d very tempting it looked, to hungry men. A great dish of
curry--made with some fowls purchased in the village--was the
principal dish; but there were some fish--which Yossouf had caught
in the Helmund, on the previous day--a roast of young kid, and
several dishes of fresh fruit. A large vessel of porous clay,
containing the drinking water, stood close by; and the necks of
some bottles of claret peeped, out from a tub full of water; while
a pitcher of cold tea was ready, for those who preferred it. The
young men set to with a vigorous appetite and, when the meal was
over, pipes and cigars were lighted; and they prepared to enjoy a
rest, until the heat of the day was past.

Will now told them what Yossouf had said.

"Oh, nonsense, Gale!" Hammond said. "Your boy is an Afghan, and
these fellows are always dreaming about treachery.

"They are scowling, sulky-looking brutes," he said, looking at a
group of natives, who stood watching them, with lowering eyes, "and
of course, they hate us as infidel dogs but, as to attacking us,
it's all nonsense."

"Well, you know, Hammond, these Ghazis do attack us, in all sorts
of places--as I have found, to my cost--and these villages abound
with these fanatics."

"Oh, yes," Fortescue said, lazily, "of course they do; but we have
got our revolvers handy, and our guns are within reach of our
hands. We should make precious short work of any Ghazis who were to
run amuck among us.

"Well, I for one don't mean to move, till it gets a bit cooler. If
these fellows want to attack us, they have got the chance, now; and
there is no more reason they should do it, three hours hence, than
when we are having our breakfast, quietly."

Chapter 19: The Battle Of Maiwand.

The servants were squatting in a circle near their masters, and
enjoying their share of the breakfast. The two Syces were
Beloochees, the others were men from the Deccan--the regiment
having been stationed at Poona, before going up into Afghanistan.
Of these, the Syces alone understood the Afghan language.

After the men had finished their meal, Yossouf strolled away by
himself into the village. When he returned, Will saw that he wished
to speak to him so, rising carelessly from the ground, he walked to
the ponies--which were tied up near--and called Yossouf, as if to
give him some instructions respecting them.

"Well, Yossouf, what is it? Have you learned anything?"

"No, sir, nothing. But the people no longer speak