me
and stumble right over us?"

"I hope they won't, sir," said Gedge, with a grim look in his eyes, as
he drew his dagger-like bayonet out and touched the point with his
thumb. "That's pretty sharp, sir, and we should be on the lookout, and
holding 'em in our hands, as what Sergeant Gee calls a shiver-de-freexe.
They might tumble on them."

"Gedge, my lad, you're full of resources," said Bracy eagerly. "We'll
try your plan, exactly as you propose."

"Thank ye, sir," said the lad uneasily; "but I don't want you to think
I'm cocky and knowing, and like to be thought double cunning."

"That will do," said Bracy, smiling. "Let's think of the task we have
in hand. It is no time to discuss trifles. This is all part of
fighting for our lives."

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

IN THE SNOW.

In the tramp which followed, with the hill-men creeping on after them in
the same slow, untiring way, Gedge had his eyes about him, and drew
forth a sharp order from his officer when he began to deviate a little
from the straight course towards a dwarf clump of pines, the highest of
which was not above six feet.

"What are you going there for?"

"Want 'em, sir, for rifles," was the reply. Bracy nodded; and upon
reaching the clump, a few sharp strokes from the lad's bayonet cut down
and trimmed what formed a couple of longish walking-sticks, one of which
he handed over to his officer, who used his in the latter capacity,
Gedge soon following suit.

"That's what I want them to think, sir," said Gedge, digging his down at
every second pace. "Now, sir, what do you say? Don't you think we
might edge in more towards the snow?"

"Soon," said Bracy, pointing. "There's just the spot we want;" and,
raising his glass, he stopped to examine a group of blocks of stone some
fifty yards from the edge of the snowfield, which here sent down a few
sharp points, giving it the appearance at a distance of a huge, vandyked
piece of white lace.

"Couldn't find a better place if we tried, sir," said Gedge; "but we
ain't left ourselves time enough. If we had thought of it sooner, I
could have cut out and made the busbies."

"We shall have plenty of time for that to-morrow," said Bracy. "We must
manage by tying on handkerchiefs for to-night, and pulling up the great
collars as if they were hoods."

A short time after, each with his handkerchief over his head, the pair
crouched behind two stones, upon which their helmets had been placed;
and