing noise, which kept gatheringin force till it was like a heavy rush, and then dying away. 

"What's he doing?" muttered Gedge. "Sounds like digging. That's it;he's been buried alive; and he's hard at work trying to dig himself outof the snow with his bayonet stuck at the end of his rifle. Well, goodluck to him. Wonder where he'll come up first. "

Gedge watched the cornice-like edge of the snowfield as the sounds as ofsome one feebly digging went on; but he could gain no further hint ofwhat was going on, and at last his excitement proved too much for him, and he once more began to creep towards the edge of the snow, getting sofar without accident this time that he could form an idea of what mustbe the depth from seeing far down the grey face of the wall of rock, certainly four or five hundred feet, but no bottom. 

"He couldn't have fallen all that way, " he said to himself. "It must godown with a slope on this side. "

A sharp crack warned him that he was in danger, and he forced himselfback on to firm snow, receiving another warning of the peril to which hehad exposed himself, for a portion many feet square went down with ahissing rush, to which he stood listening till all was still once more. 

Suddenly he jumped back farther, for from somewhere higher up there wasa heavy report as of a cannon, followed by a loud echoing roar, and, gazing upward over a shoulder of the mountain, he had a good view ofwhat seemed to be a waterfall plunging over a rock, to disappearafterwards behind a buttress-like mass of rock and ice. This wasfollowed by another roar, and another, before all was still again. 

"Must be ice and snow, " he said to himself; "can't be water. "

Gedge was right; for he had been gazing up at an ice-fall, whose dropswere blocks and masses of ice diminished into dust by the greatdistance, and probably being formed of thousands of tons. 

"Bad to have been climbing up there, " he muttered, and he shrank alittle farther away from the edge of the great chasm. "It's precioushorrid being all among this ice and snow. It sets me thinking, as italways does when I've nothing to do. --If I could only do something tohelp him, instead of standing here. --Oh, I say, " he cried wildly, "lookat that!"

He had been listening to the regular dull dig, dig, dig, going on belowthe cornice, and to the faint rushing sound, as of snow falling, thinking deeply of his own helplessness the while, wondering too, forthe twentieth time, where Bracy would appear, when, to his intenseastonishment, he saw a bayonet dart through the snow into daylight abouttwenty feet back from the edge of the great gulf. 

The blade disappeared again directly, and reappeared rapidly two orthree times as he ran towards the spot, and then hesitated, for it wasdangerous to approach the hole growing in the snow, the direction of thethrusts made being various, and the risk was that the weapon might bedarted into the looker-on. Gedge stood then as near as he dared go, watching the progress made by the miner, and seeing the hole rapidlyincrease in size as the surface crumbled in. 

Then all at once Gedge's heart seemed to leap towards his mouth, forthere was a sudden eddy of the loose snow, as if some one werestruggling, the bayonet, followed by the rifle, was thrust out intodaylight, held by a pair of hands which sought to force it crosswiseover the mouth of the hole, and the next instant the watcher saw why. For the caked snow from the opening to the edge of the gulf, and formany yards on either side, was slowly sinking; while, starting from thehole in two opposite directions, and keeping parallel with the edge; ofthe cornice, a couple of cracks appeared, looking like dark jaggedlines. 

It was a matter of but a few moments. Gedge had had his lessonsregarding the curving-over snow, and knew the danger, which gave him theapt promptitude necessary for action in the terrible peril. 

Dropping his own rifle on the ice, he sprang forward, stooped, and, quick as a flash, caught hold of the barrel of the rifle lying on thesurface just below the hilt of the bayonet. Then throwing himself backwith all the force he could command, he literally jerked Bracy out fromwhere he lay buried in the loose snow and drew him several yards rapidlyover the smooth surface. The long lines were opening out and gaping thewhile, and he had hardly drawn his officer clear before there was asoft, dull report, and a rush, tons of the cornice having beenundermined where it hung to the edge of the icefield, and now wentdownward with a hissing sound, which was followed by a dull roar. 

"Ah-h-h!" groaned Gedge, and he dropped down upon his knees beside theprostrate snowy figure, jerked his hands towards his face, and then fellover sidewise, to lie motionless with his eyes fast closed. 

When he opened them again it was to see Bracy kneeling by his side andbending over him, the young officer's countenance looking blue andswollen, while his voice when he spoke sounded husky and faint. 

"Are you better now?" he said. 

"Better!" replied Gedge hoarsely as he stared confusedly at the speaker. "Ain't been ill agen, have I! Here, what yer been doing to make myhead ache like this here? I--I--I d' know. Something's buzzing, and myhead's going round. Some one's been giving me--Oh, Mr Bracy, sir! Iremember now. Do tell me, sir; are yer all right?"

"Yes, nearly, " replied the young officer, with a weary smile. "Twistedmy ankle badly, and I'm faint and sick. I can't talk. "

"Course not, sir; but you're all right again now. You want something toeat. I say, sir, did you finish your rations?"

"No; they're here in my haversack. You can take a part if you wantsome. "

"Me, sir? I've got plenty. Ain't had nothing since when we had ourfeed together. I ain't touched nothing. "

"Eat, then; you must want food. "

"Yes, I am a bit peckish, sir, I s'pose; but I can't eat 'less you do. "

Bracy smiled faintly, and began to open his snow-covered haversack, taking from it a piece of hard cake, which he began to eat very slowly, looking hard and strange of manner, a fact which did not escape Gedge'seyes; but the latter said nothing, opened his canvas bag with tremblinghands, and began to eat in a hurried, excited way, but soon left off. 

"Don't feel like eating no more, sir, " he said huskily. "Can't forthinking about how you got on. Don't say nothing till you feel wellenough, sir. I can see that you're reg'lar upset. Ain't got froze, have you--hands or feet?"

"No, no, " said Bracy slowly, speaking like one suffering from someterrible shock. "I did not feel the cold so much. There, I am cominground, my lad, and I can't quite grasp yet that I am sitting here alivein the sunshine. I'm stunned. It is as if I were still in thathorrible dream-like time of being face to face with death. Ha! how goodit is to feel the sun once more!"

"Yes, sir; capital, sir, " said Gedge more cheerfully. "Quite puzzlingto think its all ice and snow about us. Shines up quite warm; 'most aswarm as it shines down. "

"Ha!" sighed Bracy; "it sends life into me again. "

He closed his eyes, and seemed to be drinking in the warm glow, whichwas increasing fast, giving colour to the magnificent view around. Butafter a few minutes, during which Gedge sat munching slowly and gazinganxiously in the strangely swollen and discoloured face, the eyes werereopened, to meet those of Gedge, who pretended to be looking anotherway. 

The sun's warmth was working wonders, and shortly after Bracy's voicesounded stronger as he said quietly:

"It would have been hard if I had been carried back by the snow at thelast, Gedge. "

"Hard, sir? Horrid. "

"It turned you sick afterwards--the narrow escape I had. "

"Dreadful, sir. I was as bad as a gal. I'm a poor sort o' thingsometimes, sir. But don't you talk till you feel all right, sir. "

"I am beginning to feel as if talking will do me good and spur me backinto being more myself. "

"Think so, sir? Well, you know best, sir. "

"I think so, " said Bracy quietly; "but I shall not be right till I havehad a few hours' sleep. "

"Look here, then, sir; you lie down in the sun here on my _poshtin_. I'll keep watch. "

"No! no! Not till night. There, I am getting my strength back. I wascompletely stunned, Gedge, and I have been acting like a man walking inhis sleep. "

Gedge kept glancing at his officer furtively, and there was an anxiouslook in his eyes as he said to himself:

"He's like a fellow going to have a touch of fever. Bit wandering-like, poor chap! I know what's wrong. I'll ask him. "

He did not ask at once, though, for he saw that Bracy was eating thepiece of cake with better appetite, breaking off scraps more frequently;while the food, simple as it was, seemed to have a wonderfully revivingeffect, and he turned at last to his companion. 

"You are not eating, my lad, " he said, smiling faintly. "Come, you knowwhat you have said to me. "

"Oh, I'm all right again now, sir; I'm only keeping time with you. There. Dry bread-cake ain't bad, sir, up here in the mountains, whenyou're hungry. Hurt your head a bit--didn't you, sir?"

"No, no, " said Bracy more firmly. "My right ankle; that is all. Howhorribly sudden it was!"

"Awful, sir; but don't you talk. "

"I must now; it does me good, horrible as it all was; but, as I tellyou, I was stunned mentally and bodily, to a great extent. I must havedropped a great distance into the soft snow upon a slope, and I was along time before I could get rid of the feeling of being suffocated. Iwas quite buried, I suppose; but at last, in a misty way, I seemed to bebreathing the cold air in great draughts as I lay on the snow, holdingfast to my rifle, which somehow seemed to be the one hope I had ofgetting back to you. "

"You did a lot of good with it, sir. "

"Did I?"

"Course you did, sir. Digging through the snow. "

"Oh yes, I remember now, " said Bracy, with a sigh. "Yes, I rememberhaving some idea that the snow hung above me like some enormous wavecurling right over before it broke, and then becoming frozen hard. ThenI remember feeling that I was like one of the rabbits in the sandhillsat home, burrowing away to make a hole to get to the surface, and asfast as I got the sand down from above me I kept on kicking it out withmy feet, and it slid away far below with a dull, hissing sound. "

"Yes, sir, I heard it; but that was this morning. How did you get on inthe night, after you began to breathe again? You couldn't ha' beenburied long, or you'd ha' been quite smothered. "

"Of course, " said Bracy rather vacantly--"in the night?"

"Yes; didn't you hear me hollering?"

"No. "

"When you were gone all in a moment I thought you'd slipped and gonesliding down like them chaps do the tobogganing, sir. "

"You did call to me, then?"

