ng prepared for the British of which
they did not dream. At a certain point the redskins fell
back, but in a hollow of the broken country through which
the British would in all probability pass to follow up
their supposed advantage, were two or three hundred
warriors mounted and awaiting their opportunity. If only
the British could bring their artillery to bear upon that
spot, and drop a few shells amongst them, great would be
their confusion.

Pasmore rose to his feet again from behind the rock where
he had crouched, for one or two bullets, either by design
or accident, had come very near him indeed. Quickly the
towel at the end of the stick waved the message to the
officer in command. Just as he was going to supplement
it, a bullet passed clean through his impromptu flag and
grazed his serge. He went on with his message as if
nothing had happened. But the moment he had finished,
and was still standing erect to catch the glint of the
British signaller's flag, a voice hailed him. It was
Dorothy's.

"Mr. Pasmore," she cried, "if you have done, why don't
you take cover? The Indians have seen you, and you'll be
shot in another minute."

"For goodness' sake, get down!" he cried, as he turned
round and saw that the girl, unseen by the others, had
come towards him, and was also exposed to the enemy's
fire.

She looked him steadily in the eyes, but did not move,
although the bullets were beginning to whistle in grim
earnest all around them.

"Not unless you do," she said. "Oh, why don't you take
shelter?"

Immediately he resumed his crouching attitude by her
side, and then he turned to her, and there was an unwonted
light in his eyes.

"Did you really care as much as that?" he asked.

"You are the stupidest man I know," she replied, looking
away. "Do you think I'd have stood there if I didn't!"

There was a great joy in his heart as he took her hand.

"If we get out of this alive, will you say that again?"
he asked.

"That you are the stupidest man I know?" she queried,
with that perversity inseparable from the daughters of
Eve from all time.

"No--that you care for me?"

And at this she looked into his eyes with a simple
earnestness, and said, "Yes."

What more they might have said was cut short by the
furious outburst of firing from the guns, which dropped
shell after shell into the projected ambuscade.

And now the British were forcing the natural stronghold
of the Indians in many places, and th