A great yell rose from behind us, and the sowars rolled or tumbled off their horses to a man, while as we thundered on, and left them behind, dotting the plain with white spots and patches, many of the poor wretches being unable to rise again, the rajah and his two followers reined up and sat fast, while a couple of hundred yards further on we three, riding at the head of a troop of horse and our six guns, prepared to halt. Brace threw up his sword, the trumpet rang out; and the horses, no longer in an even line, but in a regular drove, obeyed the call on the instant, while from our men in front rose a frantic cheer of excitement. They tore over the ground to, meet us, literally yelling with delight. Formation there was none; it was a little crowd of armed men, each trying to be first to reach and find his horse, of to get to the gun to which he belonged; while at the word of command, the horses now pressed together in something approaching a line. Then orders rang out quick and sharp, and so good was the training that in a very short time men were getting well in their places, a couple of guns were unlimbered, and shot after shot was fired, the grape sweeping the plain, and sending the rajah and his officers back at a gallop, while those dismounted ran or limped after them, some poor wretches being merely able to crawl, and about a dozen lay quite still. Then discipline was for the moment at an end. The order was given, "Cease firing!" and the men broke their ranks to run in a crowd round Brace, shouting, cheering, waving their helmets, swords, sponges, and rammers, and literally dancing with delight, while Haynes and the doctor were shaking his hands as if they would drag him off his horse. The next minute they were at me, and, to my astonishment, the doctor was literally crying. "Ah, God bless you, my boy!" he cried. "I never thought I could be such a fool.--Hi! hooray! hooray! cheer, my lads, cheer!" he shouted, as he waved his sun helmet. But the men were cheering, and they had now collected round Dicky Dobbs, two leading his horse, others hanging on to the saddle, and actually holding by the horse's tail, as they marched him round in a kind of procession, one stalwart gunner shouting-- "Blow, you beggar, blow!" Dobbs, ready to fall off his horse with laughter and excitement, gave one feeble blast, and then was silent again. It was merely a matter of a few minutes--Brace letting the gallant fellows have their way. Then, after warmly pressing Haynes's hand, he rode toward the excited mob, and held up his sword. Then Dobbs blew a blast, and every man rushed to his horse and gun. "Fall in!" rang out; and in an incredibly short space of time the line was reformed, men giving a grunt of satisfaction as they rapidly altered the length of their stirrups, and sat at ease upon some favourite horse. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.