Oh, that, sir? Not me. Ain't I just as likely to be shot if I stop
quiet here? They're allus trying to do it. I gets more sniping than
any chap in the company."

"Then you will go with me?"

"I just will, sir. Anywheres."

"Thank you, Gedge. I'll say no more, for I know that you will stick to
me like a man."

"Ha!" ejaculated Gedge, exhaling an enormous amount of pent-up emotion,
and drawing his arm across his thickly perspiring brow, while a
pleasant, contented smile lit up his plain features, as he drew himself
up more stiffly to attention, waiting for orders.

"Well done, Gedge!" said Roberts softly.--"You've picked the right lad,
Bracy."

Gedge did not move a muscle, but stood as upright as the rifle at his
side, and looking as inanimate, but quite as dangerous, while his two
officers said a few words in a low tone. The next moment Roberts went
out of the room, and Bracy turned to the lad.

"We have to carry everything ourselves, and we must take all we can
without overloading, my lad, for we shall have to climb a great deal
amongst the snow. Now, mind this: we have just three-quarters of an
hour for preparation. Then we must pass out of the gate."

Gedge did not move, but stood as if carved out of a block of hardened
putty by the hand of an artistic drill-sergeant; listening, though, with
his ears, which looked preternaturally large from the closeness of the
regimental barber's efforts, and seeming to gape. Then he left his
rifle in a corner, and was off.

The result was that, with five minutes to spare, officer and man,
strangely transformed by their thick, woolly overcoats, stood ready in
that room. Haversacks of provisions hung from their broad leather
bands; revolvers balanced dagger-bay'nets from their belts; as much
ammunition as they could carry was in their pockets, and necessary odds
and ends were bestowed in satchels.

"All ready?" said Roberts at last.

"All ready. Nothing forgotten that I can think of."

"Then you will start at once. I have warned the men that you are to be
allowed to slip out quietly, or they would have cheered you."

"Thanks," said Bracy.--"You hear that, Gedge?"

"Yes, sir."

"You will follow me without a word."

Gedge's face now looked as if if had been carved in oil-stone, it was so
hard, and he made no reply. But mentally he was discoursing vigorously
in his wild state of excitement, for he could judge of his own
appearance by that of his officer