d," said Drummond; "they can
make splendid practice at a mark not moving; but it's not easy work to
hit a running man."

"So it seems," said Bracy coolly.

"Here, I've been thinking that we must have passed a lot of these
fellows as we came along," said Roberts.

"Not a doubt of it," said Bracy; "fresh ones keep taking up the firing.
We're regularly running the gauntlet. Surely they'll soon hear this
firing at, the fort."

"Hope so," said Roberts. "We ought to have known that, the beggars had
advanced like this."

"Well, we have found out now," cried Drummond. "I say, you two; this
means that the war has broken out in real earnest. But I say,"--He
stopped suddenly.

"Say on," said Bracy merrily; "we can't stay to listen to your speech."

"What a fellow you are!" cried the subaltern. "I can't cut jokes at a
time like this. I was going to say--phee-ew--that was close! I felt
the wind of that bullet as it passed my face."

"Miss is as good as a mile," said Bracy cheerily. "We shall be having
men out on the opposite bank before long, ready to cover us; and they
will not have running objects to aim at. They'll soon crush out this
sniping."

"Hope so," said Drummond; "but I say--"

"Well, let's have it this time," cried Roberts.

"All right," panted Drummond; "if I go down, don't stop for a moment,
but get on. The relief can come and pick me up. I shall creep into
cover, if I can."

"Yes," said Roberts coolly--"if you can. Now, just look here, my lad;
you want all your breath to keep your machinery going; you've none to
spare to teach us our duty."

"Well said, Rob," cried Bracy. "Just as if it's likely. But you'd
better go down! I should like to see you!"

Crash! in the midst of some bushes, as a single shot succeeded a
spattering fire, and one of the privates went down just ahead.

"Almost got your wish, Bracy. Wrong man down."

As Roberts spoke he and Bracy dashed to where two of the privates had
pulled up to aid their comrade, who had pitched head first into the
clump of growth ahead of where he was running.

"Don't say you've got it badly, Gedge," cried Bracy huskily, helping the
men as they raised the lad, who stared from one to the other in a
half-dazed way.

"_Habet_," muttered Roberts, with his face contracting.

"Eh?" panted the lad at last, as he tried to pull himself together.

"Here--where is it?" cried Drummond excitedly. "Where are you hurt?"

"Oh, my toe!" cried the