und the waist, just in time to save him
from a fall.

The next moment he had fainted dead away, to come-to in a few minutes
and find his companion laying snow upon his temples.

"Ah!" he sighed; "that's refreshing, Gedge."

"Have a bit to suck, sir?"

"Yes."

Bracy lay for a few minutes letting the snow melt in his mouth; then
calmly enough he went on:

"I've got a bad wrench, my lad. My ankle must have doubled under me
when I fell. There's no help for it; we have had nothing but
misfortunes from the start, but this is the culmination--the worst of
all."

"Is it, sir? I'm glad o' that."

"Glad?"

"Yes, sir; 'cause, you see, when things comes to the worst they begins
to mend. So will your leg if you let me get the puttee and boot off.
If you don't I shall be 'bliged to cut it off before long."

"Go on; you're quite right, my lad," said Bracy calmly; and as the young
soldier eagerly busied himself over the frightfully swollen place,
unwinding the bandages, which cut down into the flesh, and unlacing the
boot, he went on talking calmly:

"About this boot, sir; I've unlaced it as far as I can, and it's quite
fast on. Shall I cut it or will you try and bear a wrench?"

"Don't cut it, my lad. Give a quiet, firm drag. I'll bear the pain as
well as I can."

The next moment the boot was off, and Bracy lay with his eyes closed.

"Like some more ice, sir?" said Gedge eagerly.

"No, my lad; I'm not going to faint this time. Got some snow, and take
my handkerchief to bind some round the ankle. But look first whether
you can make out any movement amongst the enemy."

"It's getting dark down there, sir, though it's so bright up here, and
the great long shadders of the mountain seems to have swallered 'em up.
But they've got a whacking great fire, sir, so they must be going to
camp there for the night."

"I don't think they could have made us out, Gedge.--Ha! that feels
comforting. But now listen to me."

"Yus, sir. I may go on doing up your leg, though?"

"Oh yes; only attend."

"Of course, sir."

"You can tell the Ghoorkha Colonel--"

"Yes, sir?" said Gedge, for Bracy stopped short.--"He's going off his
head again."

"And Colonel Graves, if you get back--"

"Yus, sir."

"That I did everything that man could do to reach the Ghil Valley."

"That I'll swear, sir."

"And that he must lose no time in hurrying to the fort. If he likes to
detach half a company to try and pick me up, he will