n which the two helpless privates joined; and directly after the
fugitives were saved from being battered among the rocks by ready hands,
whose efforts were covered by the rapid firing from the bank above.

Five minutes after, the dripping party were retiring with a company of
their regiment, whose captain contented himself with giving the enemy a
volley from time to time, as they doubled to reach their quarters, now
not a quarter of a mile away, the young officers learning that the enemy
was out once more and converging upon the fort, this unexpected news of
the termination of the temporary peace having been brought in by scouts,
and none too soon.

"Graves said that you must be brought in somehow," said the officer in
charge of the company; "but I was not to cross the river where you did,
but to come up this side, for you would turn back after crossing higher
up."

"Yes; I remember telling the Colonel so," said Bracy eagerly.

"Well, it has turned out all right; but he needn't have told me, for we
could not have crossed, as far as I can see."

"We did," said Drummond, laughing; "and brought in these three fellows,
too."

"Yes; but I wouldn't holloa too soon," said the officer addressed.
"We're not safe yet. Look yonder; they're swarming down that gorge, and
we must race for it, or they'll cut us off. Forward, my lads."

Ten minutes later there was a halt and a clinking rattle, as the order
was given to fix bayonets ready for a strong body of the hill-men, who
had crossed the shallows lower down and were coming on to dispute their
way.

"Why doesn't Graves send out another company to cover us?" panted
Roberts. "We shall be cut off after all."

The words had hardly passed his lips when--crash!--there was a
tremendous volley from their right front, which checked the enemy's
advance, the white-coated hill-men hesitating. The officer in command
seized the opportunity, and a volley was fired by the rescue company,
the men cheering as they dashed on with bristling bayonets. That was
enough: the enemy turned and fled, their speed increased by another
volley from the covering company; and ten minutes later the fugitives
were marching along coolly, protected by the fire from the walls of the
fort, where they were directly after being heartily shaken by the hand,
the sally-port clanging to in their rear.

"Quite enough for one day," said Drummond.

"Yes," said Bracy grimly; "that's having what Gedge called a ni