"It's a curious nervous sensation."

"Then give up, and follow the men, and I'll go alone."

"You said I was to speak to you as if you were my brother," I said.

"Yes."

"Then I will speak," I said through my teeth. "It is to my brother, and
not to my commanding-officer. I won't. I'll go with you now if I die
for it."

And all the time the feeling of dread I felt was horrible, and worse
than all was that the feeling grew.

Brace caught my hand and wrung it.

"Well done!" he said in a low voice. "I can see. I know the sensation;
but that's the way. Fight it down."

"I'm trying," I said, huskily; "but I wish I was not such a coward."

"I don't, Gil," he said, smiling, "There, now we have a horrible task
before us to wait nearly an hour. Dobbs, follow us with the horses, and
keep about twenty yards behind."

He advanced to the three noble beasts, and began to examine their
bridles, and then tightened their girths himself, before saying shortly,
"Now forward," and, carrying the scabbard of his sword, he led the way
once more to the edge of the wood, where, after taking care that we were
carefully screened, he swept the plain with his eyes, and then took out
his glass.

"Yes, that will do," he said to the trumpeter, who had stopped with the
bridles of the horses in his hands and a look of eager excitement in his
eyes, as he evidently anticipated riding that day instead of a long
weary tramp.

Brace used his glass and watched the town, making comments to me from
time to time.

"All very quiet," he said. "Our lads must have an hour, for they may
find the tangle very hard to get through."

There was a long pause, during which he was almost constantly watching
the place with his glass. And how that scene is imprinted in my mind;
the beautiful fringe of green trees, where we stood in the shade, and
before us the broad plain bright in the fresh morning sunshine, and
wreaths of mist still floating over it, but being rapidly dispelled by
the sun, though the distance still looked hazy and of a delicious blue.
There on the right was the village or town, dotted with the figures of
the white-robed Hindus, whose arms flashed now and then, as they moved
here and there.

"If they will only give us a full hour, Gil," said Brace. "How long
have our men been gone?"

"Not a quarter yet," I said.

He uttered an ejaculation full of impatience, and began watching again.

"I'm between two fires," he said at last