. "I am eager for them to come
out before those scoundrelly sepoys give the rajah warning; and I am
longing for them to stay for a full three-quarters of an hour yet. What
a dilemma. It is terrible."

Just then there was the sound of a horse plunging and squealing, and we
turned to where the trumpeter held the three.

"That would ruin us if they were passing," muttered Brace. Then aloud,
"Keep them quiet, my lad. What are you doing?"

"Beg pardon, sir; did not move. Mr Vincent's horse, sir, a bit
playful. They're all so fresh."

We patted and quieted the beautiful animals, and left them again to
resume our old place, to find that all remained still. There was no
excitement, and we could see nothing to suggest that there had been an
alarm, and men were coming out to attack us or a retreat had been
ordered. But as we watched, we suddenly saw a man in white riding the
beautiful gaily caparisoned Arab, which even at that distance I
recognised as the rajah's charger. He was passing along in front of
some buildings, and my heart beat faster as I felt that at last the time
was rapidly approaching for action.

"How long do you think it is now since they started?" said Brace, in a
hoarse voice.

"Half an hour," I replied; and I did not recognise my own voice, it
sounded so husky.

"Hah!" sighed Brace, still using his glass.

Then, after a few minutes--

"They're turning out," he said. "Yes; and there is no sign of hurry;"
and he kept on telling me as, by the help of the glass, the confusion I
could see was cleared; and the leading out of horses, and falling in of
men, was described, "They're going through it all exactly as if they
were our troop," said Brace, bitterly. "We've let them see our
training, and trained them, too, to some purpose. Hasn't another
quarter of an hour gone yet?"

"No," I said; "not more than ten minutes."

"It seems like ten hours. Hah! Trumpeter, keep those horses quiet, on
your life."

There was a neighing and stamping and trampling mingled with the
breaking of bushes, and then all was quiet again; while I felt an
intense longing to mount my Arab, and gallop as hard as that beautiful
creature could go.

"You can see them plainly now?" said Brace.

"Oh yes; quite plainly," I replied, as I saw the limbers brought out,
each by its six horses, and the men drawn up ready, some on foot, the
rest mounted, and holding the horses of the dismounted gunners, two of
whom, however,