"It would certainly take them a day or longer to make the bridge strong enough to bear their artillery. But we’ve only the advanced guard to deal with, not the main army, and in two or three hours they could rig up a bridge good enough for themselves and their ponies. They may be only a few hours’ march away. I wish we had a searchlight. We could then light up the track at the bend yonder, and give them such a dose that they wouldn’t try it again." "Why not try a bonfire? Light a big one just on this side of the bend. That would give us enough light." "A good idea! We’ll do it, and to make perfectly sure, we’d better blast the rock at once, and not leave it till the morning. I’ll see to it, however; you have a good sleep." "Not a bit of it. I should fall asleep in two ticks if I had nothing to do, but I’m not going to leave you to bear the brunt of everything. We share and share alike." "Thanks, old chap. You see to the dynamite and get a wire spliced for the current while I get the bonfire started." [Illustration: GUR BUKSH DEFENDS THE MINE] In a few minutes a large fire was blazing on a ledge of rock a few feet south of the bend, and a number of Pathans were drilling holes in the cliff. An hour’s work by experienced miners would suffice, Bob thought, to prepare for the charge of dynamite. Meanwhile, in the compound, under Lawrence’s direction, other men were splicing together several lengths of the wire used for conveying the current from the small electric battery to the mine galleries. A number of boxes were broken up to provide fuel for the bonfire, which, however, it would be hardly necessary to keep alight when once the track had been blocked up by the fallen rocks. These operations were all in progress when there was a sudden commotion among the men drilling the rock. After a moment’s hesitation, they dropped their tools and scampered at the top of their speed towards the mine. They had barely crossed the bridge, and this had only been raised a few feet from its platform, when there came swiftly round the bend a string of horsemen, galloping two abreast. Gur Buksh was at his post by the machine-gun. In a few moments it was rattling its shot in a rapid stream towards the enemy, and at the same time the Sikhs opened fire with their rifles. A number of the enemy were seen to fall, either upon the track or over the brink into the river, and the horses of the men immediately behind them stumbled over the prone bodies and in one or two cases threw their riders. There were a few moments of confusion. The quiet of the night was broken by cries and groans and the rattle and hiss of shots. Then the stream of horsemen suddenly stopped. Shouts were heard from beyond the bend, but no more of the enemy appearing, Bob ordered his men to cease fire.