s behind their men.
Forward, my lad, unless you find a place where we can shelter till our
comrades come back."

"There aren't no shelter, sir, and there aren't no more mercy for them
Dwats if we gets clear of this, which I don't think we shall. There,
sir! It's all over, I suppose. Ain't hit, are yer?"

"No. But that volley."

"Yes, sir, there's any number waiting for us. Here, we must walk the
gauntlet back again now. We may meet our chaps coming."

The firing was going on along the sides of the gorge, but just then
there was another crash, a regular volley, and Gedge uttered a hoarse
yell of excitement.

"It's hoo-roar, sir," he panted, "on'y I can't shout. That's our
reserves coming up, and firing to keep the beggars' fire down. See,
they've stopped now. Oh, if my rifle wasn't slung! Look at 'em. One--
two--three of the cowardly beggars scuffling up yonder like great white
rabbits, and on hands and feet, too."

Crash! again. A sharp volley from much nearer, and Gedge stopped short
to gaze with his companion at the three hill-men away in front, a couple
or three hundred feet above the level where Bracy's bearer stood
forgetting his dangerous wound and his pangs as he felt horror-stricken
at the terrible sight to his left.

There were, as Gedge said, three hill-men, crawling rapidly up a long
shelf to reach a cluster of stones for shelter--a shelter they had left
to get better aim at the struggling pair down below. And as the
climbing Dwats were watched directly after the last volley, one who was
last started up into a standing position, threw up his arms, and his
long jezail fell from them down into the defile, while he balanced
himself for a few moments and then dropped, turning over once, and
disappearing from the watchers' eyes. The next moment the top one came
to a stand by a great stone, and rolled over and over till he reached
the steep precipice, down which he plunged, the horrible thud with which
he struck the stones coming plainly to Bracy's ears.

There was still another white figure crawling up the narrow shelf, but
he had stopped short; and as Bracy and his companion gazed, the poor
wretch seemed to collapse and lie closer down to the rock. Just then
another shot rang out, and the body gave a jerk, but did not move again.

"Hah!" ejaculated Gedge. "It's very horrid, sir, but it was their turn,
and our lads can shoot. Come on, sir. I think we shall do it now."

He started off