d
arm--but was struck to the ground. Another of the Ghazis raised his
sword; but before it could fall Will Gale--who saw at once that he
was too far behind to interpose between the assailant and the
victim--drew his revolver from his belt and, taking a hasty aim,
fired. The shot was an accurate one; the bullet striking the Afghan
on the forehead, just as he was about to strike. He fell forward on
the colonel; receiving, as he did so, a tremendous blow which the
third Ghazi was aiming at the prostrate man.

Illustration: Will saves Colonel Ripon.

Before the blow could be repeated, Will had bounded forward and,
sword in one hand and revolver in the other, faced the two Afghans.
Another shot freed him of one of his assailants; just as the other,
rushing recklessly forward, aimed a blow at him--which he was not
quick enough to parry. His right arm fell to his side but, in an
instant, he threw himself upon his foe; and the two fell heavily to
the ground, the Afghan striving desperately to shorten his sword,
so as to use the point; while Will strove to liberate his left
arm--which was under the man--and so use his revolver, which he
still grasped.

At this moment some soldiers of the 66th ran up; and one of them,
with his bayonet--which, since these attacks began, were always
carried at the belt--brought the conflict to a conclusion, by
running it through and through the Ghazi's body.

Will soon rose to his feet. Colonel Ripon had already freed himself
from the body of the dead Ghazi, and had struggled to his feet; the
blood streaming from his head and arm.

"I have to thank you for my life, sir," he said, warmly. "Had your
aid come but two seconds less promptly, they would have finished
me.

"But I fear you are severely wounded."

"Oh, no!" Will answered. "It is only a flesh wound, from my
shoulder to my elbow. Luckily, my sword partly caught the blow. I
was aiming at the other fellow, and had not time to parry fairly. I
shall be none the worse for it, in a week's time. My wound is less
severe than yours, sir."

"We are both bleeding pretty freely," the colonel said. "My
quarters are close at hand and, as the principal medical officer
lives in the same house, you cannot do better than come in with
me."

In a few minutes their wounds were bandaged, the doctor saying that
no serious harm had been done, in either case; but that care and
quiet, lest fever should supervene, would be necessary for a week
or two. As