wild excitement as they
tore down towards the enemy, who were toiling upward, slipping, and even
crawling on all-fours in places, while their active little pursuers were
striving their best to overtake them, but pausing at times to fire.

Pursued and pursuers were still far below, but Bracy saw that it was
only a matter of a short time before they would be amongst them; and
now, for the first time, it was evident that their descent had caught
the attention of the hill-men striving to reach the track, some of whom
stopped short to stare, while a party of about twenty immediately bore
off to their left as if meaning to intercept them.

"What's it to be, sir!" panted Gedge. "Charge through 'em, or stop and
let 'em have it? They'll be `twix' two fives."

"Stop!" shouted Bracy. "They'll try to check us, and slash as we come;
and if we strike against even one we shall be upset."

"That's right, sir. Be ready with the rifles. Mine's charged, I think.
'Nother five hundred yards right for that lot o' twenty, and then slide
off and open fire--eh?"

"You don't want your orders, Gedge," said Bracy dryly. "Quite right."

Gedge did not hear him, for, as they rushed down over the icy snow, he
had his work cut out to check his awkward car, as it nearly mastered
him, his heels gliding over the smooth surface and refusing to cut in.
Forcing them down, though, the speed began to slacken, till they neared
the ascending group of savage faces of those who had borne off to
intercept them; and as the car was brought to a stand a couple of shots
were fired, and the missiles sent whistled by their heads.

"Can yer roll off, sir, and lie on yer face?" cried Gedge as he snatched
his rifle, threw himself down behind the stone, and opened his
cartridge-pouch.

"Yes. Look to yourself. Fire sharply, or they'll be upon us."

"Or our bay'nets," said Gedge through his teeth.

The next moment he fired as he rested upon his elbows, and a shot from
Bracy rang out, with the result that two of the group below them
dropped, and a yell came from the remainder as they made a rush to reach
them. But their running powers were exhausted, and at the end of twenty
yards they resumed their heavy climb, with their feet breaking through
the crust of frozen snow.

Crack, crack! from the English rifles, and one more dropped in his
track, while another sprang wildly in advance for a few yards, before
pitching forward upon his face and lying still.

"