"Call, sir? I expect that made me so hoarse this morning. "

"I did not hear you till I whistled and you answered, not long ago. "

"Why, I whistled too, sir, lots o' times, and nigh went mad withthinking about you. "

"Thank you, Gedge, " said Bracy quietly, and he held out his hand andgripped his companion's warmly. "I give you a great deal of trouble. "

"Trouble, sir? Hark at you! That ain't trouble. But after you got outof the snow?"

"After I got out of the snow?"

"Yus, sir; you was there all night. "

"Was I? Yes, I suppose so. I must have been. But I don't know much. It was all darkness and snow, and--oh yes, I remember now! I did notdare to move much, because whenever I did stir I began to glide down asif I were going on for ever. "

"But don't you remember, sir, any more than that?"

"No, " said Bracy, speaking with greater animation now. "As I told you, I must have been stunned by my terrible fall, and that saved me from atime of agony that would have driven me mad. As soon as it was light Imust have begun moving in a mechanical way to try and escape from thatterrible death-trap: but all that has been dream-like, and--and I feelas if I were still in a kind of nightmare. I am quite faint, too, andgiddy with pain. Yes, I must lie down here in the sunshine for a bit. Don't let me sleep long if I drop off. "

"No, sir; I won't, sir, " replied Gedge, as Bracy sank to his elbow andthen subsided with a restful sigh, lying prone upon the snow. 

"He's fainted! No, he ain't; he's going right off to sleep. Not lethim sleep long? Yes, I will; I must, poor chap! It's knocked half thesense out of him, just when he was done up, too. Not sleep? Why, that's the doctor as'll pull him round. All right, sir; you're going tohave my sheepskin too, and you ain't going to be called till the sun'sgoing down, and after that we shall see. "

Ten minutes later Bracy was sleeping, carefully wrapped in Gedge's_poshtin_, while the latter was eating heartily of the remains of hisrations. 

"And he might ha' been dead, and me left alone!" said Gedge, speaking tohimself. "My! how soon things change! Shall I have a bit more, orshan't I! Yes; I can't put my greatcoat on outside, so I must put someextra lining in. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

ONLY HUMAN. 

As the sun gathered force in rising higher, a thin veil of snow wasmelted from off a broad patch of rock, which dried rapidly; and, after alittle consideration, Gedge went to Bracy's shoulders, took fast hold ofhis _poshtin_, and drew him softly and quickly off the icy surface righton to the warm, dry rock, the young officer's eyes opening widely intransit, and then closing again without their owner becoming conscious, but, as his head was gently lowered down again upon its sheepskinpillow, the deep sleep of exhaustion went on. 

"Needn't ha' been 'fraid o' waking you, " said Gedge softly, and lookingdown at the sleeper as if proud of his work. --"There, you'll be dry andwarm as a toast, and won't wake up lying in a pond o' water. --Now I'lljust have a look round, and then sit down and wait till he wakes. "

Gedge took his good look round, making use of Bracy's glass, and in twoplaces made out bodies of white-coated men whose weapons glinted in thesun shine; but they were far away, and in hollows among the hills. 

"That's all I can make out, " said Gedge, closing the glass and replacingit softly in the case slung from Bracy's shoulders; "but there's holesand cracks and all sorts o' places where any number more may be. Blestif I don't think all the country must have heard that we're going forhelp, and turned out to stop us. My! how easy it all looked when westarted! Just a long walk and a little dodging the niggers, and the jobdone. One never thought o' climbing up here and skating down, and havea launching in the snow. "

Gedge yawned tremendously, and being now in excellent spirits andcontentment with himself, he chuckled softly. 

"That was a good one, " he said. "What a mouth I've got! I say, though, my lad, mouths have to be filled, and there ain't much left. We weregoing, I thought, to shoot pheasants, and kill a sheep now and then, tomake a fire and have roast bird one day, leg o' mutton the next, andcold meat when we was obliged; but seems to me that it was all cookingyour roast chickens before they was hatched. Fancy lighting a fireanywhere! Why, it would bring a swarm of the beauties round to carve usup instead of the wittles; and as to prog, why, I ain't seen nothing butthat one bear. Don't seem to hanker after bear, " continued Gedge aftera few minutes' musing, during which he made sure that Bracy was sleepingcomfortably. "Bears outer the 'Logical Gardens, nicely fatted up onbuns, might be nice, and there'd be plenty o' nice fresh bear's greasefor one's 'air; but these here wild bears in the mountains must feedtheirselves on young niggers and their mothers, and it'd be like being asort o' second-hand cannibal to cook and eat one of the hairy brutes. No, thanky; not this time, sir. I'll wait for the pudden. "

Human nature is human nature, which nobody can deny; and, uncultivatedsave in military matters, and rough as he was, Bill Gedge was as humanas he could be. He had just had a tremendous tramp for a whole day, asleepless night of terrible excitement and care, a sudden respite fromanxiety, a meal, and the glow of a hot sun upon a patch of rock whichsent a genial thrill of comfort through his whole frame. These were thedifficulties which were weighing hard in one of the scales of the youngprivate's constitution, while he was doing his best to weigh down theother scale with duty, principle, and a manly, honest feeling of likingfor the officer whom he had set up from the first moment of beingattached to the company as the model of what a soldier should be. Itwas hard work. Those yawns came again and again, increasing inviolence. 

"Well done, boa-constructor, " he said. "Little more practice, andyou'll be able to swallow something as big as yourself; but my! don't itstretch the corners of your mouth! I want a bit o' bear's grease readyto rub in, for they're safe to crack. 

"My! how sleepy I am!" he muttered a little later. "I ain't been put onsentry-go, but it's just the same, and a chap as goes to sleep in theface of the enemy ought to be shot. Sarve him right, too, for notkeeping a good lookout. Might mean all his mates being cut up. Oh! Isay, this here won't do, " he cried, springing up. "Let's have ahoky-poky penny ice, free, grashus, for nothing. "

He went off on tiptoe, glancing at Bracy as he passed, and then stoopeddown over a patch of glittering snow, scraping up a handful andstraightening himself in the sunshine, as he amused himself byaddressing an imaginary personage. 

"Say, gov'nor, " he cried, "you've got a bigger stock than you'll getshut of to-day. --Eh? You don't expect to? Right you are, old man. Break yer barrer if yer tried to carry it away. Say; looks cleaner andnicer to-day without any o' that red or yeller paint mixed up with it. I like it best when it's white. Looks more icy. --What say? Spoon? No, thank ye. Your customers is too fond o' sucking the spoons, and I neversee you wash 'em after. --Ha! this is prime. Beats Whitechapel all tofits; and it's real cold, too. I don't care about it when it'sbeginning to melt and got so much juist. --But I say! Come! Fair play'sa jewel. One likes a man to make his profit and be 'conimycal with thesugar, but you ain't put none in this. 

"Never mind, " he added after a pause, during which the Italianice-vendor faded out of his imagination; "it's reg'lar 'freshing whenyou're so sleepy. Wonder what made them Italians come to London andstart selling that stuff o' theirs. Seems rum; ours don't seem acountry for that sort o' thing. Baked taters seems so much moreEnglish, and does a chap so much more good. "

He walked back to the warm patch of rock, looked at Bracy, and thenplaced both rifles and bayonets ready, sat down cross-legged, and afterwithdrawing the cartridges, set to work with an oily rag to remove alltraces of rust, and gave each in turn a good polish, ending by carefullywiping the bayonets after unfixing them, and returning them to theirsheaths, handling Bracy's most carefully, for fear of disturbing thesleeper. This done, he began to yawn again, and, as he expressed it, took another penny ice and nodding at vacancy, which he filled with aperipatetic vendor, he said:

"All right, gov'nor; got no small change. Pay next time I come thisway. "

Then he marked out a beat, and began marching up and down. 

"Bah!" he cried; "that ice only makes you feel dry and thirsty. --My! howsleepy I am!--Here, steady!" he cried, as he yawned horribly; "you'llhave your head right off, old man, if you do that. --Never was so sleepyin my life. "

He marched up and down a little faster--ten paces and turn--ten pacesand turn--up and down, up and down, in the warm sunshine; but it was asif some deadly stupor enveloped him, and as he kept up the steadyregulation march, walking and turning like an automaton, he was suddenlyfast asleep and dreaming for quite a minute, when he gave a violentstart, waking himself, protesting loudly against a charge made againsthim, and all strangely mixed up the imaginary and the real. 

"Swear I wasn't, Sergeant!" he cried angrily. "Look for yerself. --Didn't yer see, pardners? I was walking up and down like a clockworkhimidge. --Sleep at my post? Me sleep at my post? Wish I may die if Ido such a thing. It's the old game. Yer allus 'ated me, Sergeant, fromthe very first, and--Phew! Here! What's the matter? I've caughtsomething, and it's got me in the nut. I'm going off my chump. "

Poor Gedge stood with his hands clasped to his forehead, staring wildlybefore him. 

"Blest if I wasn't dreaming!" he said wonderingly. "Ain't took bad, amI? Thought old Gee come and pounced upon me, and said I was sleepin' onduty. And it's a fack. It's as true as true; I was fast asleep;leastwise I was up'ards. Legs couldn't ha' been, because they'd ha'laid down. Oh! this here won't do. It was being on dooty withoutarms. "

Drawing himself up, he snatched his bayonet from its scabbard, andresumed his march, going off last asleep again; but this time thecessation of consciousness descended as it were right below thewaist-belt and began to steal down his legs, whose movements becameslower and slower, hips, then knees, stiffening; and then, as the drowsygod's work attacked his ankles, his whole body became rigid, and hestood as if he had been gradually frozen stiff for quite a minute, whenit seemed as if something touched him, and he sprang into wakefulnessagain, and went on with his march up and down. 

"Oh, it's horrid!" he said piteously. "Of course. That'll do it. "

He sheathed his bayonet, and catching up his rifle, went through theregular forms as if receiving orders: he grounded arms; then drew andfixed bayonet, shouldered arms, and began the march again. 

