ve no bayonets."

"Only tulwars and those horrible knives--eh?" said Bracy harshly.

"Ugh!" ejaculated Drummond. "You're right; but if they came to close
quarters we could take it out of some of the brutes before we were done
for. It's horrible to be doing nothing but run till you're shot down."

"Not shot down yet, old fellow. There, don't talk; we may get across."

"May!" muttered Drummond. "But, my word! how they are firing yonder!
They're beginning to think we're hiding, and are trying to start us
running again."

"Will you leave off talking!" cried Bracy angrily. "Here, Gedge, how
are you getting on?"

"Splendid, sir. I could do anything if the pavement warn't so rough."

"In much pain?"

"Pretty tidy, sir. Sort o' bad toothache like in my left ankle. Beg
pardon, sir; are we going to wade the river?"

"Going to try, my lad."

"That's just what'll set me up again. Had a sprained ankle once afore,
and I used to sit on a high stool with my foot in the back-kitchen sink
under the tap."

"Cold water cure--eh, my lad?" said Drummond, smiling.

"That's right, sir."

"Steady there!" came from the front, where the leaders were hidden from
those behind. "Steep rock-slope here."

A rush and the breaking of twigs.

"Some one down," cried Bracy excitedly. "Any one hurt?"

Splash! and the sound of a struggle in the water.

Bracy dashed forward, forcing his way past the two men, his heart
beating wildly as he reached the spot from whence the sound came.

"All right," cried Roberts from below; and, peering down through a
tangle of overhanging bushes, Bracy saw his leader standing breast-high
in foaming water, holding on by a branch and looking up at him.

"I fell. Unprepared. You can all slide down. Lower yourselves as far
as you can, and then let go."

The distance was about thirty feet, and the descent not perpendicular.

"You go next," said Bracy to one of the men. "You can't hurt, it's only
into water."

"Let me, sir," cried Gedge.

"Silence," said Bracy sternly, and he watched anxiously as the man he
had spoken to set his teeth, made his way to the edge of the rock,
lowered himself by holding on to some of the bushes through which
Roberts had suddenly fallen, and then let go.

Hush--splash! and Bracy saw him standing in the water opposite to his
Captain.

"Next, Gedge," said Bracy.

Gedge sprang forward as if his leg were uninjured, lowered himself down
till his head was out of