For the enemy were in force behind them, and came pouring out in pursuit till nearly a couple of thousand men must have rushed out of the wide road, and as they opened out to right and left, firing on the retreating regiment, the position of our friends was growing perilous in the extreme. Men were dropping fast, and it was evident that the two rear companies wanted support. The support was coming, for our guns were run off to our right, took up fresh position where we could fire clear of our own men, and rapidly as they could be served, and the heated vents would permit, a terrific fire was brought to bear upon the sepoys, crushing them so effectually that ten minutes after, and only followed by a scattered fire, the infantry regiment reached the patch of wood, the elephants, ammunition-waggons, and native followers were placed in safety, and the colonel found time to canter up to Brace and warmly wring his hand. "Splendid!" he cried. "We have lost wonderfully few." Then aloud to our troop, "Thank you, my lads, thank you." "Oh, it's all right, colonel dear," I heard Brian say in a loud voice; "we shall be wanting ye to hilp us before long." CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. The colonel was delighted with the position, knowing that, if the ammunition held out, he could, with Brace's help, make it a centre from which he could thrash twice as many of the enemy. But it seemed to me, as I noted how many poor fellows were wounded, that we did not want any more fighting that day; and for a time it did not look as if we were to be troubled. I was wrong, though, for in about half an hour the enemy's leaders were showing front again, and it was evident that Ny Deen did not mean us to escape, for strong bodies of cavalry filed off to right and left, exactly as I had planned in my own mind, while his foot were mustered in great strength, their numbers being rapidly added to by men from out of the town. To add to the peril of our position, we made out a whole line coming along from the west which soon showed itself to be a fresh regiment of native cavalry coming to join Ny Deen's standard and help drive the infidel out of the land. In the consultation which took place, with the men all at ease, and bread and water being partaken of eagerly, the colonel said calmly-- "I'm not a bit alarmed for myself. My lads will fight to the last. We've plenty of ammunition, and I know we can make our square smaller and smaller, till they are sick of it, as they soon will be, for they cannot rush us. They will not face the bayonet. What about you? There's my fear." "I'll help you all I can," said Brace, "and I don't think you need fear for us. We can manoeuvre and keep them at a distance. We fight best at a pretty good range," he said laughingly.