y
making a feint, so that you can make at once for the upper ground."

"Not by the mountains above the Gor Pass, sir?"

"No; the other direction entirely. You are to make for the Ghil Valley,
and bring back the Ghoorkas, Bracy. It is time that we took the
offensive; the enemy must be driven back before the autumn closes in.
No; you are going upon an extremely dangerous mission, Bracy; I tell you
so frankly. I will be quite open with you. I am sending you upon this
horribly risky journey; but it is as a soldier to risk your life to save
ours."

"To save yours, sir?" said Bracy wonderingly.

"Surely the fort is quite safe if you act on the defensive."

"It would be, my dear boy, if we had an ample supply of ammunition."

Bracy started, and gazed wide-eyed at his Colonel, who had leaned across
the table and said these last words almost in a whisper.

"I am speaking quite openly to you, Bracy--telling you what must be a
secret between us two; and I tell you because it is just to one sent
upon such a perilous enterprise that he should feel satisfied as to the
urgency of the need."

Bracy made a gesture, but the Colonel checked him.

"Yes; I know what you would say," he continued: "that dangerous or no,
you would do your duty. I know you would. I have perfect faith in my
officers; but this is a matter of conscience on my side. Bracy, I find
that our ammunition will not last a month. Once that is gone, we are no
longer the superiors of the enemy. The bayonet is a splendid weapon;
but these hill-tribes are magnificent swordsmen, and when, many times
outnumbering us as they do, they come on to a hand-to-hand fight, adding
their reckless religious fervour to their natural bravery, they must
master us in the end; and that means taking the fort, and--you know what
would follow."

Bracy bowed his head; he could not speak.

"An indiscriminate massacres a horrible death to every man and woman in
the place."

"Horrible, sir," cried Bracy excitedly. "Oh, Colonel Graves, surely
things are not so bad as you think!"

The Colonel smiled.

"You ought to know me by this time, Bracy," he said quietly. "I don't
think I am a man likely to raise bugbears."

"No, no, sir! I beg your pardon."

"That will do," said the Colonel quietly. "When you leave me, be
prepared to start. You must not confide in your nearest friend; go
about your work cheerfully, and as if only to bear a despatch, but
conscious the while that