ty yards by twenty-three; the other thirty yards by fifteen, and the
stones had all to be picked up and carried considerable distances, or
loosened out of the solid rock by aid of the six pickaxes and four
crowbars that were alone available.

In addition to this the site of a camp was marked out, roads were formed
by clearing away the stones, and paths made up to the forts and picket
stations. The outpost duty was very severe, two officers and sixty-five
men being always on duty, as it was possible that at any time, night or
day, an attack might be made.

"This is awful!" Easton said to Skinner, as, sitting down on the ground,
he mournfully contemplated his boots; "these boots that I relied upon to
last me through the campaign are hopelessly done for."

"They do look bad," Skinner agreed, "but no worse than mine, or in fact
than any one else's. These rocks are awful. If Nature had scattered ten
million knives broadcast about this valley they could not have been more
destructive to boots than these rocks. I used to think that, although
the camels were well enough for taking up the baggage or as a means of
conveyance for men, they were a mistake, and that it would be much
pleasanter to march than to sit upon these wearisome beasts; but my
opinion has been changed by our experience here. If we had to march many
miles over such a country as this the whole force would be barefooted. I
had a frightful job of it last night. I went the rounds with the
field-officer, and how it was I didn't break my neck I cannot imagine. I
had a dozen tremendous croppers down the rocks. The lantern went out the
first time, and got smashed the second. The major seemed to think that
it was my duty to have kept it alight whatever happened to myself, and
was as savage as a bear. We lost our way a dozen times, and once came up
to a picket on the wrong side, and deuced near got potted."

"I know all about it," Easton said. "I did it three nights ago, and have
no skin at present on my knees or my elbows or my hips, and mighty
little on my back. I went down one place fifty or sixty feet deep
head-foremost, bumping from rock to rock, and it flashed through my mind
as I did so what an ass I was to be going through all this when I might
be comfortably in bed at home. They don't tell one of these things," he
said plaintively, "when they talk of the advantages of the army."

"Bosh!" Skinner said wrathfully. "I don't suppose you were a bit more
hurt than