and haggard
eyes telling of vain attempts at slumber, though he merely guessed at
what Charteris knew.

"Chand Singh's guns are beginning to come into camp," he announced
dramatically.

"Oh, all right. Bound to come some time," was the sleepy response.
But Warner was not to be put off.

"The Granthis are all standing to arms already, and Bishen Ram is
sporting a pair of gold bracelets."

"Ah!" said Charteris sharply. This was news indeed, for it was a gift
of gold bracelets to their commandant that had heralded the defection
of Nisbet and Cowper's escort to Sher Singh. "Keep an eye on them from
the door here while I dress, Warner. I have the _zamburaks_ trained on
them, so they can't take us by surprise."

Having succeeded in producing an impression, Warner was emboldened to
go further. Nothing but making Charteris as nervous as himself would
have satisfied him, and yet it was not fear, but overwork and want of
sleep, that combined with anxiety to keep him tramping restlessly
about. "I suppose you have full confidence in Gerrard?" he hazarded.

"Full confidence?" Charteris's voice, inside the tent, evidently issued
from the folds of a towel. "Why, of course. Every confidence that a
man could have in another."

"There was a story that you and he had quarrelled----"

"Well?" the word snapped out.

"Er--about some girl, I believe. But quarrelled, anyhow. You don't
think he would take this opportunity----?"

"To pay me out? I would as soon believe that you had been bribed by
Chand Singh to try and discourage me."

"Well, that's pretty strong, I must say." Warner's tone was injured.

"It is; and if you want it stronger, I'll say that I would sooner
believe it." Charteris emerged from the tent as he spoke and looked
keenly at his subordinate. "My dear fellow, your nerves are all to
pieces. Steady, steady! This is going to be one of the worst days you
ever had, and I mean you to come out of it with credit. Take a couple
of orderlies to keep guard, and go down and get a good swim. If you
feel inclined for a snooze afterwards, take an hour or two with my
blessing. I will be responsible for this mighty array meanwhile. No,
I really mean it. Be off with you!"

Slightly ashamed, Warner obeyed, and Charteris rode through the Darwani
bivouac, and backed up the _zamburaks_ with a line of musketmen.
Passing on to where the Granthis had slept, he found them, as Warner
had said, standing to their ar