e agen. I shall desert; that's what I shall do--
cut right away and jyne the rebels if they'll have me. Better go and
jump down into that hole and bury myself in the snow; but I can't.

"How am I to go and leave the gov'nor when he wants me as he does? Oh
dear, oh dear! This is the worst of all. And I was hoping that I
should have my stripes when I got back to the fort. Yes, that's it--
stripes. I shall get 'em, o' course, but on my back instead of my
sleeve. There, I'm a marked man now, and it's about all over."

Gedge grew calmer as he went, on pacing up and down, for he stopped
twice over by Bracy, to find that he was sleeping as quietly as a child,
and he evidently had not stirred. The young soldier's next act was to
get possession of the little field-glass again, and, to his dismay, he
made out no less than three bodies of men in the valley far below, one
of which was streaming along as if marching quickly, while the other two
were stationary, close up to a little clump of pines or cedars, he could
not make out which.

"T'others are going to ketch up to 'em and camp for the night, I bet.
Yes, that they are," he added as a tiny cloud of grey smoke began to
rise. "They're going to cook, so they must have something to roast, and
I'm--oh, how hungry I do feel! Better not hold up this rifle, or they
may see it in the sunshine, and come and cook us."

He had a good long look, swept the valley as far as he could see, and
then laid down his rifle, to go down on one knee by Bracy and begin
replacing the glass in its leather case.

"It's all right, sir; on'y me," cried Gedge, for, awakened by the light
touch, Bracy seized one hand and made an effort to pull out his
revolver.

"Ha!" he cried. "You startled me, Gedge. Want the glass?"

"Had it, sir, thank ye."

"See anything?"

"Yes, sir. There's three lots o' them Dwats down low there--six or
seven hundred of 'em, I should say."

"Ah!" cried Bracy, rising quickly into a sitting position, but yielding
to an agonising pain and letting himself sink back with a groan.

"Hurt yer, sir?" said Gedge commiseratingly.

"Horribly. But tell me; have I been asleep?"

"Hours and hours, sir. It's just sundown. I was in hopes you'd be
better, sir."

"I am, Gedge. I was in a horrible state before. My brain seemed
numbed."

"No wonder, sir, lying in the snow all night; but you talk quite
straight now."

"Did I seem incoherent before?" said Bracy excited