n who had been molesting the fort before should
dare to approach again. They were all gone back now to their own
valleys in fear, through his approach, and now the two great English
Generals and their men might sleep in peace.

"Thank you. Bravo! Encore, Sambo!" said Roberts softly. "Going? Pray
remember me to all at home."

"Ugh!" raged out Bracy below his breath; "if ever treachery was plainly
marked upon a smiling, handsome face, it is there in that scoundrel's.
Roberts, we must never trust these men within our guard."

"Most certainly not, old fellow; but I suppose we must let them go back
in safety, like the noble ambassadors they are."

"What is going on now?" said Bracy. "Why, they're shaking hands with
Colonel Wrayford, English fashion. Surely he is not going to trust
them?"

"Seems as if he is," replied Roberts softly as the young men stood
gazing down at the party below. "Perhaps he knows the native character
better than we do, and thinks it's all right."

"Well, I don't," said Bracy shortly, "young as I am. Those fellows have
come as spies, and I'm more and more convinced that they are the set who
harassed us as we came."

"I begin to think you are right, old man," said Roberts.

"Well, of all--That scoundrel is going to offer to shake hands with
Graves!"

"No, he isn't," replied Roberts softly. "Doesn't like the look of the
old man's eyes. Made a sort of shy at him. Now they're off, after
picking up all that they could about our strength and position. Well,
it isn't right, perhaps, for us to pull our superior's actions to
pieces; but I don't think Wrayford is right."

"And Graves seems to think as you do," said Bracy thoughtfully as he
watched the departure of the chiefs. "Look! those fellows are not
missing much with their rolling eyes. I wonder what they think of our
lads. The poor fellows don't show up very well against these stout
hill-men."

"They showed up well enough yesterday," said Roberts tartly. "Pooh!
What has size got to do with it? Well, I'm glad they've gone; but I
should like to know what they are saying to one another."

"Talking about the strength of the gates, you may depend, and whether
this would be a good place to make their first attack when they come to
put the garrison to the sword," said Bracy slowly.

"Well, you are a cheerful sort of a fellow for a companion," said
Roberts, laughing.

"That's what they came for, cheerful or not."

"Perhaps so;