cried Roberts again, and at a walk the retreat was continued,
the Captain keeping close beside Gedge, who marched in step with his
comrades, though with a marked limp, which he tried hard to conceal.

After a brief pause the firing started again, but fortunately the growth
upon the river-bank began to get thicker, hiding them from their foes;
though, on the other hand, it grew unmistakably plain that more and more
of the enemy were lying in wait, so that the position grew worse, for
the rushing river curved in towards the occupied eminences on the
retiring party's left.

"Beg pardon, sir," cried Gedge suddenly; "I can double now."

"Silence, my lad! Keep on steadily."

"But I can, sir," cried the man. "I will."

"Try him," whispered Bracy.

"Double!" cried Roberts; and the retreat went on, Gedge trotting with
the rest, but in the most unmilitary style, for he threw his head back,
doubled his fists in close to his sides, and, squaring his elbows, went
on as if engaged in a race.

"Looks as if he were running for a wager," said Drummond.

"He is," said Bracy coldly. "We all are--for our lives."

The way they were about to go had now so markedly come towards the face
of a precipice, from which puffs of smoke kept appearing, that it was
evident something fresh must be done, or the end would lie very near, no
mercy being expected from the foe; and as they went on Bracy kept
turning his eyes to the right, seeking in vain for a glimpse of the
rushing river, now hidden from their sight by tree and rock, though its
musical roar kept striking plainly upon their ears.

"Rob, old chap," he suddenly cried, "we must get down to the water, and
try to cross."

"Yes," said Roberts abruptly. "I've been thinking so. It's our only
chance, and I've been waiting for an opening."

"We must not wait," said Bracy. "It's chance, and we must chance it."

"Halt! Right face, forward!"

As Roberts spoke he sprang to the front in one of the densest parts,
where a wilderness of bush and rock lay between them and the river, and
led on, with his companions following in single file; while, as perforce
they moved slowly, they had the opportunity to regain their breath, and
listened with a feeling of satisfaction to the firing which was kept up
by the enemy upon the portion of the bosky bank where they were supposed
to be still running.

"Wish they'd use all their powder," said Drummond breathlessly.

"Why?" said Bracy.

"They'