"That's done it, " he said. "Reg'larly woke up now. S'pose a fellowcan't quite do without sleep, unless he got used to it, like the chap's'oss, only he died when he'd got used to living upon one eat a day. Rumthing, sleep, though. I allus was a good un to sleep. Sleep anywhere;but I didn't know I was so clever as to sleep standing up. Wonderwhether I could sleep on one leg. Might do it on my head. Often said Icould do anything on my head. There, it's a-coming on again. "

He stepped to the nearest snow and rubbed his temples with it beforeresuming his march; but the relief was merely temporary. He went toBracy's side, to see that he was sleeping heavily, and an intensefeeling of envy and longing to follow his officer's example and lie downand sleep for hours nearly mastered him. 

"But I won't--I won't sleep, " he said, grinding his teeth. "I'll diefirst. I'm going to keep awake and do my dooty like a soldier by myorficer. I'd do it for any orficer in the ridgement, so of course Iwould for the gov'nor, poor chap! He's watched over me before now. --Yes, I'm going to keep on. I shall be better soon. Ten minutes wouldset me right, and if there was a mate here to take my post I'd have anap; but there ain't a pardner to share it, and I've got to do it on myhead. Wonder whether I should feel better if I did stand on my head fora minute. Anyhow, I ain't goin' to try. "

Gedge spent the next ten minutes in carefully examining his rifle; thenhe turned to Bracy, and soon after he took out the latter's glass andswept the country round, to find more groups of men in motion. 

"Why, the place is getting alive with the beggars, " he growled. "Weshall be having some of 'em cocking an eye up and seeing us here. Don'tknow, though; they couldn't make us out, and even if they did we looklike a couple o' sheep. I've got to look out sharp, though, to see aswe're not surprised. Almost wish three or four would come now, so as Icould have a set-to with 'em. That would wake me up, and no mistake. --Ah! it's wonderful what one can see with a bit or two o' glass set in abrown thing like this. --Ah! there it is again. "

Gedge lowered the glass and started violently, for the feeling of sleepwas now overmastering. 

"Nearly dropped and smashed his glass, " he said petulantly, and, layingdown his rifle, he closed the little lorgnette slowly and carefully withhalf-numbed fingers, which fumbled about the instrument feebly. 

"He'd ha'--he'd ha'--fine--tongue-thrashing when he woke--foun' glass--smashed. "

Gedge sank upon his knees and bent over the sleeper, fumbling for thestrap and case to replace the glass. 

"Where ha' you got to?" he muttered. "What yer swinging about half amile away for? Ah! that's got yer, " he went on, aiming at the case witha strange fixity of expression. "Now then--the lid--the lid--and thestrap through the buckle, and the buckle--done it--me go to sleep--ondooty, Sergeant? Not me!--I--I--ha-h-h!"

Poor Gedge was only human, and his drowsy head sank across Bracy'sbreast, so wrapped in sleep that the firing of a rifle by his ear wouldhardly have roused him up. 

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

LIKE A DYING DOG. 

The sun was rapidly going down towards the western peaks, which stoodout dark and clear against the golden orange sky, when Gedge opened hiseyes and began to stare in a vacant way at a little peculiarly shadedbrown leather case which rose and fell in regular motion a few inchesfrom his nose. He watched it for some minutes, feeling very comfortablethe while, for his pillow was warm; though it seemed strange to him thatit should move gently up and down. But he grew more wakeful a minutelater, and told himself that he knew why it was. He and two Londoncompanions had made up their minds to tramp down into Kent for aholiday, and to go hop-picking, and they slept under haystacks, inbarns, or in the shade of trees; and at such times as the nights werecool and they had no covering they huddled together to get warm, takingin turns that one of the party should lie crosswise and play pillow forthe benefit of his two companions. 

It was one of his comrades that time, and the sun was rising, so theyought to be stirring to see about, something for breakfast. But in hisdrowsy state he could not make out that this was six years ago, nor yetwhat this brown leather thing was which kept going up and down. 

Then all at once he could. It was not six years ago, neither was itearly morning, but close upon sunset; that movement was caused byBracy's respirations, and the brown leather case contained the littlefield-glass; while the well-drilled soldier, and one of the smartestlads in Captain Roberts's company, had shamefully disgraced himself bygoing to sleep at his post. 

Before he had half-thought this he was upon his feet, to stoop again andpick up his rifle, and then begin stamping up and down with rage. 

"Oh!" he groaned; "I ought to be shot--I ought to be shot! Why, theniggers might ha' come and knifed Mr Bracy as he lay there helpless asa kid, and all through me. Slep'? Why, I must ha' slep' hours uponhours. What's the good o' saying you couldn't help it, sir? You oughtto have helped it. Call yourself a soldier, and go to sleep at yourpost in the face of the enemy! That's what the Colonel will say. Ican't never face no one agen. I shall desert; that's what I shall do--cut right away and jyne the rebels if they'll have me. Better go andjump down into that hole and bury myself in the snow; but I can't. 

"How am I to go and leave the gov'nor when he wants me as he does? Ohdear, oh dear! This is the worst of all. And I was hoping that Ishould have my stripes when I got back to the fort. Yes, that's it--stripes. I shall get 'em, o' course, but on my back instead of mysleeve. There, I'm a marked man now, and it's about all over. "

Gedge grew calmer as he went, on pacing up and down, for he stoppedtwice over by Bracy, to find that he was sleeping as quietly as a child, and he evidently had not stirred. The young soldier's next act was toget possession of the little field-glass again, and, to his dismay, hemade out no less than three bodies of men in the valley far below, oneof which was streaming along as if marching quickly, while the other twowere stationary, close up to a little clump of pines or cedars, he couldnot make out which. 

"T'others are going to ketch up to 'em and camp for the night, I bet. Yes, that they are, " he added as a tiny cloud of grey smoke began torise. "They're going to cook, so they must have something to roast, andI'm--oh, how hungry I do feel! Better not hold up this rifle, or theymay see it in the sunshine, and come and cook us. "

He had a good long look, swept the valley as far as he could see, andthen laid down his rifle, to go down on one knee by Bracy and beginreplacing the glass in its leather case. 

"It's all right, sir; on'y me, " cried Gedge, for, awakened by the lighttouch, Bracy seized one hand and made an effort to pull out hisrevolver. 

"Ha!" he cried. "You startled me, Gedge. Want the glass?"

"Had it, sir, thank ye. "

"See anything?"

"Yes, sir. There's three lots o' them Dwats down low there--six orseven hundred of 'em, I should say. "

"Ah!" cried Bracy, rising quickly into a sitting position, but yieldingto an agonising pain and letting himself sink back with a groan. 

"Hurt yer, sir?" said Gedge commiseratingly. 

"Horribly. But tell me; have I been asleep?"

"Hours and hours, sir. It's just sundown. I was in hopes you'd bebetter, sir. "

"I am, Gedge. I was in a horrible state before. My brain seemednumbed. "

"No wonder, sir, lying in the snow all night; but you talk quitestraight now. "

"Did I seem incoherent before?" said Bracy excitedly. 

"Well, sir, I don't say you was ink-o--what you call it: but you was abit touched in the upper story; and that was only nat'ral, sir. "

"Tell me about the enemy down below. Have they made us out?"

"I think not, sir; but I must out with it, sir. "

"Ah! there is danger?"

"Oh no, sir, I don't think so; but I can't give much of a report, for Ihad to do sentry-go while you slep', sir. "

"Did you? Well, you're a good fellow, Gedge. "

"Not a bit of it, sir. There, it must come to the top. I'd rather tellyou than you should find it out, sir. I held up as long as I could, andkep' going to sleep walking or standing still; and at last, aftergetting out your glass, I knelt down to put it back, and down I wentright off to sleep, just as if some one had hit me on the head with thebutt of his piece. "

"I'm glad of it, Gedge, " said Bracy, smiling. 

"Glad of it, sir?" said the lad, staring. 

"Heartily. It was the only thing you could do after what you had gonethrough. "

"Beg pardon, sir, but as a soldier--" began Gedge. 

"Soldiers cannot do impossibilities, my lad. I have all the will andspirit to get on to the Ghil Valley, and yet here I am with my urgentmessage undelivered, and lying sleeping the greater part of a day. "

"Oh, that's different, sir. You're sorter like being in hospital andwounded. "

"If not wounded, Gedge, " said Bracy sadly, "I am crippled. "

"Don't say that, sir, " cried the lad excitedly. "I thought you saidthere was nothing broke. "

"I did not think so then, my lad, but there is something wrong with myright leg. "

"Amb'lance dooty--first help, " said Gedge quickly. "Let's look, sir. "

Bracy bowed his head, and the young soldier ran his hand down the putteebandage about his officer's leg, and drew in his breath sharply. 

"Well, " said Bracy faintly, "what do you make out?"

"Leg's not broke, sir, but there's something awfully wrong with theankle. It's all puffed up as big as my 'elmet. "

"I was afraid so. Here, help me to stand up. "

"Better not, sir, " protested Gedge. 

"Obey orders, my lad, " said Bracy softly, and with a smile at hisattendant. "You're not the Doctor. "

"No, sir, but--"

"Your hands. "

Gedge extended his hands, and by their help Bracy rose, to stand on oneleg, the other hanging perfectly helpless, with the toes touching therock. 

"Help--me--" said Bracy faintly, and he made a snatch at Gedge, who wason the alert and caught him round the waist, just in time to save himfrom a fall. 

The next moment he had fainted dead away, to come-to in a few minutesand find his companion laying snow upon his temples. 

"Ah!" he sighed; "that's refreshing, Gedge. "

"Have a bit to suck, sir?"

"Yes. "

Bracy lay for a few minutes letting the snow melt in his mouth; thencalmly enough he went on:

"I've got a bad wrench, my lad. My ankle must have doubled under mewhen I fell. There's no help for it; we have had nothing butmisfortunes from the start, but this is the culmination--the worst ofall. "

"Is it, sir? I'm glad o' that. "

"Glad?"

