itement as if
he had partaken of drink--the vile arrack that ruins so many of our men.

But Brace was lenient then.

"Yes," he cried, "three cheers for Sergeant Craig," and they were given
with a will.

Then, to my great delight, he gave orders; four men reined back, and
sprang from their horses, with the corporal, and went off at the double
toward the wood, from where they soon reappeared, bearing the litter
with poor Craig.

Brace rode forward to meet him, and leaned over the litter to shake
hands, when a low murmur of satisfaction rose from the line, but I did
not hear what he said, though I longed to ride up and thank him too. To
my great delight, though, they brought him close up to me, and we
exchanged a nod and smile.

"I thought that would do it, sir," he said feebly.

"What do you say, doctor? Do you think we could safely take him on the
ammunition-waggon?"

"So long as you don't blow it up," said the doctor, shortly. "You think
you could sit up now?"

"I will sit up, sir," said Craig, firmly.

"But the jolting and shaking, my man?"

Craig laughed.

"Why, sir, I'm used to all that; I've ridden so many times on the
limbers of gun-carriages, that being knocked about's natural to me."

"Let him try," said Brace, sharply. "Watch him, doctor, and he must
take to the dhooly again if he cannot bear it. Quick! I must advance
at once."

I looked at him wonderingly, having been under the impression that now
we had succeeded in the object we had in view we should retire.

Brace's words quite overset that notion. It was evident that he meant
to give the rajah a severe lesson, for the troop was in motion directly
after, and as we advanced, we could see that the town was in a state of
the most intense excitement, people running here and there. But before
we had gone far, Brace halted, the guns were unlimbered, loaded, and
then as we stood ready for action, scouts were sent out to right and
left; the former soon returning, while a minute later, those sent off to
the left came galloping in to announce that the rajah and his men were
in rapid retreat along the bank of the river.

This was a fresh move in the game of war, for in expectation of firing
from the town, the gunners stood ready to send shot and shell crashing
into the defences. So orders were given, guns were limbered up again,
and away we went at a gallop in full pursuit.

"We must capture the rajah," Brace cried to Haynes, as we followe