lmost anywhere up yonder in the snow. I've got
to be quite a climber since I've been here."

"Well, I gave myself the credit of being pretty good on ice and snow
to-day," said Bracy, smiling. "I mean pretty well for a cripple. I
wish I had done as well over the shooting. That was a miserable show of
mine. Thanks for not exposing me at the mess."

"Rubbish!" said Drummond. "Who's going to tell tales out of school? I
say, though, that ice-climbing in the mountains is splendid--isn't it?
The more one does the easier it seems. It feels quite cool and
comfortable."

"Which one can't help feeling on the ice," said Bracy, laughing. "But
seriously, we are getting pretty good at it up yonder in the snow."

"Regular climbers," said Drummond; "and I vote that we do as much of it
as we can while our shoes are good. There, don't look at a fellow like
that--your shoes, then, that you gave me. But I didn't mean shoes
literally. I mean before the old man puts a stop to our hunting and
climbing."

"He soon will, you may depend upon that," said Roberts. "He's getting
nervous about us all."

"Because we are such splendid officers," put in Bracy merrily.

"Well, we are what he has; and, judging from the way we are shut in and
left by the authorities, he is not likely to get a fresh supply if he
loses us."

"What about the messengers he has sent, Bracy? Think they get through
with the despatches? I feel sure they do not. Either they are killed
or so scared by the dangers they run that they destroy their despatches
and dare not show their faces again."

"Well, I hope that's not the case," said Bracy. "I don't want to give
the poor fellows the credit of being treacherous."

"Like enough it is that, treacherous as we deem it; but they are so much
accustomed to the tricks and cunning amongst which they have been
brought up that they look upon such a thing as being very venial--a kind
of cleverness by which we, their conquerors are bested."

"Here, I say, don't get into a dissertation upon the moral character of
the natives," cried Drummond, "because there is no end to that. Here, I
say--"

"Say away," said the others.

"I've been thinking about what old Graves said as to the shikarees
selling us to the enemy. They won't."

"I hope not," said Bracy, laying his hand upon his chest.

"Hullo! What's the matter? Wound hurt?"

"Gives me a stab like that sometimes when the weather is going to
change. We shall