"Yes, sir; 'cause, you see, when things comes to the worst they beginsto mend. So will your leg if you let me get the puttee and boot off. If you don't I shall be 'bliged to cut it off before long. "

"Go on; you're quite right, my lad, " said Bracy calmly; and as the youngsoldier eagerly busied himself over the frightfully swollen place, unwinding the bandages, which cut down into the flesh, and unlacing theboot, he went on talking calmly:

"About this boot, sir; I've unlaced it as far as I can, and it's quitefast on. Shall I cut it or will you try and bear a wrench?"

"Don't cut it, my lad. Give a quiet, firm drag. I'll bear the pain aswell as I can. "

The next moment the boot was off, and Bracy lay with his eyes closed. 

"Like some more ice, sir?" said Gedge eagerly. 

"No, my lad; I'm not going to faint this time. Got some snow, and takemy handkerchief to bind some round the ankle. But look first whetheryou can make out any movement amongst the enemy. "

"It's getting dark down there, sir, though it's so bright up here, andthe great long shadders of the mountain seems to have swallered 'em up. But they've got a whacking great fire, sir, so they must be going tocamp there for the night. "

"I don't think they could have made us out, Gedge. --Ha! that feelscomforting. But now listen to me. "

"Yus, sir. I may go on doing up your leg, though?"

"Oh yes; only attend. "

"Of course, sir. "

"You can tell the Ghoorkha Colonel--"

"Yes, sir?" said Gedge, for Bracy stopped short. --"He's going off hishead again. "

"And Colonel Graves, if you get back--"

"Yus, sir. "

"That I did everything that man could do to reach the Ghil Valley. "

"That I'll swear, sir. "

"And that he must lose no time in hurrying to the fort. If he likes todetach half a company to try and pick me up, he will do so; but the fortis to be the first consideration. Do you hear?"

"Yus, sir. --Oh yus, I hears, " said Gedge through his teeth as, with thehelp of Mrs Gee's pocket-book packet, he put some oil-silk over thesnow, and then applied the broadest bandage he could find cleverlyenough. 

"That's right. I'm a bit of a coward, Gedge, " continued the poorfellow, with a smile. 

"Yes, sir, you are, sir, " said Gedge; "an out-and-outer. "

"And I want to have as little pain to bear as I can while you're gone. "

"Course you do, sir. That's why I'm doing this. "

"Make haste, while the light lasts. I want you then to take the rest ofthe food and put it in your own haversack. "

"Yes, sir; not inside?"

"To use as sparingly as you can, so as to make it last till you reachthe Ghil Valley. I have broken down, Gedge, but you must get there. Doyou hear?--must. "

"Yes, sir, I hear--must. "

"It means salvation for the poor creatures yonder, holding out theirhands to us for help. "

"Yes, sir. --But a deal you can see that, " muttered Gedge. 

"And it means a sergeant's stripes for the brave lad who took themessage in the terrible emergency. "

"Sergeant, sir? As big a man as old Gee?"

"Yes; and as good a non-commissioned officer, and I hope a more popularman. "

"Rigid, sir. That sounds good, " cried Gedge cheerily. "But about you, sir? If you get the ridgement o' little chaps and saves the fort, itmeans your company, don't it--Captain?"

Bracy groaned. 

"I was not striving for promotion, Gedge, but to save ourfellow-countrymen and women yonder. But listen: in case I faint again--give me a scrap or two more snow, my lad. "

He took and sucked the icy particles handed to him, and felt refreshed. 

"Now, then, " he said; "listen once more, and be quick. Just tie thatbandage, and then put the food together. I am not going to load youwith instructions which you may not be able to carry out, but lookyonder--there is the top of the mountain you have to skirt, shiningbright and hopefully in the distance. "

"I can see it, sir. "

"That is your guide. Once you compass that the way will be easier. "

"Yes, sir. When ought I to start?"

"To-night, man, as soon as the sun is down; therefore, mark well wherethe bright peak lies, so as to take your bearings. The enemy's firewill enable you to avoid that danger. Quick; there is no time to spare;and remember--you must get there. "

"Yes, sir; I won't forget. "

"Leave me some cartridges to defend myself, if I can. It would be morelike a soldier to die like that. "

"Yes, sir, o' course; more English and plucky, " said Gedge, giving thelast bandage its final knot, and then opening his haversack to take outwhat it contained and divide it. 

"What are you doing?" said Bracy sharply. 

"Getting your supper ready, sir, and mine, " said the lad coldly. 

Bracy tried to raise himself up in the fit of anger which attacked him, but fell back with a groan. Fighting back the sensation of weakness, though, he spoke as firmly as he could. 

"I want no food, " he said quietly, "and you are wasting time. A goodtwenty-four hours have been lost. Go at once. "

"But you must eat something, sir, " said Gedge stubbornly. "There's thecold coming on awful now the sun's down, and it will keep it out. "

"Those poor creatures at the fort are waiting and praying for help tocome, while the hungry wolves of Dwats are crowding closer and closer inready for the massacre. "

"Yes, sir--the beasts!--it's precious hard, but let's hope--"

"There is no hope, Gedge. It was the last card the Colonel had to playin sending us, and we must not fail. You must go at once. "

"But I aren't had nothing to-day, sir, " pleaded Gedge, "and my inside'sgoing mad. Wolves? Why, I feel just as if one was tearing me. "

"Take all the provisions left, and eat as you go. "

"And what about you, sir?"

"Never mind me. Go at once. "

"But it'll be dark as pitch in 'alf-a-hour, sir. How am I to see myway?"

"I told you. The descent will be easy. You can almost slide down allthe way, for the snow is getting glassy again, and you must guideyourself by leaving the enemy's fire on the right. Look! it is glowingbrightly now. "

"That's right, sir, till I get to the bottom. But what then?"

"Gedge, are you going to fail me in this terrible emergency?"

"Not me, sir, " cried the lad excitedly. "I'll stick to you till we bothgoes under fighting to the last, for they don't want to make prisonersof us; their knives are too sharp. "

"Then go. "

"But I'm sure I couldn't find the way, sir. I should be taking thefirst turning to the left, or else to the right, or tumbling intoanother hole like this, or doing some stoopid thing. I'm no use, sir, without my orficer to tell me what to do. "

Bracy drew a deep breath and pressed his lips together, as he foughthard to keep down his anger against his follower. 

"I have told you what to do, " he said at last quite calmly. "You mustuse your brains. "

"Never had much, sir, " replied Gedge bitterly; "and now they're aboutfroze up with cold and hungriness and trouble. I ain't fit to send onsuch a job as this, sir. I'm sure to muff it. "

"Do you want to find out some day, my lad, that those poor comrades ofours have been massacred to a man through your hanging back from doingwhat might have saved them?"

"I wish I may die if I do, sir!" cried Gedge passionately. 

"Then go. "

"But I'm cold and hungry, sir, and it's getting dark, and I don't knowmy way. "

"Crush those feelings down like a hero, and go. "

"Hero, sir? Me a hero!" cried Gedge bitterly. "Oh? there's none ofthat stuff in me. "

There was just enough light reflected from the upper peaks to enable thecouple to see each other's faces--the one frowning and angry, andbelying the calm, stern fixedness into which it had been forced; theother wild, anxious, and with the nerves twitching sharply at thecorners of the eyes and mouth, as if its owner were grimacing in mockeryof the young officer's helplessness and suffering. 

"Gedge, " said Bracy suddenly, after making an effort as if to swallowdown the rage and despair from which he suffered. 

"Yes, sir, I know what you're going to say; but you're awful bad. Now, you have a bit to eat, and then go to sleep, and when you wake up let'ssee if I can't manage to get you on one of those flat bits o' slatystone, and then I'll get a strap to it, and pull you down the slope--you'll quite slide like--and when we're off the snow I'll pig-a-back youto the first wood, and we'll hide there, and I'll keep helping you on abit till we get to this here Jack-and-Jill Valley. You see, the jobcan't be done without you. "

"This is all shuffling and scheming, Gedge, to escape doing your duty, "said Bracy sternly. 

"Is it, sir?" said the lad, with an assumption of innocence. 

"You know it is, sir. You don't want to go?"

"Well, sir, I suppose that is about the size of it. "

"Do you want me to look upon you as a contemptible cur?" said Bracy, flashing out into anger now. 

"No, sir; o' course not. "

"I see how it is. I've been believing you to be all that is manly andtrue, while all the time I've been labouring under a gross mistake, fornow you are put to the test you are only base metal. Go; leave me. Gedge, you are a miserable, contemptible coward after all. "

"Yes, sir; that's it, sir, " said the lad bitterly; "bit o' common brassas got into the service, and you orficers and old Gee and the rest ofyou drilled up and polished and dressed up and put some gilt on; butwhen yer comes to rub it off, I'm on'y a bit o' brass after all. "

"Yes, you know exactly--coward!--dog!"

"Don't, sir!" cried the poor fellow in a choking voice; "don't! It'slike laying it on to a chap with a wire whip. "

"Then do your duty. Go. "

"I can't, sir; I can't, " cried the lad, literally writhing, as if theblows were falling upon his back and sides. "I dessay I am a coward, but I'd follow you anywheres, sir, if the bullets was whistling roundus, and them devils were waiting for us with their knives; but I can'tgo and leave you now, sir. You ain't fit to leave. It'd be likekilling you--murdering of you, sir, with the cold and starvation. "

"It is your duty to go. "

"But you don't know how bad you are, sir, " pleaded the lad, with thegreat sobs struggling to escape from his breast. "You don't know, sir;but I do, sir. You'd be frozen stiff before it was light again. "

"Perhaps; but I should die knowing that an effort was being made to savethose we have left behind. "

"You've done all you can do, sir, " pleaded Gedge passionately. "Wecan't do no more. "

"I can't, but you can. I call upon you once more to go and do thisthing. If you have any manhood in you, go. "

"I can't, sir, " groaned Gedge. 

