dden rush,
carried him along for some paces. Then he stumbled over a fragment
of the wall, and fell just at the corner of the gate--which had
swung inward, when burst open by the enemy's shell. Confused and
bewildered, he struggled to regain his feet.

"Keep quiet, master!" Yossouf's voice said, in his ear. "It is your
only chance of safety."

So saying, he dragged Will into the narrow space between the gate
and the wall; then, as he rose to his feet, he wrapped round him a
loose Afghan cloak, and pressed a black sheepskin cap far down over
his face.

In a minute there was the sound of a fierce struggle, without. The
shots of the revolvers of the two English officers rang out, in
quick succession, mingled with the loud report of the Afghan
muskets. The savage yells rose, high and triumphant. The last of
the gallant band, who had for hours defended the embassy, had
fallen. Then there was a rush through the gate, as the Afghans
swarmed into the courtyard, till the space around the burning house
was well-nigh full.

Unperceived, Will Gale and Yossouf stepped from behind the gate and
joined the throng and, at once, made their way into the stables,
where several of the Budmashes were already engaged in their work
of plunder. Yossouf caught up three or four horse rugs, and made
them into a loose bundle; and signed to Will to do the same. The
young soldier did so, and lifted them on his shoulder, so as to
partly hide his face. Then he followed Yossouf into the courtyard
again.

Already there was a stream of men with saddles, rugs, muskets, and
other plunder making their way out, while others were still
thronging in. Joining the former, Will and his guide were soon
outside the enclosure At any other time, his disguise would have
been noticed, at once; but in the crowd his legs were hidden, and
all were too intent upon plunder, and too excited at their success,
to notice him.

Once outside the wall, he was comparatively safe. The light thrown
over the courtyard, by the blazing house, made the darkness beyond
all the more complete. Keeping carefully in shadow, Yossouf led him
along to a clump of bushes, in a garden a hundred yards from the
house. Stooping here, he pulled out a bundle.

"Here," he said, "is the uniform. Put it on, quickly!"

It was but the work of a minute for Will to attire himself in the
uniform of the Afghan soldier. He had still retained the musket,
which he had in his hand when Yossouf had leaped