enant Barton brought it on us. The niggers 'll bear a deal, but
it's only natural that they'd turn some time; and quiet as Ny Deen was,
I've seen his eyes flash sometimes when Mr Barton was rating him, and
not because he deserved it, for a better groom and a man more proud of
turning out a horse well, never came into cantonments."

"Silence in the ranks," said Brace, shortly. "Lie down all of you and
rest. Gentlemen," he continued, turning to us, "this way, please. We
must consider what is to be done."

We followed him a few yards into the darkness, and Brace whispered to us
to sit down, setting the example himself; but though we waited he did
not speak, and at last the doctor whispered to me to say something to
the captain.

He heard the whispering and spoke at once, hurriedly.

"I beg your pardon," he said; "I was thinking hard about our position."

"Yes? Well?" said the lieutenant with us.

"What have you decided?" whispered the doctor.

"To act," said Brace, with decision. "This mutinous rising may be one
that is extending, or merely a local trouble here, at Rajgunge; but that
is no affair of ours, gentlemen. We were away from our duties, on our
own pleasure. We allowed ourselves to be inveigled--"

"No, no," said the doctor. "Poor Lacey gave us leave after accepting
the invitation."

"The major kept to his post, and died defending it, sir," said Brace,
sternly. "We were away, and the position in which we find ourselves is
a disgrace which we must wipe off."

"How?" cried my brother-officers.

"As men should," replied Brace, sternly. "As I have said, the rising is
nothing to us, whether great or small. We have only one thing to
study."

"To get back the guns!" I cried excitedly.

Brace's hand gripped my arm with all his force.

"Yes," he cried. "Right. To get back those guns and horses at any
cost."

"Impossible!" muttered the doctor.

"Tell me that, doctor," cried Brace, "when I am wounded to the death,
and you press my hand, tell me you can do no more, and say `Good-bye.'
There is no such word as impossible in a British soldier's thoughts when
he has to charge. Duty says forward! and he advances with a cheer.
Now, gentlemen, are you with me? I am going to get back those guns.
Doctor, you are a non-combatant; I am not speaking to you. Haynes, will
you follow me?"

"As long as I can lift an arm."

"I don't ask you, Vincent. You are a soldier's son, and I know that I
can dep