The enemy held
the valley in front in great force, and another party were pressing
on our rear. Things looked awkward; and so I volunteered, with my
faithful Afghan boy, to get through the fellows in front, and make
my way down to Jugdulluk--which was four miles away--to bring the
garrison up on their rear.

"It was simple enough and, in fact, there was less danger than in
remaining with the convoy, to be popped at by the Afghans. The
night was very dark and, down in the bottom, one could hardly see
one's hand. The Afghans had been cleared pretty well off the road,
by our fire; so there was no difficulty, whatever, in making our
way down. We were, in fact, only questioned once; and my boy's
statement, that we were wounded and were going to the rear, was
accepted at once."

"The fact that you succeeded," the colonel said, "does not detract
from the pluck required to attempt such an adventure. To my mind,
there is more courage required in venturing, alone, through the
midst of the Afghans, at night, than there would be in charging any
number of them, in hot blood, in the light. You have earned the
V.C. well, Gale; and I am sure we all feel proud of you, though you
do not belong to us, now."

There was a chorus of approval from the officers around.

"I don't belong to you now, sir, but," Will said, earnestly, "I
shall always feel, whatever regiment I may be with, that the
Norfolk Rangers are my corps. It is the kindness which was shown
me, here, which has put me in the way of rising; and I shall never
forget it."

It was now time to dress for dinner; and Will, for the first time,
arrayed himself in full-dress uniform. The buttons and facings he
would, of course, get altered when he joined the regiment.

The general received Gale with great kindness. He had a large party
to dinner. Among them was Captain Edwards; and after the table was
cleared the latter--at the general's request--gave a full account
of the attack upon the convoy; and Will was then called upon to
relate the part which he had taken in it, which he did very
modestly and quietly.

For two days longer he stopped at Jellalabad; and then, with a
hearty farewell to the officers of the Rangers, he started down the
pass. He again journeyed with a convoy for, although the tribes
below Jellalabad were cowed into submission, many attacks were
made, by the mountaineers, upon small parties going up or down the
passes; and stringent orders had been issued tha