"You coward!--it's your duty to go. "

"It ain't, sir; it can't be, to leave my orficer to die like this. Iknow it can't. Why, if I did, and got the help, and took the men back, and the Colonel got to know how, he'd think it warn't worth getting itat such a price. He'd call me a cowardly dog and a hound, and the ladswould groan and spit at me. Why, they'd cob me when they got me alone, and I couldn't say a word, because I should feel, as I always should tothe last day I lived, that I'd been a miserable sneak. "

"I tell you it is your duty, my man, " cried Bracy again. 

"Don't send me, sir! I ain't afraid, " pleaded Gedge once more. "It'sleaving you to die in the cold and dark. I can't go!--I can't go!"

Bracy struggled up at this, supporting himself with his left hand, movednow as he was by his companion's devotion; but he choked down all helonged to say in the one supreme effort he was making to fulfil themission he had failed in by another hand. 

"I am your officer, sir. You are a soldier, sworn to serve your countryand your Queen. "

Gedge looked down at the speaker through the gloom, and saw him fumblingbeneath his sheepskin coat with his right hand. The next minute he haddrawn his revolver, and Gedge heard it click. 

"You hear me, sir?" cried Bracy sternly. 

"Yes, sir, I hear. "

"Then obey your officer's orders. "

"You ain't an officer now, sir; you're a patient waiting to be carriedto the rear, after going down in front. "

"How dare you!" cried Bracy fiercely. "Obey my orders. "

"They ain't your orders, and it ain't my dooty to obey a poor fellow ashas gone stick stark raving mad. "

"Obey my orders, dog, or--"

"I won't!" cried Gedge passionately. "I'll be drummed out if I do. "

"You dog!" roared Bracy, and the pistol clicked. 

"Shoot me, then, for a dog, " cried Gedge passionately, "and if I canI'll try to lick yer hand, but I won't leave you now. "

The pistol fell with a dull sound as Bracy sank back, and in thatterrible darkness and silence, amid the icy snow, a hoarse groan seemedto tear its way from the young officer's breast. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

A WILD IDEA. 

How long that silence lasted neither could have afterwards said, butafter a time Bracy felt a couple of hands busy drawing the spare_poshtin_ more about him. Then a face was placed close to his, and ahand touched his forehead softly. "I'm not asleep, Gedge, " he said. "Ha!" sighed the lad, with a long drawn breath: "getting afraid, sir;you lay so still. "

"It's all over, my man, " said Bracy wearily. 

"No, no; don't say that, sir, " cried Gedge. "I was obliged to--"

"Hush! I don't mean that. I only feel now that I can sleep. "

"Yes, sir; do, sir. Have a good try. "

"I cannot while I know that I have your coat. "

"Oh, I don't mind, sir; and I've got to be sentry. "

"We want no sentry here, my lad. Take the coat from under me. "

"But--"

"Come, obey me now, " said Bracy quietly. "Get close to me, then, andcover it over us both. "

"You mean that, sir?"

"Yes. --There, my lad, all men are equal at a time like this. I havestriven to the last, but Fate has been against me from the first. Igive up now. "

"I didn't want to run against you, sir; but I was obliged. "

"Yes, I suppose so. "

"You wouldn't have gone and left me, sir?"

"I don't know, " said Bracy slowly. 

"I do, sir; I know you wouldn't. "

"Let it rest, my lad, and we'll wait for day. God help the poorcreatures at the fort, and God help us too!"

"Amen!" said Gedge to himself; and as the warmth began to steal throughhis half-frozen limbs he lay gazing at the distant glow of the enemy'sfire far away below, till it grew more and more faint, and then seemedto die right out--seemed, for it was well replenished again and againthrough the night, and sent up flames and sparks as if to give a signalfar away, for the supply of fir-branches was abundant, and the fire rosein spirals up into the frosty sky. 

Bracy too lay watching the distant blaze till it grew dim to hishalf-closed eyes. A calmer feeling of despair had come over him, andthe feeling that he had done all that man could do softened the mentalagony from which he had suffered. This was to be the end, he felt; and, if ever their remains were found, those who knew them would deal gentlywith their memory. For the inevitable future stared him blankly in theface. Gedge would strive his utmost to obtain help, but he felt thatthe poor fellow's efforts would be in vain, and that, if they livedthrough the night, many hours would not elapse before they perished fromhunger and the cold. 

The feeling of weary mental confusion that stole over him then waswelcome; and, weak from the agony he had suffered, he made an effort torouse himself from the torpor that, Nature-sent, was lulling the pangsin his injured limb, but let his eyelids droop lower and lower till thedistant light was shut out, and then cold, misery, and despair passedaway, for all was blank. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The specks of golden light were beginning to show on the high peaks, andgradually grew brighter till it was sunny morning far up on the icyeminences, chilly dawn where the two sheepskin-covered figures layprone, and night still where the fire was blazing by the pine-forest, and the great body of the enemy had bivouacked. 

The two motionless figures were covered by a thick rime frost, whichlooked grey in the dim light, not a crystal as yet sending off ascintillation; and tiny spicules of ice had matted the moustache andbeard of Bracy where his breath had condensed during the night, sealingthem to the woolly coverlet he had drawn up close; while a strangetingling sensation attacked his eyes as he opened them suddenly, wakingfrom a morning dream of defending the fort and giving orders to his men, who fired volley after volley, which, dream-like, sounded far away. 

He was still half-asleep, but involuntarily he raised a warm hand toapply to his eyes. In a very few minutes they were clear, and he beganbreaking and picking off bit by bit the little icicles from hismoustache. 

It was strange how it mingled still with his dreams--that firing ofvolleys; and the half-drowsy thoughts turned to wonder that there shouldbe firing, for he must be awake. Directly after he knew he was, forthere was a sharp rattle in the distance, which came rolling and echoingfrom the face of the great cliff across the gulf, and Gedge jerkedhimself and said sleepily:

"That's right, boys; let 'em have it. "

"Gedge!" cried Bracy hoarsely. 

"Right, sir; I'm here, " was the answer; and the young soldier rolledover from beneath the _poshtin_, rose to his feet, staggered, and satdown again. 

"Oh, murder!" he cried. "My poor feet ain't froze hard, are they?"

"I pray not, " said Bracy excitedly. 

"'Cause I can't stand. But, hallo! sir; what game's this? They'rea-firing at us, and coming up over the snow. "

"No, no, it can't be!" cried Bracy wildly. "No tribes-men could firevolleys like that. "

"Course not, sir. Hoorray! then the Colonel's sent a couple o'comp'nies to help us. "

"Impossible!" cried Bracy. "Hark! there is the reply to the firing. Yes; and another volley. I almost thought I could see a flash. "

"Did yer, sir? Oh, don't talk; do listen, sir. There they go. Theremust be a big fight going on down there. "

"Then friends have attacked the enemy in camp--advanced upon them so asto catch them before daylight. "

"Oh! they might ha' waited till it was light enough for us to see, sir. Mr Bracy, sir, don't, pray don't say it's reg'lars, because if it ain'tI couldn't stand it now. I should go down and blubber like a greatgal. "

"It is a force of regulars, my lad, " cried Bracy, whose voice sounded asif he were choking. "Friends are there below in the valley. I know:the Colonel must have been badly beaten at the fort. "

"Oh, don't say that, sir. "

"It must be. They have been too much for him, and he is retreating withour lads trying to make for the Ghil Pass. That is the meaning of thegathering last night to bar their way. "

"Oh Lor'! oh Lor'! and us not able to fire a shot to help 'em. Be anyuse to begin, sir, like for signals to show we're here?"

"No, " said Bracy sadly; "our single shots could not be heard. "

"Not if we fired both together, sir?" cried Gedge wildly. "I'll loadfor you. "

"How could they distinguish between our shots and those of the enemy youcan hear crackling?"

"Course not, sir. I'm a poor idjit sometimes. But oh! why does it keepdark down there so long when it's getting quite light up here? We can'tsee what's going on a bit. "

"No; but my ears tell me pretty plainly, " said Bracy excitedly. 

"Mr Bracy, sir. "

"Yes?"

"We aren't worse, are we, and all this a sort o' nightmare before weloses ourselves altogether?"

"No, man, no. Listen. They must be getting the worst of it. "

"Our lads, sir? Oh, don't say that! There must be a lot of them, bythe volley-firing. Don't say they're being cut up. "

"The enemy, man. Can't you hear how steady the firing is?--Splendid. Ican almost see them. The enemy must be retiring stubbornly, and they'refollowing them up. "

"Yes, sir; that's it, " cried Gedge wildly. "Go on, sir; go on. "

"Their officers are holding the men well in hand, so as not to come to acharge in that broken country, and withering the crowd with their fireto make them scatter. "

"Right, sir, right. That's it. Oh, if we was only there!"

There was a pause--the two men listening. 

"The enemy's firing sounds more broken up, and is getting feebler. "

"Yes, sir; I can make out that, " panted Gedge. "Oh! I say, don't letthe lads get out of hand and follow the beggars where they can get holdof the bay'nets and use their long knives. "

For another half-hour the pair lay listening to the engagement going on, till it seemed as if the daylight below would never come. Then thedarkness gave way, to display far below a cold grey mist, through whichclouds of smoke were softly rising; and Bracy brought his glass to bearupon the fight still raging furiously, and looked in silence till Gedgeturned to him:

"Oh, do say something, sir! Our lads--they ain't being cut up, sir, arethey?"

"No, no, I think not, my lad; but I can hardly make out what is going onat present. Ha! it's gradually growing lighter there. The enemy arenot where they were last night, and the troops are there. "

"Then they've took the beggars' camp, sir?"

"That does not follow, " said Bracy, whose eyes were glued to hisglass. --"I can make out the white-coats now. They have divided, and areupon the rising ground all round. Our poor fellows must have falleninto a trap. "

"No, sir; no, sir, they couldn't, sir, " cried Gedge; "they'd have seenthat fire and known there was an enemy. "

"Yes, I forgot the fire, " said Bracy. "Oh, if the sun would only shinedown upon them now!"

