hey had
plenty to eat and drink. The only men who slept badly were Gedge and
Symons, the man whose cheek-bone had been furrowed by a bullet. But
even they were cheerful as they talked together in the shelter of a
canvas tent, and passed the time comparing notes about their ill-luck in
being the first down, and calculating how long it would be before they
were back in the ranks.

"Hurt much, matey?" said Gedge.

"Pretty tidy, pardner. How's your nut?"

"Been easier since the Doctor put the wet rag on it soaked with some
stuff or another. Oh, I shouldn't care a bit, only it keeps on swelling
up like a balloon, and it'll make a fellow look such a guy."

"Hist!" said the other; "some one coming. The Doctor."

"Are you asleep in there?" said a low voice.

"Mr Bracy, sir," cried Gedge eagerly. "No, sir; we're wido."

"How are you, my lads--in much pain?"

"Oh no, sir; we're all right."

"I came just to see how you are. Good-night. Try and get to sleep."

"Yes, sir; thank ye, sir. Good-night, sir."

"Good-night."

There was a faint rustle as of feet passing over cedar needle, and then
a faint choky sound as if some one in the dark were trying to swallow
something.

"I like that," said Symons at last in a whisper; "makes yer feel as if
yer orficers do think o' something else besides making yer be smart."

"Like it?" said Gedge huskily. "I should just think you do. Oh, I say,
though, what a guy I shall look in the morning! Wish we'd got a box o'
dominoes and a bit o' candle."

CHAPTER FIVE.

BOYS IN ACTION.

"Look at those boys," said Bracy the next morning on meeting his brother
officers at their attractive-looking mess breakfast, spread by the
native servants beneath a magnificent cedar. "Yes, they look cheery and
larky enough, in spite of yesterday's experience."

"As full of fun as if this were a holiday," said another.

"Ah," said Roberts, "no one would think that we were surrounded by the
enemy."

"Are we?" asked Bracy.

"Are we?--Just, hark at him.--Where have you been?"

"Having a glorious bath in that torrent. The water was as clear as
crystal."

"And cold as ice," said the Major, with a shudder. "I tried it in my
gutta-percha wash-basin."

"Oh yes, it was cold," said Bracy; "but it was like a shower-bath
squared and cubed. It came down on my head in tubfuls, sent an electric
thrill through one's muscles, and a good rub sent every trace of
stiffness out of my legs. F