yes very
nearly brimmed over the next moment, for, leaving Bracy, now on his way
to the gate, the officers' ladies crowded round Gedge and shook hands,
two dying to thrust upon him packages of what would have been luxuries
to them in nights to come; but he was obliged to shake his head, for he
was already laden to the fullest extent.

"Now, Gedge!" came from the gate, and the next minute it had been opened
and closed after two bulky, stooping figures, who, with rifles at the
trail, started off in Indian file along the track by the river-side,
making for the upper portion of the valley, but without uttering a word.

Their ears were listening, though, to the sounds of firing in the
distance, the reports of many pieces coming reverberating out of the
chasm-like rift leading south. Their eyes, too, were as much upon the
alert as those of some timid animal whose life depends upon its
watchfulness from day to day, existing, as it does, in the midst of
numberless enemies, who look upon it as their natural prey.

But though their rolling eyes scanned every spot familiar, from long
experience, as the lurking-place; of an enemy, there was not a glimpse
of a white coat nor the gleam of a polished weapon to be seen. At the
same time, careful watch was kept upon the track they traversed every
time it opened out sufficiently for a forward glance of any extent, and
the heavy, matter-of-fact, hill-country-looking pair had nearly reached
a spot from whence a good view of the fort could be obtained before a
word was spoken.

Then the silence was broken by Bracy, who said abruptly:

"Don't look back, my lad."

"No, sir," came promptly from the front.

"Our lookout is forward from this hour till the time we bring back help
to those we leave behind."

Gedge was silent, and kept on the watch, as, with rounded shoulders and
camelled back, he planted his puttee-bandaged legs in the safest parts
of the rugged track.

"Well, don't you want to know where we're going?"

"Yus, sir; 'orrid."

"Over the mountains to bring back a Ghoorka regiment, my lad."

"Right, sir."

"And by the hardest way we can find."

"Something like them ways over the snow, like you goes for the bears and
sheep, sir?"

"Yes: and harder ways still, Gedge: for to meet any of the people may
mean--"

Bracy paused, and Gedge waited for him to end his sentence. But he
waited in vain, till he was tired, and then finished it to himself, and
in the way he lik