es of rock, which came thundering
down, fortunately sent too soon to injure the charging soldiery, who
were saved from a second discharge by a sharp crackling fire from the
rocks which they were to have occupied, the rapid repetitions telling
that a strong company of their friends were at work, and the bullets
spattering and flicking among the enemy, driving them at once into
cover.

There was a hearty cheer to greet Bracy and his half-company as they
successfully crossed the stone-swept track and reached the shelter of
the rocks, ready to turn on the instant and help to keep down the
stone-throwing as Roberts and his men came along at the double.

But Bracy's lads did not fire a shot aloft, for a glance at the second
half of the company revealed a new danger, and his men dropped into
position, ready to repel that with a volley. For no sooner had the
second half started than the track, a quarter of a mile in their rear,
suddenly seemed to become alive with white-garbed hill-men, who came
bounding along in a little crowd.

"Steady, steady! make every shot tell, boys," cried Bracy. "Fire!"

A ragged volley was the result; the hill-men stopped suddenly as if
petrified, and were hesitating still as to what they should do, when a
second volley sent them to the right-about, leaving several of their
number on the track, while half-a-dozen more were seen to drop before
their comrades were out of sight.

There was another burst of cheering as the second half-company pressed
on without the loss of a man, Gedge having so far recovered that he was
able to double with one of his comrades, who came steadily on with him,
arm-in-arm. As the young officers stood breathless and panting with
their exertions, the stern, keen face of Colonel Graves suddenly loomed
above the smoke, and his horse bore him into their midst.

"How many men down?" was his first eager question.

"Two slightly wounded; that's all, sir," was the reply.

"Forward, then," he said, and he signed to Roberts and Bracy to come to
his side.

"You've done well," he said. "Retain your places as rear-guard. I'll
keep in touch with you.--Hark!"

"Firing, sir," said Captain Roberts.

"Yes; the Major must be clearing the way for us. We must get off this
shelf and on to open ground before dark."

He turned his horse's head and made his way towards the front as rapidly
as the nature of the wretched rock-strewn shelf would allow; and the two
young officers tra