"I’m glad to think it is for the moment impassable," said the major, "owing to the pluck and readiness of Appleton here and his brother. But the Kalmucks traded on our self-confidence. No one would have dreamed that any considerable force would try to push its way up that difficult track; they _are_ trying it, and their object, without a doubt, is to cut the communications of the army operating in Afghanistan. If they penetrate to fifty miles this side of the Appleton mine nothing but a whole division can check them. The Chief wired that he can’t spare a man at the moment, and said the valley must be held at all costs for a week." "But man alive, that’s impossible! We haven’t three hundred men all told within a hundred miles of it. If we rushed them down for all we were worth three hundred couldn’t hold off twenty thousand." "Well no, and you’d never get there. But as it happens the Chief was only acting on something I had told him. It’s a long story, and must keep. But the short of it is that Harry Appleton’s two nephews--poor chap! he’s gone himself--brought out an aeroplane--the one you saw outside: you might be sure it wasn’t a service machine! By the merest accident they happened to see this Kalmuck force encamped, and after some pretty stirring passages which I’ll tell you some other time, they blocked up the track just below the mine; it will keep the enemy busy for a while." "Congratulate you," said the captain to Lawrence. "Not in the service, are you?" "No." "He is in training, Fenton," said the major with a smile. "By the help of his aeroplane he got me out of a very tight place, and I went down to the mine to see for myself how the land lay. An accident to the aeroplane kept me there for a day. When it was repaired we made a reconnaissance down the river. Near the mine there was a striking force of about a thousand men--as many as could operate with any effect on so narrow a track. Some thirty miles farther down we saw a couple of field guns being dragged up; and the main body of the enemy was still encamped at the mouth of the valley, waiting for the way to be cleared. It was a masterly notion to dynamite the rock; indeed, as far as I could see, Bob Appleton had left nothing undone to secure his position. Of course it’s an uncommonly tight place; very likely nine fellows out of ten--or we’ll say eight!--wouldn’t have attempted to hold it: but you know the Appleton breed, Fenton: and if they can only stick it out for a week, as the Chief wishes, by George! the Government of India will have reason to say thank you." "Your arm’s paining you, I see," said Captain Fenton, as the major winced.