le away in front,
without hesitation or turning to look back."

"Yes, sir."

"Once there, I'll bring the glass to bear again on our rear. Make a
bee-line for it, as if you were going to take up new ground for your
company. Once there, we can make for another and another, and if we are
pursued each clump of rocks will make us breastworks or rifle-pits. Up!
Forward!"

Gedge started on the instant, talking to himself, as he felt that he
ought still to maintain a soldierly silence.

"Quarter of a mile--eh? That's a good half, or I've failed in judging
distance, after all, and turned out a reg'lar duller. Cheeky, though,
to think I know better than my orficer. Dunno, though; I've done twice
as much of it as he have.--Wonder whether them beggars have begun
stalking us again. Dessay they have. Sure to. My! how I should like
to look back! That's the worst o' being a swaddy on dooty. Your soul
even don't seem to be your own. Never mind; orders is orders, and I'm
straight for them rocks; but natur's natur', even if it's in a savage
nigger with a firework-spark gun and a long knife. If those chaps don't
come sneaking after us for a shot as soon as they've seen us on the
move, I'm a Dutchman."

Bill Gedge was not a Dutchman, but East London to the backbone, and
quite right; for, before he and the officer were a hundred yards on
their way to take up new ground, first one and then another
white-clothed figure came cautiously into the wide field of view, quite
a mile away, but plainly seen in that wonderfully clear air, and came on
in a half-stooping way, suggesting hungry wolves slinking steadily and
surely along after their prey.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

A QUESTION OF HELMETS.

Bracy felt quite sure that they were being tracked, but he did not look
round till they were well within the shelter of the rocks for which they
aimed. Then, as soon as he could feel that he was certain of being
unobserved, he raised his head above one of the blocks, and took his
glass to read more fully their position. For, in a long line, at
intervals of some ten yards or so, the enemy was coming on, without a
sign of haste, but in the quiet, determined way of those who know that
they are following an absolute certainty, and that it is only a matter
of time before their prey drops down at their mercy.

The day was gloriously bright, and the vast landscape of rock, forest,
and gleaming water to their left, and the dazzling stret