?"

"Eh?" he exclaimed, with a start. "No; not yet. Wait! They'll wheel
again directly, and form a line in front of the houses. Yes; there they
go. That will be our time. Yes; there goes the order."

He was right; the troop was wheeled, and in another minute or two they
were half across the plain, with the third gun about level with the
centre of the village, when the rajah rode out into the front, raised
his sword in the air, and the troop halted. Then, faintly heard, came
another order, and men and guns came to the front, ready for a second
advance down the plain and past us, probably at a trot.

"Hah!" ejaculated Brace, drawing back quickly. "Ready, Gil?"

"Yes," I cried hoarsely.

"Now, my lad, the horses," he said sharply, and there was a movement
among the beautiful creatures as if his words had inspired them with
excitement.

It was only a few yards to where they stood, and the next minute we each
had a rein. Brace gave the order to mount, and we sprang into our
saddles, a thrill running through me, as my knees once more gripped the
elastic animal's sides, and he uttered a snort of satisfaction.

"Now," cried Brace, firmly. "I depend on you, Dobbs, my boy. Keep
close behind me, and obey my orders instantly."

The lad raised his hand to his helmet, and then loosened the trumpet
slung over his shoulder, took it in hand with the bell mouth resting on
his right thigh, and sat as firm as a statue.

"You, Vincent, on my right. As soon as we are out of the edge of the
forest, we advance at a trot. Leave everything to me. Don't draw till
I give the order. Let them think first that we come peaceably."

We advanced to the edge of the wood, and were just passing out, when I
saw something which made me say--

"Look!--look!"

"Ah, just in time!" said Brace, for now out to the right of the village
we could see a little crowd, and in front of them a party of sepoys,
marching towards where the guns were drawn up. "Yes," he repeated;
"just in time. Forward! we shall be first."

We took our places instantly, and rode out in the formation ordered, and
as we advanced, with my Arab dancing beneath me, all excitement to be
off, it appeared to me that we were not seen, and that the attention of
the rajah was taken up by the advancing party of sepoys, evidently our
late prisoners.

But the distance was still too great for me to be sure, and I had no
time for thinking.

Then, all at once, I heard a sho