“Not alone. Take that man Gedge with you; he has had little to do amongst the snow, but—”
“Yes, sir; he’ll learn anything. When am I to start?”
“As soon as you can be ready. Then, I will clear the way for you by making a feint, so that you can make at once for the upper ground.”
“Not by the mountains above the Gor Pass, sir?”
“No; the other direction entirely. You are to make for the Ghil Valley, and bring back the Ghoorkas, Bracy. It is time that we took the offensive; the enemy must be driven back before the autumn closes in. No; you are going upon an extremely dangerous mission, Bracy; I tell you so frankly. I will be quite open with you. I am sending you upon this horribly risky journey; but it is as a soldier to risk your life to save ours.”
“To save yours, sir?” said Bracy wonderingly.
“Surely the fort is quite safe if you act on the defensive.”
“It would be, my dear boy, if we had an ample supply of ammunition.”
Bracy started, and gazed wide-eyed at his Colonel, who had leaned across the table and said these last words almost in a whisper.
“I am speaking quite openly to you, Bracy—telling you what must be a secret between us two; and I tell you because it is just to one sent upon such a perilous enterprise that he should feel satisfied as to the urgency of the need.”