the central spot, followed by clink, clink, clink--the striking of steel
on stone, and then a momentary silence, followed by a peculiar rumbling
and a burst of voices.

"Gug!"

Bracy turned sharply, bayonet in hand, ready to strike, for the horrible
thought struck him that Gedge had just received a tierce thrust which
pinned him to the frozen snow; but as he leaned in his direction a hand
touched his wrist and gave it a grip, holding it tightly, and making him
draw a deep breath full of relief.

Meanwhile the voices increased, their owners talking fiercely, and
though the tongue was almost unintelligible, a word was caught here and
there, and they grasped the fact that every man seemed to want to talk
at once, and to be making suggestions.

But the speakers did not keep to one place. As far as Bracy could make
out, they had broken up into parties, which hurried here and there, one
coming so near to where the listeners lay that they felt that their time
for action had come at last, and, palpitating with excitement, they
prepared to meet the first attack.

And now Bracy heard a sound as of some one breathing hard, and turned
his head sharply to whisper a word of warning to his companion; but it
was not uttered, for the sound came from beyond him, and with its
repetition came the sound of laborious steps being taken through the
snow, he who made them panting hard with the exertion as he came on to
within a couple of yards of Gedge, and then suddenly turned off and made
for the rocks.

He made so much noise now that he knew there was no need for
concealment, that Gedge took advantage of the man getting more distant
to reach over to his officer and whisper, with his lips close to Bracy's
ear:

"That chap 'll never know how near he was to leaving off snoring like
that, sir, for good."

"Hush!" whispered Bracy, and a fresh burst of talking arose as if to
greet the man who had returned to the rocks from making a circuit round
the trap.

And now it seemed as if the whole party were spreading out and coming
towards where the couple lay, for the voices sounded louder and came
nearer, making Bracy gently raise himself ready to hurry his follower
away: but the sounds came no closer, the speakers pausing at the edge of
the snow, where it sounded as if their plans were; being discussed.

Then all at once the talking ceased, and the beat of many feet, with the
rattling of loose stones, fell on the listener's ears, telli