"Look here, Gale, we are all senior to you in the date of our commissions, but you have seen no end of service and adventure; therefore I vote that you shall be commanding officer, until we get back to camp." The others willingly agreed. "Very well," Will said, "I will do my best. "Hammond, will you tell your servant to get ready for a start, at once. Speak to him quietly and carelessly. Then, as the men move up more towards the ponies, tell them--in Hindustanee--to go about their work quietly but, in case of any trouble with the Afghans, to out with their swords, and join us in a rush at the chief's house." Hammond carried out his instructions. The two Beloochees were not taken by surprise; for they, as well as Yossouf, had been feeling uneasy at the disappearance of all women and children from the scene. The other men looked startled; but they were stout fellows and, as all the native servants, were armed with swords, to enable them to resist sudden attacks by the country people; and as they had unbounded faith in their masters, they went about the work of packing up the plates and dishes, and preparing for a start, quietly enough. As the Syces began to put the saddles on the tats, the Afghans spoke quickly and angrily together. Two or three minutes later, Yossouf arrived. He had evidently been running, for his breath came quick; but he now walked forward in a leisurely way. "Two large parties are coming, master; one down the valley, and the other across the hills. They have got flags with them, and I am sure they are going to attack us." Just at this moment an Afghan lad joined his seniors, and spoke rapidly to them. Will judged at once that he also had been placed on the watch. The chief of the village, accompanied by two or three of his men, now stepped forward. "Ask the sahibs," he said to Yossouf, "why they are in such a hurry--why they want to start in the heat of the day? They had better wait till it is cooler." Will did not wait for Yossouf's translation, but answered direct: "We have duties at the camp, and must return at once." The chief was surprised that one of the young officers should speak his tongue so fluently. "It looks as if you were not pleased with the hospitality of our village," he said, "that you should hurry away so quickly." "We are content with it--so far--but we must be off, now. "Bring up the ponies quickly," he said to Yossouf. "Never mind those things, there is not a moment to be lost." Yossouf and the servants brought up the ponies. The chief laid his hand on one of the bridles, and drew a pistol. "Kaffir dogs," he said, "you shall not leave us, at all." Will's hand was already on his revolver and, before the chief could level his pistol, he fired; and the Afghan fell dead.