or lad, but I was
too late. The great brute cut him down and rushed at me."

"Well?" said Bracy, for the thin, boyish-looking officer stopped, and
looked red.

"Oh, I gave point, and got well home. I put all my strength into it,
and it brought me so close that instead of having my head split by his
blade I had the hilt on my forehead here. It struck in a nasty place,
but being, as my old Latin coach said, awfully thick-skulled, the pommel
of the tulwar didn't break through. I say, though--never mind that--
have either of you fellows a spare pair of boots? I can swap a lot of
loot with you--fancy swords and guns and a chief's helmet--for them.
Look; I've come down to this."

He laughed and held up one leg, the lower part of which was bound in
puttees, while the foot was covered with a bandaged raw-hide sandal.

"Not smart on parade," said Bracy, laughing, "but good to keep off
corns."

"Yes," said the subaltern; "but I'm blest if they keep out chilblains.
Oh, crumpets, how my feet do itch of a night by the fire."

"Well, I should say my boots are about your size. Roberts's wouldn't
lit. He has such big, ugly feet."

"Come, I like that, Bracy. Hang it all! my trotters look liliputian
beside his."

"Now," said Bracy mockingly; "but wait till you can see Drummond's feet.
Look here," he added, turning to the subaltern; "you have a pair of
Roberts's too; they'll do for goloshes."

"I don't care how old they are, so long as they are boots."

"All right, old fellow; we'll set you up with anything we've got," said
Bracy.

"Bless you, my children!" cried the young officer. "Bless you! Never
mind the dramatic business. Oh, I say, we are all glad you've come."

"You've been in a tight corner, then?"

"Tight? We've lost a third of our number, and were beginning to think
the Government was going to let us be quite wiped off the slate. Here,
I feel like a schoolboy again, and want to cheer."

"All right; cheer, then," cried Bracy, smiling, and clapping the speaker
on the shoulder as if he had known him for years.

"No; hoarse as a crow now, and I want my breath to talk. I say, we have
been sharp set. We began to feel like the talking parrot who was
plucked by the monkey, ready to say, `Oh, we have been having such a
time!' Those Dwats are beggars to fight."

"We've found that out--that is, when they can take you at a
disadvantage," said Roberts.

"Ah, that's their idea of manoeuvring," said Drummo