eel as if I could walk any distance to-day."

"Well, be patient, old man," said Roberts, laughing. "I dare say you'll
have a chance."

"But what's that you were saying about the enemy?"

"Why, every hill's covered with them, and they evidently mean to
attack."

"Oh, very well," said Bracy, beginning upon his breakfast; "then I
suppose we must fight."

There was a laugh behind him, a hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the
young man looked up sharply, to see that the Colonel had come up
silently over the thick carpet of cedar needles.

"Good-morning, sir."

"Good-morning--all," said the Colonel quietly. "All well?"

A chorus of assent ran round the group, and the Colonel continued:

"That's the spirit to take it in, Bracy. Of course we must fight; and
the sooner the scoundrels give us the chance the better--eh, Graham?"

"Yes; we've come to give them a lesson, and they'll get it. We ought to
reach the station by evening. The poor fellows there must be anxiously
looking out for us."

"Yes; I've sent three different messengers to say that we shall be there
by night, and I hope one out of the three will get there with the news."

"Then you mean to go on at once?"

"Of course. Did you think I meant to stay here?"

"I only thought it possible that, as this was a strong place, and we
have plenty of provisions and good water, you might hold on and let them
attack us."

"Oh no," replied the Colonel, taking his seat on the ground with the
rest. "If we do that the enemy will take it for granted that we fear
him. It must be forward, and plenty of dash."

"Yes; but while our lads are raw they would be more steady behind such a
breastwork, or zareba, as we could soon make round us."

"I thought the boys were steady enough yesterday," said the Colonel
quietly; "and we shall be far better off in the open than drawn out in a
line on that narrow shelf."

"Oh, then we shall have a better road to-day?"

"Yes," said the Colonel, going on calmly enough with his meal. "As far
as I can gather from our guides, who all agree as to the character of
the road, we have wide, open valleys, with forest till within a couple
of miles of Ghittah; then the mountains close in again, and we have a
narrow shelf to traverse high above the bottom of a gorge."

"With plenty of places for stone-throwers?" said the Major.

"Plenty," replied the Colonel; "so you know what you have to expect,
gentlemen. But I hope and believe th