The glass was in the young officer’s hand, and he followed the enemy’s movements with it, seeing the little party close up again, and then make for a ridge in the distance—one which threatened to conceal them as soon as it was passed; but there was something else to see, for all at once the solitude of the elevation was broken by a figure springing into sight, to be followed by a large group, who began to descend slowly to meet the retreating four; and of their movements Bracy kept his companion aware with a word or two at intervals, without changing his position or removing his glass from his eye.
“They’re close together now—the last man has joined them—they’re looking in this direction—they’ve turned round, and are going up the slope again. Ha! the last man has passed over—gone.”
“Would you mind having a look at the other two lots now, sir, to see what they’re doing?” said Gedge quietly.
The little glass was slowed round on the instant, and Bracy examined the party to the right, and then, turning to the left, made a long examination of the danger there, before closing the glass again.
“They are keeping steadily on along those slopes, Gedge, as if to converge some miles farther on.”
“Hadn’t we better play the same game, sir?” said Gedge quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“Do a bit o’ converging, sir, whatever it is.”
“I don’t set; how we can at present,” replied Bracy, laughing sadly. “No. It seems as if the only thing left for us to do is to lie still here till the coast is clear—I mean, the enemy out of sight; then keep on cautiously, and trust to getting beyond them in the darkness. It is terribly unfortunate, Gedge.”
“’Tis, sir, and wastes so much time. Think they have seen us?”