s,
four miles distant; and to get tiffin ready, by eleven o'clock.

The young officers set out on foot, keeping a short distance apart.
Two of their servants accompanied them, to carry the game; the
other three went with the two Syces, who looked after the ponies
The ground was broken and stony, and altogether uncultivated,
except in the neighborhood of the villages. They had better sport
than they expected, for hares darted out in numbers from behind the
rocks. Some of these were bowled over, while others escaped; and
there was much bantering and laughter among the young men, none of
whom were first-class shots.

As the sun rose higher the game became more scarce and, by ten o'clock,
the party turned their faces towards the village where they were to
lunch; and which lay, they calculated, a mile or two away on their right.
The sun was now blazing down upon them; and they were glad, indeed, when
they came in sight of the village--which was not perceived until they
were close to it, as it lay in a deep and rocky valley.

Yossouf met them, as they entered the village.

"Well, Yossouf, where have you laid the tiffin?"

"I have spread it, sahib, on a level piece of ground, in the shade
of the chief's house. He did not seem disposed to be civil and,
indeed, I thought that it would be more pleasant out of doors, in
the shade, than inside."

"Much more pleasant, Yossouf; and these forts, as they call them,
are generally stuffy places, with small windows. What is the
feeling of the people here?"

"They are looking forward to Ayoub's coming, sir, when they say a
holy war will be preached, and every man will rise against the
infidels. When they found I was a countryman, they talked freely
enough before me; especially as I led them to believe that I had
been taken prisoner, at Cabul, and forced to accompany you as a
sort of slave.

"I should recommend that, as soon as tiffin is over, you should
start for the camp; for I don't think it is quite safe, here."

"They would never think of attacking us, Yossouf, with our force
within an easy day's march."

"I don't know, sir," Yossouf said, doubtfully. "They say that the
Wali's men are all with them; and that these, alone, are quite
sufficient to eat up the three British regiments."

"They will find out their mistake, if they try it. However,
Yossouf, I will let the others know what you think."

By this time, they had arrived at the spot where the lunch was laid
out; an