s rising
thickly still."

I uttered an angry ejaculation.

"Bah! never mind them. We can soon have better ones built."

He led me to where there was some bread and a little meat, and as I went
among the trees I could see that we had sentries stationed, while the
rest of the men lay about resting or smoking, while the doctor was
seated by Sergeant Craig, whose arm lay upon a folded coat.

I felt no appetite. The heat beneath the trees was terrible, and I was
stiff and sore with the previous day's exertions; but I ate a little in
obedience to Brace's wish, and he sat watching me.

"Go on, my lad," he said.

"I cannot," I replied.

"You must. You will want all your strength for to-night's work. Eat."

I went on again with the bread tasting like chaff, and the meat tainted,
but at last I turned away in utter disgust.

"It will do me harm, not good," I said. "Now tell me, what are we going
to do?"

"Wait till dark," he said, "and then try and reconnoitre the village
over yonder. As far as I can make out the rebels are making it their
quarters for the day. I want to see whether it will be possible to do
anything by a night surprise, but whether I shall attempt it must depend
on the position they have taken up."

"Where is the village?" I asked.

He led me to the edge of the patch of forest in which we were hidden,
and pointed out a cluster of mud-houses about a couple of miles away,
right in an open part of the plain which spread away from us for miles.

"Keep back behind the leaves," he said, "in case watchful eyes might be
directed this way."

I obeyed, and tried to make out the glint of steel or the white garments
of the rebels. But nothing was to be seen but the glaring sunshine
bathing the trees which overhung the cottages. Not a soul was in sight.

"They can't be there," I said, after watching for some time.

"They are there," replied Brace, quietly. "Look under that tree, the
one with a couple more standing out from it at intervals. Tell me what
you can see."

I looked as well as the glare of the sun and the distance would allow
me.

"I can only see a cottage," I said.

"It is not a cottage; it is a tent."

"But surely they would not stop at a place like that."

"Why not?" he replied. "They have something to do now that they have
seized the guns--to manage them."

"Then you think they have stopped there to drill?" I cried.

"I fancy so; but we shall see after the reconnaissan