hie took the cup mechanically, filled it, and handed it to his man.

"After you, sir, please."

Archie raised the cup and drank.

"Don't it put you in mind, sir, of the stone jar and the
helephant-shed?"

"Yes, Pete. Ah, it's rather warm, but very refreshing;" and he refilled
the cup and held it to the man.

"No news, I suppose, sir?"

"Yes, Pete. More bad, of course; three more men down."

"Three, sir! Well, I suppose we have all got to get a taste of them
spears, just have our dose, and--good luck to him!--the Doctor will set
us up again."

Archie was silent for a few moments.

"One of the men is poor Joe Smithers," he said at last.

"Joe Smithers!" cried Peter, letting his rifle fall into the hollow of
his arm. "Joe Smithers!"

"I didn't know you cared for him so much, Pete," said Archie, as he saw
the big tears gathering in the lad's eyes.

"Oh, I liked him as a comrade, sir. He's a good chap, and fought as
well as the best of them. But it makes me feel ready to snivel, sir,
about old Mother Clean-shirts. Why, it will about break her heart.
Why, she was here a couple of hours ago to bring me that drinking-water,
and looked as chirpy as ever.--Poor old girl!" continued Peter, as
Archie told him what had passed. "It's a bad, bad job, sir; but we
soldiers has to chance it, for where there's a lot of bad there's always
a lot of good. And look at that now! Who's Joe Smithers as he should
have such a stroke of luck and have a nurse like that?"

There was silence for a few minutes, and the two lads sat gazing out of
the window.

"Extra quiet this afternoon, ain't they, sir?" said Peter. "Think it
means that they are making up some fresh dodge to wake us up?"

"I don't know, Pete," said Archie sadly. "You ought to be able to bring
that fellow down," he added, pointing.

"Yes, I could cripple him, easy, sir, though it is rather a long shot."

"Then why don't you fire?"

"Only got two cartridges left, sir," replied the lad, looking at the
speaker wistfully.

"Cartridges!" said Archie, starting. "That's what I came to talk to you
about."

"Go it, then, sir, please, for there's nothing I should like better to
hear.--Hooray!" ejaculated Peter softly, as Archie related what had
occurred. "Talk about corn in Egypt, sir! Well, we must have them."

"The Major won't let us go, Pete."

"No, sir, I suppose not. Says it's too risky."

The lad was silent for a few minutes, and then went on: