"No, no," said the doctor. "Poor Lacey gave us leave after accepting the invitation." "The major kept to his post, and died defending it, sir," said Brace, sternly. "We were away, and the position in which we find ourselves is a disgrace which we must wipe off." "How?" cried my brother-officers. "As men should," replied Brace, sternly. "As I have said, the rising is nothing to us, whether great or small. We have only one thing to study." "To get back the guns!" I cried excitedly. Brace's hand gripped my arm with all his force. "Yes," he cried. "Right. To get back those guns and horses at any cost." "Impossible!" muttered the doctor. "Tell me that, doctor," cried Brace, "when I am wounded to the death, and you press my hand, tell me you can do no more, and say `Good-bye.' There is no such word as impossible in a British soldier's thoughts when he has to charge. Duty says forward! and he advances with a cheer. Now, gentlemen, are you with me? I am going to get back those guns. Doctor, you are a non-combatant; I am not speaking to you. Haynes, will you follow me?" "As long as I can lift an arm." "I don't ask you, Vincent. You are a soldier's son, and I know that I can depend on you. There, I see my way now. Let us go back to the men." We rose and followed him, the doctor whispering sharply, "Am I a non-combatant, Brace? This is a case of emergency, and perhaps I can use a sword as well as I can use a rifle. At any rate, I am going to try." "'Tention!" said Brace, in a low quick voice, and the men sprang to their feet and formed in line, their figures looking weird and strange in the darkness. "Can you all hear me?" The silence which followed his question was proof that his words were heard, and he stepped back a few yards and stood listening intently before returning to face the men. "Now, my lads," he said, "we are a mere handful in the midst, perhaps, of thousands of enemies; but we are Englishmen." There was a loud murmur like the precursor of a shout. "Silence! Not a sound, my lads. Listen. We have been taken by surprise, and our comrades have many of them met their death through treachery, while the officers and men are disgraced by our position." There was another murmur, but it was in protest. "Yes; I say disgraced. Ours, the smartest troop in the Company's army, has been disarmed, and there are two courses open to us--to fly for our lives and try to make our way to the nearest station, tramping, and without our guns; or to make a bold dash, like the men you are, to get our guns and horses back. Those are the two courses open, and I am not going to insult my brave lads by asking them which course we shall take. Sergeant--men, I'm going to have those guns back. If I go down, here is Lieutenant Haynes to carry on the work. After him Mr Vincent, and after him the doctor. If we all break down, there's Sergeant Craig. Plenty to lead you, and there isn't a man among you who will not follow, I know."