"Well, you are cool customers, you and your Gurkhas!" remarked the subaltern in command of the 60th's detachment, as soon as he could find time to make comments. "Pluckiest thing I've ever seen, to storm a position like that with such a handful." "It was nothing," Ted muttered, turning away. "It probably saved us a few lives, young man, and I'll take care that it is reported." As he spoke, the officer who had succeeded to the command of the column when Major Reid fell hastened to the spot, and hurriedly enquired: "What happened just now? I was looking on, unable to send you help, when I saw some Gurkhas come up from behind and drive the pandies from that nullah." "He was in command," the subaltern replied, nodding towards the ensign. "Had about twenty men with him. I never saw such a thing, and how he managed to escape unhurt I can't understand." The enemy again began to press, though not so dangerously. Yet every yard had to be contested, and the odds against our fellows were enormous. Of all those gallant officers and men none fought more pluckily than Captain Russell of the Guides; animating and encouraging his splendid fellows, he was ever nearest to the foe, as many a mutineer found to his cost. Inspired by the example, Ted emulated his brother's courage, and with the Gurkhas did his best to retrieve the day, and always by his side fought the young officer Jemadar Goria Thapa, son of his father's friend. As they retired towards the Ridge the boy was more than once engaged in single combat. Two assailants he had placed _hors de combat_ with sword or pistol, when he perceived that his brother was struck, though Jim, stifling his pain, continued to fight and to inspire the men. Ted, gazing anxiously at his brother, forgot for a moment his own dangerous position, when Goria Thapa knocked him roughly on one side. Just in time! A bullet flew through the air where Ted's head had been, and his career would have been ended there and then had not the young Gurkha officer been on the alert. At the same moment two sepoys, one being the fellow who had fired the shot, rushed at the boy, who vainly strove to fend their bayonets with his sword. One of the mutineers soon broke down his guard and lunged. The steel passed through the fleshy part of Ted's arm, and the sepoy fell at his feet, slain by the sword of Goria Thapa. The second pandy turned to flee, but a Gurkha standing near bowled him over also, and again the little force fell slowly back, the pandies snarling just out of musket-shot, waiting for a leader brave enough to inspire them.