done; very well done, my lads!" cried a familiar voice as the
Colonel galloped back to them. "Steady, there; steady!" he shouted as
he rode right along the little line and reined up his horse, to sit
gazing after the flying enemy, frowning the while as he saw how many
white cotton robes dotted the soil before the uninjured disappeared
again in the cedar grove, from which they had delivered their attack.

"Capital, gentlemen!" he said a minute or so later; "but I did not like
that unsteadiness. You must keep your men well in hand."

The next minute the orders were given, and the column resumed its march,
for it was no time to think of prisoners or attending to the enemy's
wounded. In fact, before the regiment was half a mile away their
friends were back from the hills seeing to their dead and wounded, and
gathering up their arms, greatly to the annoyance of the rear-guard
lads, who one and all were troubled with longings for some of the keen
tulwars to take back to England as trophies of their fight.

But the stern order "Forward!" rang in the lads' ears, and the
expectation of being attacked at any time by one or other of the bodies
of the enemy hovering on the hill-slopes on either side, or of a fresh
dash being made upon the rear in the hope of cutting off the baggage,
kept every one on the alert.

CHAPTER SIX.

UP THE GORGE.

"Yes," said Colonel Graves, as the morning glided by without incident
and midday approached, with the men beginning to show traces of their
hot, rapid march. "Pass the word on, for we cannot halt yet. It will
cheer the lads, and have a good effect upon the enemy."

The next minute, just as many of the lads were straining their eyes
forward in search of the place likely to be chosen for their midday
halt, and making frequent use of their water-bottles, there were the
preliminary taps on the big bass, a few vigorous rolls on the
kettledrums, and the fifes began to shrill out their sharp notes in a
merry air, which brightened every face at once. Some of the lads began
to whistle the tune as they stepped out more briskly, and Judkins, of
Captain Roberts's rear company, burst out with:

"Poor old Bill; that 'll do him good. Pity he ain't with us. Wonder
how he is."

"Getting on, my lad," said Bracy, who overheard the remark; "and I don't
think he'll be many days before he's back in the ranks."

Just then a cheer was given right in front, to be taken up and run right
along the