blank, when the order rang out again, and the guns were limbered up, and
retired three or four hundred yards before halt was again called, the
same performance gone through and repeated then in the advance, as if
they were sheltering the village, each halt being at the end of some
three hundred yards.

In this way they passed us, not two hundred yards distant, and we had to
lie close for fear of being seen.

Then a fresh movement was gone through, the troop was formed into column
again, and as we watched, the men were halted just in front of the
village, where they were dismissed, and the horses were trotted off to
various parts where there were sheds beneath the trees, the guns being
left in line, in front of the principal house of the place.

"They stay here for the night, Gil," said Brace excitedly.

"Yes, sahib, and they slept here last night."

"Ah," cried Brace; "you know?"

"Yes, sahib, I have been right through the village where the people are
staying. No one took me for a spy; it was there I learned that Ny Deen
was the Rajah of Ahdenpore. He is going to stay here--it is one of his
villages--and drill the men till they can gallop and fire quickly, then
he is going to join Shah Rogan's army, fifty miles to the north, and
they are to sweep all the white sahibs out of our land."

"_L'homme propose, et Dieu dispose_, Gil," said Brace, quietly. "So we
have run the rajah to earth, eh? Then the next best thing is to keep
our men out of sight, Gil, eh?" he continued cheerily. "Dost, you will
be faithful to us, I know. Perhaps we shall not all be swept out of the
country. Now then, cautiously," he said. "Hah, yes, they have sentries
placed. Rajah Syce is no fool. It was a clever, well-contrived scheme,
but he will have to work hard to keep those guns, Gil. Now, three hours
for rest and food; we must get strength, if we are to succeed."

"Have you a plan yet?" I said as we walked on in the shade of the
trees.

"None as yet. The only thing I have been planning is to make sure those
sepoy prisoners do not betray us. The rest will come."

Half an hour later we were back in our little camp, where Haynes had
sentries placed, and our evening meal ready.

"Any luck?" he said, in a tired voice.

"Yes," said Brace; "we have been watching a review of our troop. We
have run the enemy to his lair."

"And what next?"

"Hah! we must settle that after a sleep," said Brace, and I stared at
him in astoni