ions, whose rifle-bullets spattered and splashed upon the rocks, and
often started tiny avalanches of weathered debris.

Then all at once Gedge fired, and the long barrel, which had been thrust
out from the little breastwork and sent down dangerous shots time after
time, was suddenly snatched back, and the lad reloaded, looking
smilingly at the lieutenant the while.

"Good shot," said Sergeant Gee importantly. "You didn't do your
firing-practice for nothing, my man."

"Did you hit him, Gedge?" cried Bracy eagerly.

"Yes, sir; he had it that time. I could ha' done it afore if he'd ha'
showed hisself."

"But he did at last."

"That he didn't, sir, on'y his shadder on the stone, and I aimed at
that."

"Nonsense!" cried the Sergeant.

"Ah, well, you'll see," said Gedge, and he turned with a grin to his
officer. "I foun' as I should never hit him strite forrard, sir, so I
thinked it out a bit, and then aimed at his shadder, and it was like
taking him off the cushion--fired at the stone where I could see the
shadder of his head."

"Ah! a ricochet," cried Bracy.

"That's it, sir; a rickyshay."

The stones continued to fall without effect; but no one above attempted
to expose himself again to the deadly fire from below.

Suddenly Bracy started from his place.

"Up with you, my lads; forward!"

Waving his sword, he made a rush, leading his men along the
deadly-looking piece of road swept by the stones from above, for the
rear-guard had passed in safety; and, with his breath coming thick and
fast, he dashed forward, knowing full well that their first movement
would be the signal for the stones to come down thick and fast. He was
quite right; for, as the men cheered and dashed after their two
officers, block after block came whirring down, crashing, bounding,
shivering, and seeming to fill the air with fragments so thickly that it
was quite impossible to believe the passage of that hundred exposed
yards could be accomplished in safety. But they got across untouched,
and the men cheered again as they clustered about their officers, the
precipitous spot where they now stood being sheltered from the danger,
apparently inaccessible even to the enemy.

"Bravo, my lads!" cried the Captain.

"Splendidly done," said Bracy, breathless, "and not a man hurt."

"All here?" said Captain Roberts.

"Yes, sir;" "Yes, sir," came in a scattered volley of words.

"No--stop!" said Bracy excitedly. "Where's Gedge?"

Th