"Afraid not, doctor. I heard the captain say that we march directly. I couldn't even ride if I had a horse. Hadn't you better put me out of my misery at once?" "If you talk nonsense like that to me, sir," cried the doctor, "I'll give you the nastiest dose you ever had in your life." "But I can't walk." "Of course not; but there are plenty of good men and true to carry you, so hold your tongue, and get better as fast as you can." "But--" "Silence, sir! or I'll put a bandage on your mouth, as well as on your arm." Poor Craig smiled at me, and closed his eyes. Half an hour after our men were found all refreshed and rested, and looking ready to do any deed of valour, or follow their leader to the death. The order was given, and in the lightest of light marching-order, save that there was the litter to carry, on which poor Craig had been laid, when one of the sentries still on guard, but with orders to fall in on the rear when we marched, reported the approach of a party of the people of the city. Brace ordered the men to lie down while he focussed his glass, and examined the men from the edge of the tope, afterwards handing the glass to me as I watched the white-clothed party about a quarter of a mile away, evidently making straight for the wood. "What do you make of them, Gil?" "Sepoys," I said; "nine of them, all with muskets and bayonets, evidently coming to occupy this place." "Yes," he said; "we must repulse them. Gil, this is a godsend. I want every man I have to fight. These are scoundrels from one of the revolted regiments." "And this is to be a bit of practice for our men?" "No, boy; we can trap the dogs without fighting. Can't you see what I want?" "No." "Bearers for poor Craig's dhooly. Here they are--two sets; one for relief." I uttered a cry of delight, and then after making sure by which track the sepoys would come up to the tope, a dozen men were placed in ambush with orders not to move till the native soldiers had passed them, and then to cut off their retreat when they found enemies in front. The arrangements were cleverly made, our men lying down among the bushes; and, in perfect ignorance of the reception awaiting them, the sepoys came on with their muskets shouldered; and in a careless, easy-going way, as they came on talking loudly, they drew and fixed bayonets. "They think some poor creatures have taken refuge here," whispered Brace. "The bloodhounds!" I lay there with my sword drawn, and the knot tight about my wrist, my heart beating, and a curious sensation of dread troubling me, for I was going to face armed men for the first time in my life. But I had no time for thinking; the sepoys were close at hand, and as they reached the edge of the tope, one, who seemed to be their leader, gave the order, and the men lowered their bayonets, and were about to open out to search the tope, when Brace sprang up right in their way.