bugles rang out at the first appearance of the enemy, and the walls
were manned with a strength to which they had been foreign; and as the
two Colonels walked round and supervised the arrangements, the senior
asked whether the new-comers could shoot.

"Admirably," said Colonel Graves, and then, with a smile--"at the
target; they have to prove what they can really do now."

"They will have every opportunity, and from behind strong walls."

Meanwhile the white-robed enemy came streaming down to the plain in the
most fearless manner, till they were well within shot, and still they
came on.

"This seems strange," said Colonel Wrayford; "they have generally begun
firing before this."

"They look more like friends than enemies," observed Colonel Graves.

"They may look so," replied the other as he scanned the advancing force,
"but we have no friends among these tribes. They are all deeply imbued
with the Mussulman's deadly hatred of the Christian, and only when
firmly held down by force do they submit to the stronger power.
Unfortunately they have broken out, and we have had enough to do to hold
our own, while the very fact of one tribe boldly shutting us in has made
half-a-dozen others forget their own enmity among themselves and come to
their aid."

Meanwhile Captain Roberts's company occupied a strong position along a
curtain defending the great gate, and the lads were all in a state of
eager expectation of the order to fire.

"It's our turn now, Sergeant," said one of the youngest-looking. "I
could pick off that chap in front before he knew where he was."

"Silence, sir!" said the Sergeant shortly; and then looking to right and
left, he gave a general admonition:

"Less talking in the ranks."

"Yah!" whispered the lad who had been snubbed. "Why don't they make him
curnel?"

"See Drummond just now?" said Bracy, where he and his companion stood
together.

"Just a glance," replied Roberts.

"Why, he came close by you."

"Yes; but my attention was taken up by his boots--yours, I mean. I
never saw a fellow look so conscious and proud of being well shod
before."

"Hullo! What does this mean?" said Bracy. "Not an attack, surely? My
word! that's brave; one, three--six of them. Why, Roberts, the cheek of
it! They're coming to order us to surrender."

"Well, it will be exercise for them, for we shan't. We'll let them give
up if they like."

"I say, look!" continued Bracy, as half-a-dozen of the we