miche--sham, you know--the
other way on."

"What do you mean?" said Pen.

"Why, make-believe I'm all right. Make these froggies think my wound's
only a scratch. Then perhaps they will march me off along with you as a
prisoner. I don't want them to--you know."

"March you off!" said Pen bitterly. "Why, you know you can't stand."

"Can't! I've got to. You'll let me hold tight of your arm. I've got
to, comrade, and I will. It means setting one's teeth pretty hard.
Only wish I had got a bullet to bite. It would come easy then. Look
here, wait a bit, and then you back up a bit closer to me. Haven't tied
my hands like yours. Just you edge close so as I can slip my fingers
into your box. I want to get out one cartridge for the sake of the
bullet."

"You can't, Punch. Didn't you see they slipped off the belt, and that
young Spaniard's got it along with my rifle?"

"So he has! I didn't know. Now then, wasn't I right when I said you
ought to have fired at him and brought him down? Well, I must have a
bullet somehow. I know. I will try and get the girl to get hold of the
case; only I don't know how it's to be done without knowing what to say.
Can't you put me up to it, comrade?"

"No, Punch."

"But you might give a fellow a bit of advice."

"My advice is to lie still and wait."

"Well, that's pretty advice, that is, comrade. Wait till they comes and
makes an end of a fellow if he breaks down, for I am beginning to think
that I sha'n't be able to go through with it."

"Let's wait and see what happens, Punch. We have done our best, and we
can do no more."

Just then Pen's attention was taken up by the young officer, who came to
the door of the hut, yawned, and stood looking about at his men before
slowly sauntering round the bivouac as if to see that all was right, the
sentries drawing themselves up stiffly as he passed on, till he caught
sight of the Spanish girl and the lad seated together in the full light
cast by the fire.

Then turning sharply to one of his men, the young officer pointed at the
Spaniard and gave an order in a low, imperious tone.

Two of his men advanced to the lit-up group, and one of them gave the
lad a sharp clap on the shoulder which made him spring up angrily, while
the other chasseur snatched the English rifle from his hand, the first
chasseur seizing the cartridge-belt and case.

There was a brief struggle, but it was two to one, and the Spaniard, as
Pen watched