o face his enemies,
two of whom reached him together, cutting at him with all their might.
But, active as a cat, the tall, lithe youth avoided one of his foes by
leaping aside, ran the other man through, and swinging round, with a
tremendous cut severed the wrist of the wretch he had avoided, when
coming at him for a second blow.

The other two did not reach him, for half-a-dozen shots rang out, and
the true firing of the boy-regiment was again proved, the two Ghazis
leaping high in the air, and falling backward on to the bayonets of the
men below. There was another cheer at this, but it was dominated
directly after by a renewal of the howl of execration which had broken
out before.

The hearer looked for a moment or two puzzled, and hesitated to advance;
but the next minute he turned half-face, doubled along the rampart to
the steps, and descended to the court, passing coolly among the men
where Colonel Graves was standing giving orders.

"Mr Drummond," he said, "I am told that you left your men in a way that
disgraces a British officer."

"That I didn't," cried the young man indignantly. "I heard you say that
if we only had light we could see to fire, or something of that sort."

"Yes, sir, I did," said the Colonel sternly.

"Well, sir, I ran along the ramp and climbed up three times before I
could get to the store, and then set fire to the fodder; but it was ever
so long before I could get it to burn, and then I couldn't get out."

"You did that?" cried the Colonel.

"To be sure I did, sir. Wasn't it right? Oh, I see now; the men
thought I went and hid to get out of the light."

"My dear boy," cried the Colonel; "of course."

"Oh," cried Drummond, "what jolly fools the lads can be! But I say,
sir, who's hurt? and was old Bracy safe?"

A minute later the men cheered even louder than before, as they watched
Drummond--a hero now in their midst--place a bag of powder to blow down
the burning building and save the place from risk of the fire spreading.

That was soon done. It was a risky task, but bravely set about; and, as
the place went up in a rush of flames and sparks, the assault from
outside ceased, the enemy drawing off under cover of the mist; and an
hour later silence fell upon the horrible scene of carnage, not even a
bleat arising from the sheep.

But the fort was safe, the dim morning light showing the British flag,
wet and clinging, but still hanging in its place upon the flagstaff;
whil