And as I watched them, I could not help thinking that a clever officer who was not sparing of his men, might easily take our guns, for if one party made a dash at them, and drew our fire, a reserve party might dash in, and sabre the gunners before they had time to reload. Just then I was conscious of a curious movement among our men, eyes being turned to me appealingly, while every gunner was on the _qui vive_, and I could see that at a word the guns would be rapidly discharged. But I had no orders to commence hostilities, unless an attack was made, and I stood as eager as the men, watching the scouting party, as there was a sudden movement among them. They opened out, and one whom I had not before seen rode through them quite to the front, and just then a voice behind me whispered-- "Look, Gil! Do you see?" Yes, I had seen; and I had been so taken up by the sight that I had not heard Brace come up to the guns. "I could fetch that dandy chap down, and a dozen more," I heard a man whisper. "Silence there," said Brace, sternly. Then to me, "Why, Gil, I thought he must be miles and miles away from here." "Then it is Ny Deen," I said excitedly. "I thought I must be wrong." "Yes, it is he," replied Brace. "And I feel as if I ought to fire, and sweep the whole gang away; but it seems such a cowardly thing to do." The temptation to fire was removed directly after, for the party drew back and disappeared, while all was still in the blazing sunshine, saving a dull humming sound of many voices, telling that the little town was densely thronged by the new-comers. And once more Brace drew back as if to go, but stopped short, for the colonel and major of the foot regiment appeared, and Brace signed to me to come to his side. "I think I should have given him the two charges," the colonel was saying as I came up; and then, soon after, "Well, perhaps you are right." "I am sure I am," Brace said eagerly. "If my men were a company or two of infantry like your own, I should say, by all means let us strengthen the residency, and after getting together all the provisions we could, stand fast till more help came; but with my guns and horses cooped up here in these streets, I am almost useless. We can fire a _few_ times, and then, if the enemy makes a bold dash, there will be a short struggle, and they must capture the guns again. You see, my horses are in the way here, where there is no room to manoeuvre." "Yes; that is quite right. But we might get them in the compound, and turn your guns into pieces for our little fort." "Yes," said Brace; "and how are you going to feed the poor beasts when you have them in the compound? There is no begging the question, sir; I can make my troop invaluable, and act as cavalry as well, out in the open; but here we cannot develop our strength." "He's quite right," said the major. "Then what would you propose?" said the colonel.