going off again till my second barrel stopped him."

"Had an awful job to get them out of the gorge and home; but the hunters
fetched them out, and we got all safe into quarters."

"Ha!" cried the Doctor; "I'm glad of that. Splendid gamy meat, that
mountain mutton. Glorious stuff for convalescents. It gives me the
heartache when I hear of you leaving lost ones to the wolves and
vultures."

"I quite agree with the Doctor about the quality of the mutton," said
the Colonel gravely; "but I'm getting anxious about these
shooting-trips, gentlemen. Your guides belong to one or other of the
tribes."

"Yes, I suppose they do, sir," said Roberts carelessly.

"Well, what is to prevent them from leading you some day into a trap,
and, instead of the news coming into mess of there being an extra supply
for the larder, I hear that I am minus two or three of my best
officers?"

"I don't know about best officers, sir," said Roberts, laughing; "but I
don't think there is anything to fear. These hill-shikarees are very
genuine fellows, and their intense love of the sport will keep them
honest and true to us. You cannot think how proud they are of leading
us to the quarry if we are successful."

"I grant all that," said the Colonel, "knowing as I do what a
freemasonry there is in sport, and how clever hunters have a feeling of
fellowship for men of their own tastes, whatever their religion; but you
must not forget that the hill-tribes are completely under the thumb of
their Mullahs, and that the will of these priests is the law which they
must obey. Supposing one of these Mullahs to give them orders in the
interest of their tribe, they would lead you into an ambush for a
certainty."

"Oh, Colonel Graves," cried Drummond, "this is spoiling the only
pleasure we have!"

"I hope not," said the Colonel, smiling gravely. "Set it down to
interest in my officers' welfare. I only ask you to be careful--well on
your guard--and not to do anything rash."

"Just as if it was likely that we should do anything rash," said
Drummond pettishly later on. "I'm sure I'm always as careful as can
be."

"Always!" said Roberts, laughing, and giving Bracy a peculiar look.

"Here, I say--what does that mean? You two are chaffing me again."

"Oh dear, no," said Bracy. "Our consciences are smiting us for being so
reckless, and we're making up our minds to be more careful in future."

"Yes, as the Colonel suggests," chimed in Roberts, "an