"But he won't, sir; he never will when he's wanted to. He won't shinethere for an hour yet. "

"Yes--no--yes--no, " panted Bracy at slow intervals; and Gedge wrung hishands, like a woman in trouble, whimpering out:

"Oh! who's to know what that means, with his `Yes--no--yes--no'? MrBracy, sir, do--do say that our lads are whipping the beggars back. "

"Yes, " cried Bracy excitedly; "I can see now; the hill-men are scatteredand running towards the mountains. "

"Hoorray!" yelled Gedge. "Hoorray! Hoorray! Hark at the steadyvolleys still, sir! Hoorray! Who wouldn't be a soldier of the Queen?"

"Ha! Who indeed?" sighed Bracy. 

"And it don't matter, sir, now?" said Gedge. 

"No; not so much, my lad; but they'll be harassed like this all the wayto the Ghil Pass. "

"And drive the beggars back, sir. But don't you think we ought to makeone try to get down to them, sir? Same as I said last night?"

Bracy was silent as he kept on using his glass, with the valley belowgrowing clearer--so light now that, the young soldier could begin to seesomething of the fight with the naked eye, and he joined in the eagerwatch downward for a time before repeating his question. 

"I fear not, my lad, " said Bracy, with a sigh. "The enemy are cut intwo; one body is retreating down the valley in the direction of thefort; the other, widely scattered, is making for the snow-slope. "

"Not coming this way, sir?" cried Gedge. 

"Yes, as far as I can see; and our men are steadily in pursuit, firingwherever a crowd collects. "

"That's the way to do it, sir; but that's cutting off our retreat. "

"Yes. "

"Well, then, sir, we must lie low till the enemy is cleared off. Theywon't come up here. "

"No; they must be making for the track we crossed--the one below there, where we saw the men going towards the valley-bend. "

"That's it, sir, and they've got their work cut out; but our lads won'tfollow 'em right up there. "

"No; they will only follow till they have scattered them as far aspossible. "

"And then go back, sir, and leave us where we are. "

"Yes, " said Bracy sadly. 

Gedge was silent for a few minutes, during which they still watched thescene below. Then he broke out with:

"It's all downhill, sir. "

"Yes, Gedge, " said Bracy drearily; "it is all downhill now to the end. "

"You ain't listening to me, sir, " cried the lad. "Do put that glassaway, sir, and we'll have a try. "

"A try? What! to get down below? You try, my lad; but there is theterrible risk of being cut to pieces by the enemy if they see you. "

"Don't begin that again, sir, please. You know I won't leave you, butlet's have a try. "

"I am helpless, my lad--as helpless as a figure half of lead. "

"But I ain't, sir, " cried Gedge. "The sight of our lads below thereseems to ha' woke me up. I'm ready to die game; but I want to make onespurt for life first. "

"Why, Gedge, " cried Bracy excitedly as he lowered the glass from hiseyes, "they're not our fellows after all. "

"What, sir!"

"No; and there's a detachment down yonder coming from the east. I canalmost see that they're doubling to get up in time. "

"From the east, sir? Then the Colonel ain't retreating?"

"No. --Hurrah!"

"Hoorray!" roared Gedge, joining in. 

"They're the Ghoorkhas, Gedge. They must be a thousand strong. "

"Then one o' the messengers must ha' got to them after all. "

"Yes; that must be it, Gedge; and they surprised the enemy's camp atdawn. "

"That's it, sir!" yelled Gedge. "Hoorray! hoorray again! Then there islife in a mussel after all. "

"They've scattered this force, Gedge, and the fort will be relieved, forthe bravo little fellows will cut their way through all. "

"Yes, sir. Now then, sir, you needn't hardly move. There's a bit o'slaty stone yonder as'll do, and all I want of you, sir, is for yer tosit still upon it, and nuss the rifles while I steer you down to thetruck. "

"Right in among the enemy, my lad?"

"Right through 'em, sir. They're on the run, and won't dare to stop togo at us. I never heard of a nigger as'd stand a moment when a Ghoorkhawas coming after him with his crooked knife. "

"Let's try, " said Bracy, setting his teeth. "Life is sweet, my lad. "

"Even without sugar, sir. Why, bless your 'eart! there's a lot of it inus both yet, sir. This here's nothing to what we've been and done. "

Wild with excitement now, Gedge fetched the heavy slab of stone, almostas much as he could lift, drew it close up behind Bracy, and placed hisarms under the young officer's shoulders. 

"Now, sir, " he said, "you set your teeth just as if the doctor was goingto use his knife. "

"What are you going to do?"

"Draw you right back on to this stone, sir. I must hurt you a bit, butI can't help that. "

"Go on, " said Bracy; and the next moment he was drawn back upon thestone, with no worse suffering than a fit of faintness, for his leg wasnumb with the cold. 

"Right, sir. Now your rifle and mine across your legs. Stop; my_poshtin_ first. May want it again. Got the cartridges handy?"

"Yes. "

"Then I sits here between your legs, sir. Just room, and I can steerand put on the break with my heels. Ready, sir?"

"Yes. "

"Then off. "

The surface of the snow was like glass with the night's frost, and thestone began to glide at once, just as the first gleams of the rising sunlit up the spot where such terrible hours had been spent; and the nextminute, with a strange, metallic, hissing sound, the pair were glidingdown the slope at a steady rate, which Gedge felt it in his power toincrease to a wild rush by raising his heels from the surface upon whichthey ran. 

"All right, sir?"

"Yes, all right. Go on. "

"Ain't it wonderful, sir? Why, we can get down to the track long beforeany of them can get up to it. "

"Stop, then, to let them reach it and retreat. "

"If you order me to, sir, I will; but they'll never try to stop us;they'll scatter to see us coming down like this. Why, in less than anhour, sir, we shall be all among the Ghoorkha lads, and then hoorray forthe fort!"

"Go on, then. I trust to you. "

"Right, sir, " cried Gedge excitedly; and in spite of several risks ofoverturning, he steered the novel toboggan sledge down the giganticslide, with the wild, metallic, hissing sound rising and falling on thekeen wind that fanned their cheeks, and a glistening prismatic, icy dustrising behind them like a snaky cloud. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

THE IDEA TAMED. 

Onward, swifter or slower, they moved as the undulations of the mightysnow-slope ruled with the rough track crossing at right-angles far belowand gradually growing plainer, the white-coats of the fleeing enemy, thekharkee jackets of the advancing line of Ghoorkhas, and the pulls ofsmoke from each discharge coming nearer as if in a dream. Theexcitement of the wild rush seemed to madden Gedge, who, as he found outthat he could easily control his rough chariot of stone, let it glidefaster and faster, his eyes sparkling, and the various phases of thefight below sending a wild longing to be amongst it thrilling throughhis nerves. 

"Oh, " he shouted, "if there was only a hundred of us coming down likethis to take the enemy front and rear! Are you all right, sir?"

"Yes, yes; but beware of the rocks down below there by the track. "

"Right, sir. Wish they weren't there, though, and we could go right on;charge through 'em in no time. "

He had to speak without turning his head, and Bracy did not catch halfhis words. But it was no time for speaking; and, forgetting for thetime being his injuries and partial helplessness, Bracy began to sharein his driver's excitement, and watched the movements going on below. 

The height to which they had climbed had been great, and some memory ofthe labour they had gone through in the ascent came back as they sweptrapidly down, till in an incredibly short space of time they neared therocky track, with its rugged pinnacles and masses standing right up outof the snow. 

Gedge saw that the enemy was still far below the track; and as hechecked the way on the stone by gradually driving in his well-nailedboot heels, he looked to right or left for a spot where there would be aclear crossing of the track, free from projecting rocks, so that astoppage would not be necessary. There it was, lying well to the right, narrow but perfectly practicable. For, plainly enough, he could seethat there had been a snow-slide burying a portion of the track, and ifhe could steer between a couple of rocks, not ten yards apart, the glidedown could be continued without a pause. 

"It's all right, sir, " he cried. "Signals is clear, and we don't stopat that station. Hoorray! Her Majesty's mails. Fast express. "

It was on Bracy's lips to cry, "Take care, " but he nipped them togetherand sat fast, feeling their pace slacken as if, to carry out Gedge'ssimile, they were easing down to run through a station. 

Nearer, nearer, with rough crags half-buried in the snow on both sidesand seeming to close in upon them as they glided down, with the narrowpass between the two rocks unaccountably growing for the moment closertogether. But directly after, by clever steering, Gedge made a curve intheir descent, brought the stone opposite the opening, and then let itgo. 

Their way rose a little as they approached the track where it was buriedin the snow, but directly after the descent was steeper; and as soon asGedge felt sure of his course they dashed through the opening at agreatly increased speed. Then he shouted in his wild excitement as theytore down towards the enemy, who were toiling upward, slipping, and evencrawling on all-fours in places, while their active little pursuers werestriving their best to overtake them, but pausing at times to fire. 

Pursued and pursuers were still far below, but Bracy saw that it wasonly a matter of a short time before they would be amongst them; andnow, for the first time, it was evident that their descent had caughtthe attention of the hill-men striving to reach the track, some of whomstopped short to stare, while a party of about twenty immediately boreoff to their left as if meaning to intercept them. 

"What's it to be, sir!" panted Gedge. "Charge through 'em, or stop andlet 'em have it? They'll be `twix' two fives. "

"Stop!" shouted Bracy. "They'll try to check us, and slash as we come;and if we strike against even one we shall be upset. "

"That's right, sir. Be ready with the rifles. Mine's charged, I think. 'Nother five hundred yards right for that lot o' twenty, and then slideoff and open fire--eh?"

"You don't want your orders, Gedge, " said Bracy dryly. "Quite right. "

Gedge did not hear him, for, as they rushed down over the icy snow, hehad his work cut out to check his awkward car, as it nearly masteredhim, his heels gliding over the smooth surface and refusing to cut in. Forcing them down, though, the speed began to slacken, till they nearedthe ascending group of savage faces of those who had borne off tointercept them; and as the car was brought to a stand a couple of shotswere fired, and the missiles sent whistled by their heads. 

