be
disturbed till it is well."

"There, don't talk about it," said Bracy quickly. "I want to know how
things are going on. I don't hear half enough."

"All right, old man," cried Roberts cheerfully. "You shall have it in
brief. This is a hole--we're in a hole--the Dwats, bless 'em! are like
the sand upon the seashore, and they come sliding into the hole. Then
we shovel 'em out, and just like sand they come trickling down again
upon us. Now it's down one of the gullies, now it's down another; and
the more we kill the more seem to come on."

"Yes--yes--yes," sighed Bracy; "just as it has been from the first. We
ought to have reinforcements."

"That's right, and I dare say some have been sent; but the tribes south
and east have all risen, and are holding them in check, so we've got to
do the work here ourselves."

"How are the supplies?"

"Tidy--tidy; and we keep on fretting a little game, only it's risky
work; and I never feel as if I should get back again when I'm out
shooting. Had some narrow escapes."

"What about ammunition?"

"That's all right. Enough for a couple of months yet, fire as hard as
we like."

"Why didn't Drummond come to see me yesterday? Ah, I know; he has been
wounded."

"Just scratched; that's all. I dare say he'll come in some time
to-day."

"Poor fellow! I am sorry."

"He isn't--he's delighted. Goes about with his arm in a sling, showing
it to everybody, and telling them about the fight he had with a big
Dwat. Says he should have cut him down, only one of our lads was so
precious handy with his bayonet and ran him through."

"Ah!" cried Bracy, flushing slightly, as he mentally pictured the scene.
"How bravely our lads do stand by their officers!"

"They do. Good fellows; brave boys. I like the way, too, in which that
chap Gedge waits on you."

"Yes," said Bracy, with a sigh; "and the poor fellow is not fit to be
about. Morton owned to it; but he will wait on me hand and foot, to
that horrible woman's disgust."

"What! Mrs Gee?"

Bracy nodded.

"Well, she is a disagreeable, tyrannical sort of female Jack-in-office;
but she has her good points."

"Yes; but they're such sharp points, and they prick dreadfully."

"Ha, ha!" laughed Roberts. "A joke; and you say you're not getting
better.--I say, what were we talking about? Oh, Gedge. I wish he
wasn't such an awful East-end Cockney in his ways, for he's a splendid
fellow inside. Times and times he has br