return. Then you're all right. You like it then."

"Humph!" ejaculated Bracy, and his brow wrinkled. "But had we not
better go down and give the alarm?"

"Plenty of time. No need to hurry. They're not going to attack; only
lying up waiting to see if those beggars who came this morning can do
anything by scheming. I fancy they're getting a bit short of lead, for
we've had all kinds of rubbish shot into the fort here--bits of iron,
nails, stones, and broken bits of pot. We've seen them, too, hunting
about among the rocks for our spent bullets. You'll find them very nice
sort of fellows, ready to shoot at you with something from a distance to
give you a wound that won't heal, and cut at you when they can come to
close quarters with tulwars and knives that are sharp as razors. They
will heal, for, as our doctor says, they are beautiful clean cuts that
close well. Never saw the beauty of them, though. He's almost as bad
as your old chap for that."

"But we had better go down and give the alarm," said Bracy anxiously.

"None to give," said Drummond coolly. "It's only a bit of news, and
that's how it will be taken. Nothing to be done, but perhaps double the
sentries in the weak places. Not that they're very weak, or we
shouldn't have been hen; when you came."

"Well, I shall feel more comfortable when my Colonel knows--eh,
Roberts?"

"Yes," said the latter, who had stood frowning and listening; "and I
don't think he will be for sitting down so quietly as your old man."

"Not yet. Be for turning some of them out."

"Of course."

"Very spirited and nice; but it means losing men, and the beggars come
back again. We used to do a lot of that sort of thing, but of late the
policy has been to do nothing unless they attacked, and then to give
them all we knew. Pays best."

"I don't know," said Roberts as they were descending fast; "it can't
make any impression upon the enemy."

"Shows them that the English have come to stay," interposed Bracy.

"Yes, perhaps; but they may read it that we are afraid of them on seeing
us keep behind walls."

A minute or two later the news was borne to headquarters, where the two
Colonels were in eager conference, and upon hearing it Colonel Graves
leaped up and turned to his senior as if expecting immediate orders for
action; but his colleague's face wrinkled a little more, and he said
quietly:

"Then that visit was a mere _ruse_ to put us off our guard and give them