"Can yer roll off, sir, and lie on yer face?" cried Gedge as he snatchedhis rifle, threw himself down behind the stone, and opened hiscartridge-pouch. 

"Yes. Look to yourself. Fire sharply, or they'll be upon us. "

"Or our bay'nets, " said Gedge through his teeth. 

The next moment he fired as he rested upon his elbows, and a shot fromBracy rang out, with the result that two of the group below themdropped, and a yell came from the remainder as they made a rush to reachthem. But their running powers were exhausted, and at the end of twentyyards they resumed their heavy climb, with their feet breaking throughthe crust of frozen snow. 

Crack, crack! from the English rifles, and one more dropped in histrack, while another sprang wildly in advance for a few yards, beforepitching forward upon his face and lying still. 

"Fire steadily, " said Bracy hoarsely, "and we may cheek them. "

"Right, sir. Quick, too, for the beggars on the left are closing in tohelp. "

A couple more shots were fired, and another man went down, and thenthere was a yell of rage and an order from one of the party, with theresult that all dropped upon their faces, checked, and began to fire atthe pair crouching behind the stone, made to look bigger by Gedge's_poshtin_ lying in a little heap on the top. 

"It's all right, sir; they couldn't hit a haystack. Their hands are allof a tremble with climbing. We're right enough. I hit that chap. "

Proof was given, for one of the enemy started up, dropped his longjezail, and fell backwards. 

"Keep on firing steadily, Gedge, " said Bracy huskily. "I must open uponthat group on our flank. They're coming on. "

"Then we're done, for, sir, " said the young soldier. "But mind this, sir; I die game, though you did call me a coward last night. "

"I did, Gedge, and it was a cruel lie, my lad. Fire away. I wish I hadyour pluck. Look here. "

"Yes, sir. --One for you, " growled Gedge as he fired again. --"I'mlistening, but I can't look. Hit him, sir?"

"Yes, " said Bracy. "Look here. "

"Can't, sir. "

"Then listen. When it comes to the worst--one grip of the hand, my lad, before we go. "

Crack--crack!

Two more shots in answer to the scattered fire of the enemy, whosebullets whistled over their heads, seeking billets in the snow around. 

"Won't be long, sir, I'm afraid, " said Gedge. "No, I ain't afraid--nota bit. But those chaps are coming on faster. 'Tain't climbing, sir, now. "

"No; they'll be upon us before five minutes have passed. Turn yourrifle upon them, my lad, for two or three shots, and we may check themtoo. "

Before Gedge could change his position a scattered volley from belowsomewhere rattled out, and the flanking-party coming on needed nochecking, some of them falling dying or wounded, while the remainderthrew themselves down and began firing, some at their pursuers below, the rest at Bracy and Gedge. 

"Hoorray, sir! Didn't I say there was life in a mussel? The Ghoorkhasare at 'em. Look, sir, there's about a dozen of 'em lying down to coverthe advance, and another dozen coming on with their knives. Let's show'em how to shoot, sir. It 'll help the little chaps, too, when theycharge. "

It was as Gedge said; and as shot after shot was sent with good aim, theparty of tribes-men in front was lessened by half-a-dozen before thelittle Ghoorkha party came up within charging distance and made theirrush. 

"Fix bayonets!" cried Bracy. "The enemy may come at us;" and thelittle, dagger-like weapons clicked and clicked as they flashed in thesunshine. 

But Bracy and Gedge got in a couple more shots before their foes sprangup to charge them. Then a couple more dropped as they came on, while avolley from below rattled out and made their attack feeble and aimless, though they reached their goal, one to make a slash at Gedge as he waspinned by the lad's bayonet, while two more struck at Bracy. Then theGhoorkhas were upon them, racing over the snow, their crooked knivesflashing, and the remaining enemy were fleeing for their lives, scattering far and wide, with their pursuers overtaking man after man, whose white-coats made blots on the glistening snow, and many a terriblestain. Then a whistle rang out as an officer came up to the stone atthe double, sword in hand. 

"Hullo, here!" he cried; "who, in the name of wonder, are you? Icouldn't get up in time. My boys didn't do that?"

Bracy's lips parted, but no sound came. 

"No, sir, " panted Gedge; "it was the straight knives did it, not thempretty little blades. "

"I'm glad of that. I was afraid my boys had made a mistake. But whoare you?"

"Private Willyum Gedge, in the 404th Fusiliers; and here's mylieutenant, Mr Bracy, sir. We was coming from the fort to fetch you. "

"Ah!" cried the officer. "How is it with them there?"

"All right, sir; but hard pushed when we come away. Ain't got such athing as a doctor about yer, have you?"

"Yes, yes. My boys shall carry you down. All right, " he cried as abugle rang out from below with the recall; and by that time the littlegroup were surrounded by some twenty of the active Ghoorkhas, for themost part with a begonia-leaved kukri in hand, laughing, chattering, andready to dance with delight around the two British soldiers they hadsaved. 

Meanwhile their officer was down on one knee rendering first aid to thewounded, the knife of one of the enemy having slashed Bracy's thigh, which was bleeding profusely; and a havildar of the Ghoorkhas wascleverly bandaging Gedge's left arm, chattering to him merrily in brokenEnglish the while. 

"Try and swallow a drop more, " said the officer to Bracy, who wasreviving a little, and smiled his thanks, his eyes wandering rounddirectly after in search of something, till a movement on the part oftheir rescuers enabled him to see Gedge, to whom he feebly held out hishand. 

"Much hurt?" he said faintly. 

"Tidy, sir. Smarts a lot; but I don't mind, sir. Say you've not got itbad. "

"Bad enough, my lad; but we've won. "

Gedge turned to the officer with a wild, questioning look in his eyes, for Bracy sank back, half-fainting. 

"A bad, clean cut; that's all, " said the officer, smiling encouragement. 

"But it ain't all, sir, " cried Gedge passionately. "He's badly hurtbesides. Crippled in the leg. "

"Ah! and you fought like that! Well, we must get him down to thedoctor; he is not far below. Ambulance party here. "

"Beg pardon, sir; why not lay him on the stone again, and let him slidedown easy? I can ride, too, and steer. "

"I don't understand you, my lad, " said the officer, looking at Gedge asif he thought him wandering. 

He soon did comprehend, though; and the little Ghoorkhas cheered withdelight as, with Bracy lying upon the sheepskin-coats, the stony sledgewent gliding slowly down the slope, half-a-dozen of the little fellowsforming its escort, and ready to check it from breaking away, till theend of the snowfield was reached, and the two sufferers were soon afterbeing well tended by the doctor in the temporary camp. 

This was near the fir-wood hold by the enemy the night before--theenemy, after heavy loss, having been scattered far and wide. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

HOW THE FORT WAS SAVED. 

It was on the third morning after Bracy and Gedge had been with theGhoorkhas, who were in camp in a natural stronghold of the upper valley, resting before making their final advance to the fort. Gedge, with hisarm in a sling, and a frost-bitten foot, which made him limp about thelittle tent they shared by the doctor's orders, was looking anxiouslydown at his officer, who lay perfectly helpless, appearing terribly thinand worn, but with a bright look in his eyes, which augured well for hisrecovery. 

"Yes, sir; you look a deal better, " said Gedge in answer to a question:"and, of course, the doctor ought to know; but I don't think you oughtto be so weak. "

"Wasn't it enough to make me weak, my lad?" said Bracy in a faint voice. "Why, I have hardly a drop of blood left in my body. "

"Course not, sir; and you do eat and sleep well. "

"Yes, my lad; and if we can only cut our way through these swarmingwretches, and relieve the fort before it is too late, I shall soon beginto mend. It is horrible, this delay, and no news. "

"No news, sir?" said Gedge, staring. "Didn't the doctor tell you?"

"The doctor? I have not seen him this morning. "

"But he's been here, sir. He said you were in such a beautiful sleepthat you warn't to be woke up, for it was doing you no end of good. "

"But he said something?" said Bracy anxiously. "Have we had news?"

"Tip-top, sir. One of the little Ghoorkha chaps got back soon afterdaylight--one of the three that was sent different ways. "

"But the news?"

"He got into the fort, sir, and brought a despatch from the Colonel. "

"Yes, yes, " said Bracy breathlessly. 

"They was all well, but hard up for everything, 'speshly ammynition; butthey could hold out for three days; and as soon as we come up he's goingto make a sally and attack the Dwats in the rear. --Oh, sir, it is hard, and no mistake!"

"Thank Heaven!" cried Bracy softly. "There, my lad, I can lie and restnow. "

"Yes, sir, that's the worst of it. "

"It is hard--the worst of it?" said Bracy wonderingly. "What do youmean?"

"You and me, sir, having to lie up and be out of all the fun. "

"Oh, I see, " said Bracy, smiling, and with the careworn look seeming todie out of his thin face. "Well, I think we have done our share. "

"Did you hear the firing last night?"

"I? No. Was there an attack?"

"A big un, sir; but the enemy was driven back everywhere, and left a lotof dead behind. I never see such fellows as these little Ghoorkha chapsis to fight. "

"If they can only cut their way through to the fort, Gedge, there willbe nothing then to fear, for Colonel Graves will hold the place, againstany number that can be brought against it. "

"And they will, sir, " cried Gedge proudly; "nothing can stop 'em. They've got so much dash and go in 'em. There's going to be a big fightto-day, for the hills seem dotted with white-coats as far as you cansee; and in an hour's time I hear we're to advance, so as to get the jobdone before it's dark. "

Gedge's news was correct: and in an hour the column was in motion, theorder coming to advance in skirmishing order, with ample supports, andno following up of the enemy was to be attempted, the sole object, beingto reach the fort before night, and trust to the future for givingadequate punishment for all that had been done. 

