n for half-an-hour, with their arms ready, so
that they could spring to their places at the first alarm.

When the bugle rang out it was at the end of the hour's rest, and,
thoroughly refreshed, the march was recommenced, the men stepping out to
the merry strains of a favourite song, which was repeated in chorus as
the band ceased playing; and the birds that had been hovering near were
the only objects visible when the halting-place was vacated, though the
thick woods on the hill-slopes on either side were felt to be lull of
the enemy.

"Haven't given them all they wanted, have we?" said Roberts as they
tramped towards where through the clear air the sides of the valley
could be seen closing in and growing higher and more jagged of outline.

"No," said Bracy thoughtfully. "It will take something more than a
brush like that to beat them off. We shall have our work ready for us
yonder where the Colonel said the track rose again to continue like a
shelf right away to Ghittah."

"I suppose so. Well, good luck to us, and may we have no more
casualties."

"Amen," said Bracy. "I wish, though, if we are to have a sharp
encounter, we could have it now we're fresh, instead of just at the end
of a heavy day's march."

"Soldiers have to fight when the time comes, and they can't pick and
choose, I suppose. But never mind; the lads won't be done up, for this
is easy marching. It is not too hot, and we have plenty of good water.
I say, I suppose we shall follow this stream right away now?"

"No doubt. It must come down from the snow-mountains, and through that
gorge yonder."

"Yes, the one that seems so near, and does not get a bit nearer. It's
capital, our having this river on our right flank, for it would be a
nice job for the enemy if they tried to ford it."

Roberts was right, for every mile of their forward journey made the
river a greater protection, the torrent growing fiercer and the banks
rocky in the extreme, and for the most part nearly perpendicular, till
at last it was a good fifty feet down to the water's level, so that it
ceased to be of use for refreshment to the men.

At last the sides of the valley began to close in more rapidly, and
their track became steeper, till all at once they were brought up short
by what seemed to be the mighty gates of the gorge, up which they could
see but a short distance, for it turned off to the right. But there,
plainly enough in the western sunshine, crossing the e