alled out his name.
A burst of fresh cheering arose then from the men of his company who
were near, and as their shouts arose and were echoed by those around,
"Bill Gedge! Bill Gedge!" the poor fellow sat up as high as he could
upon the little Ghoorkas' shoulders, threw himself into one of his
favourite nigger minstrel attitudes, with left arm outstretched and
right hand seeming to thump with all his poor strength upon the
imaginary banjo held against his breast.

"Welcome, welcome back!" cried Colonel Graves a few minutes later, as he
forced himself through the crowd to where Doctor Morton was excitedly
superintending the carrying in of his two old patients to the officers'
ward.

"Thanks, thanks, Colonel," said Bracy in a feeble voice. "I did my
best, sir, but I only failed."

"Failed!" cried the Colonel proudly. "Why, the fort is saved."

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

"FOR VALOUR."

There is little more to tell, for, after this last repulse and the
strengthening of the but by doubling its garrison, the enemy's ranks
melted away once more, the white-coats, terribly lessened, vanishing
like snow from the hills.

Two days later long processions of unarmed villagers were bringing in
stores for sale; and before twenty-four more hours had elapsed a
deputation of chiefs from different tribes were suing for peace, the
Empress Queen's authority being acknowledged, and the fort and its
approaches became safe, so that it seemed hard to realise the truth of
the great change. But change there was, the various hill-tribes round
apparently accepting the position of being under the stronger power, and
devoting themselves to the arts of peace.

It was while getting slowly over his injuries that Bracy's quarters
became the favourite resort of many of the officers, even Colonel
Wrayford, once more himself, often coming in company with Major Graham
and the Doctor. But the chief visitors were Roberts and Drummond, the
three young officers exchanging notes as to what had taken place during
their separation.

"I never knew such a lucky chap as you are, Bracy," said Drummond on one
occasion. "You seem to get most of the titbits and all the fat."

Bracy's face assumed such a peculiar aspect of perplexed wonder as he
carefully shifted his injured leg so as not to jar his wound while
moving, and he directed such a questioning look at Roberts that the
latter burst into a roar of laughter.

"What is it?" said Drummond. "Have I