The orders of the officers were splendidly carried out, and the gallantregiment advanced along the right bank of the river as fast as the frontwas cleared, but at a severe cost, for the hills and patches of forestand rock swarmed with the enemy, and but for the abundance of cover theattempt must have failed. But by a series of rushes and their deadlyfire the brave little fellows won their way on till well into theafternoon, when farther progress seemed impossible, the enemy's leaderholding a patch of cedar forest most determinedly with a dense body ofmen. All this Bracy knew, for Gedge, in spite of his wound, was activeenough, and kept his officer well furnished with accounts of theirprogress; but his face looked grave as, in obedience to Bracy'squestion, he told him all. 

"Yes, sir, " he said, "we're in a very tight place; and the Colonel hereis looking a bit down in the mouth. The little chaps are raging aboutbeing kept back, and if he'd let 'em go they'd kill till they couldn'tlift those head-choppers of theirs; but as soon as one's shot or cutdown a dozen seems to spring up, and the place swarms with white-gownds, as if they'd quite made up their minds to kill us to a man before we canget to the fort. There, sir--hear that?"

"Yes, I hear, " said Bracy, breathing hard. "It means an attack on therear. "

"That's it, sir. We're surrounded; and if it weren't for that rushingriver being so full they'd come swarming over, and we should be done. "

Further conversation was put an end to by the order to advance, after abrief halt to rest and refresh the men, the Ghoorkha Colonel seeing thatthe enemy must be dislodged from the forest in front at any cost. Itwas a desperate business, and could only be achieved at a terrible loss, for the river and precipitous rocks on either side put a stop to allidea of turning the enemy's flank. A bold dash was the only chance, andthis was about to be attempted, while the rear of the regiment was beingterribly harassed by the enemy closing in. 

The last arrangements had been made, and the swarthy little fellows, solong held in by the tight rein, were trembling with excitement as theystood together in shelter, with fixed bayonets and kukris, waiting tomake the rush. The bugle was being raised to the holder's lips to soundthe advance, when a thrill of joy surged through the British leaders'breasts, for the help they needed came in the nick of time. 

A sharp volley was fired from behind the dense patch the enemy washolding, and the Ghoorkhas cheered wildly as the bugle rang out; andthen as volley after volley followed from beyond the trees theyliterally flew over the broken ground, not a man stopping to fire, butraced into the wood, hewing with their terrible knives, and driving theenemy out like a flock of sheep right on to the fire, and soon afterupon the bayonets of Colonel Graves's men. It was only a matter of tenminutes, and then, fleeing to right and left, the enemy was springing upamong the rocks or plunging into the river to escape the tierce littleregiment they had sought to destroy. 

Ill news flies swiftly, and the sight of their fellows streamingscattered up among the hills disheartened those who were making a savageattack upon the rear. A couple of volleys from the two companies whoformed the rear-guard turned their hesitation into flight, and amidsttremendous cheering the advance was continued, with Colonel Graves's menclearing the way; and, merely harassed by a few distant shots, thecolumn readied the fort whose walls were lined by non-combatants, women, and the weak garrison left behind. The men marched in cheering andcounter-cheering, intoxicated as they were with success, while even thewounded carried on litters and mules, and the brave fellows whopersisted in tramping on in spite of injuries terrible to bear, addedtheir feeble cries to swell the jubilation of the scene. 

But the wildest, most exciting moments were when, in the bright eveningglow, the rear-guard of the little Ghoorkhas marched in, proud of twoburdens they carried shoulder-high in litters, singing and cheering andwaving their caps, as if they bore the greatest triumph of the relief. 

One of those they carried lay prone and helpless, his sallow facequivering slightly from time to time with the emotion which attacked himas he was borne into the court--most painfully perhaps when his face wasrecognised by those at the windows of the buildings and on the walls. It was then that his name was shouted, first by shrill women's voices, and then thundered out and half-drowned by the cheers. 

The other burden carried by the brave little Ghoorkhas would not lie, but insisted upon sitting; and somehow, in the midst of the wildexcitement of their reception as the heroes who had brought back thehelp, Gedge seemed to go quite mad with boy-like joy. For as soon as heappeared, bandaged and damaged as he was, Mrs Gee called out his name. A burst of fresh cheering arose then from the men of his company whowere near, and as their shouts arose and were echoed by those around, "Bill Gedge! Bill Gedge!" the poor fellow sat up as high as he couldupon the little Ghoorkas' shoulders, threw himself into one of hisfavourite nigger minstrel attitudes, with left arm outstretched andright hand seeming to thump with all his poor strength upon theimaginary banjo held against his breast. 

"Welcome, welcome back!" cried Colonel Graves a few minutes later, as heforced himself through the crowd to where Doctor Morton was excitedlysuperintending the carrying in of his two old patients to the officers'ward. 

"Thanks, thanks, Colonel, " said Bracy in a feeble voice. "I did mybest, sir, but I only failed. "

"Failed!" cried the Colonel proudly. "Why, the fort is saved. "

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

"FOR VALOUR. "

There is little more to tell, for, after this last repulse and thestrengthening of the but by doubling its garrison, the enemy's ranksmelted away once more, the white-coats, terribly lessened, vanishinglike snow from the hills. 

Two days later long processions of unarmed villagers were bringing instores for sale; and before twenty-four more hours had elapsed adeputation of chiefs from different tribes were suing for peace, theEmpress Queen's authority being acknowledged, and the fort and itsapproaches became safe, so that it seemed hard to realise the truth ofthe great change. But change there was, the various hill-tribes roundapparently accepting the position of being under the stronger power, anddevoting themselves to the arts of peace. 

It was while getting slowly over his injuries that Bracy's quartersbecame the favourite resort of many of the officers, even ColonelWrayford, once more himself, often coming in company with Major Grahamand the Doctor. But the chief visitors were Roberts and Drummond, thethree young officers exchanging notes as to what had taken place duringtheir separation. 

"I never knew such a lucky chap as you are, Bracy, " said Drummond on oneoccasion. "You seem to get most of the titbits and all the fat. "

Bracy's face assumed such a peculiar aspect of perplexed wonder as hecarefully shifted his injured leg so as not to jar his wound whilemoving, and he directed such a questioning look at Roberts that thelatter burst into a roar of laughter. 

"What is it?" said Drummond. "Have I said something stupid--a bull?"

"More like the bleat of an innocent calf, " said Roberts--"eh, Bracy?"

"Oh, all right; chaff away, old chaps. But, I say, I hear that thereare a lot of supplies coming up the pass--mule-loads and loads. There'ssure to be a bullock-trunk for me, and I shall be able to get out of youfellows' debt. "

"Our debt?" said Bracy. "You don't owe me anything. "

"Oh, don't I? What about those boots?"

One morning, when Bracy was getting on towards convalescence, Gedge, whowas acting as invalid servant, entered the homely room holding out onearm. 

"Why, Gedge!" cried Bracy; "the sergeant's chevrons?"

"That's right, sir, " cried their owner proudly. "Youngest sergeant inthe ridgement, Colonel says, and that he was proud to give me mypromotion. "

The young soldier held out his arm, upon which the regimental tailor hadsewn a patch of very shabby cloth, bearing the three stripes of thesergeant's rank, the thing itself being a weather-stained rag. 

"I congratulate you, my lad, with all my heart. "

"I knew you would, sir. Ain't much to look at, sir, to some people. Weshall get fresh togs served out some day; but I don't believe the noostripes 'll shine out half so bright as these here do, sir, to me. "

Bracy sighed. 

"Can't help feeling as proud as a dog with two tails--ought to saythree, sir, because that's the number of the stripes. But somehow Idon't feel as I thought I should. "

"I suppose not, " said Bracy sadly. "I feel the same, Gedge. We did notfetch the Ghoorkhas. "

"No, sir, " said Gedge, grinning; "but we brought 'em back, and I don'tsee how any two could ha' done more than we did. But I didn't meanthat, sir. I meant about Sergeant Gee. I thought it would make him aswaxy as could be; but as soon as parade was over, and the boys had donecheering me for my promotion, I got showing off, for old Gee was comingup to me, and I was getting ready to give him back as good as he giveme. But what d'yer think, sir?"

"I don't know, Gedge, " said Bracy, smiling. 

"Knocks the wind outer me at once. "

"What do you mean?"

"Comes up to me and offers me one hand, and claps t'other on myshoulder. `Glad to welcome so brave a brother, ' he says, `to thesergeants' mess. ' My! I was took aback, sir, and couldn't say a word;and if next minute his missus wasn't shaking hands too with the tears inher eyes, sir--real uns, for I counted four as tumbled out and fell spaton the front of her dress. `Willyum Gedge, ' she says, and then shestops short with her lower lip dithering, and she couldn't say anotherword, only stood shaking her head, while the boys cheered again. ThinkSergeant Gee meant it, sir, or was it only showing off?"

"He meant it, my lad. Gee has a great deal of harsh tyranny in his waysof dealing with those under him; but a braver and more honest man neverjoined the regiment. "

"I'm glad o' that, sir, " said Gedge. "Then, as he did mean it, why, ofcourse we're going to be friends. "

"Ah, Sergeant, you here?" said Colonel Graves, entering Bracy'squarters. "One moment before you go. I have mentioned you in mydespatch for displaying signal bravery in protecting your officer upontwo occasions. "

"Me, sir? Oh, thanky, sir, but I--"

"Silence!--Bracy, my dear boy, I came to tell you that I have spoken soof you that if they do not give you the Victoria Cross I shall say thereis something wrong. "

"For me, sir?" cried Bracy, with his pale, thin face flushing faintly. "Impossible, sir. Oh, I have not deserved all this!"

The Colonel's eyes did not look quite so bright as usual as he warmlyshook his young officer's hand. 

"Let me be the best judge of that, " he said. "You have always been oneof my smartest officers, and in this last dangerous expedition youshowed the will and did your utmost. It was fate that helped you in thelast extremity to perfect the deed. "

The day came when the simple little much-prized decoration was pinned onCaptain Bracy's breast, and the motto never shone upon a truer heart. 

"For Valour, " he said softly as he looked down upon his breast. "Was itreally well deserved?"