"Too far from our base, my boy. There’s that path over the hills the men know of. We mustn’t run the risk of having our rear turned. But I’ll send down some reinforcements. Of course without the bridge the enemy can’t possibly cross until they reach the ford miles up-stream; but they may be good at mountain climbing, and judging by their pertinacity so far they won’t shirk the journey. They’ve got time on their side: there’s no hurry: they know that we’re boxed at the mine, and when they get there they’ve only got to sit tight and intercept our regular convoys of provisions to starve us out in a month or so. Things look pretty black, and our only chance is to strengthen our position and give them so hot a reception that they’ll get tired of it." "There’s one thing Uncle ought to have done. He ought to have rigged up a wireless installation, so that we could summon help in an emergency like this." "My dear chap, what would be the good? We could only get help from India, and they wouldn’t send an expedition out on behalf of an obstinate crack-brained adventurer, as they regard him, who’s no business here at all. Poor old Uncle, when he settled here, knew very well that he’d taken his life in his hands, and had only himself to rely on. We’ve got to do everything ourselves." "Couldn’t you fly southward, and see if Major Endicott is within reach?" "He’s back in Rawal Pindi long ago. No, we can’t expect any help. By George! I thought I’d lost all chance of seeing some fighting; but it looks now as if I’m to get a good deal more than I should have got if I’d come out with a commission." "You seem quite cheerful at the prospect. You’re a born soldier, Bob." "And we’ll make you one before we’ve done with you, old man. It’s all clear, isn’t it?" "So far as I’m concerned. But there’s one thing you don’t appear to have thought of: how are you going to alight on our ledge in the dark?" "Is there no moon to-night?" "Not till very late, I think; and in any case we get more shadow than shine in the valley, unless the moon happens to be sailing directly above." "You’re right. I hadn’t given it a thought. It will be a ticklish job. Owing to that bend the lights in the compound will be invisible from beyond the ledge. But it’s got to be done somehow; I’m glad you mentioned it, because I don’t think it would have occurred to me, and now I can try to meet the difficulty." "You won’t start back till daylight, I suppose."