“Forward!” said Bracy; and the spot indicated was reached, the short halt made, and they went on again, after noting that the enemy was slowly following on their track.
That seemed a day of days to Bracy, and interminably long and wearisome. They kept along as near the edge of the snow as they could, and watched the two bodies of men to right and left till they were hidden by the inequalities of the ground; but they came into sight again and again. About midday the two parties were seen to meet, and then come to a halt, about a mile from where Bracy and his companion crouched, as usual, in among some loose rocks, in the unenviable position of being between two fires, the enemy in the rear halting too, and making no effort to come to close quarters after the lesson they had learned about the long, thin, pencil-like bullets sent whistling from Gedge’s rifle.
“Can you make out what they are doing, sir?” asked Gedge.
“Sitting together, and I think eating.”
“That’s what you said the others were doing, sir.”
“Yes.”
“Then wouldn’t it be a good time for us to be having a refresher, sir?”
“Very good time indeed, Gedge, if you can eat,” said Bracy meaningly.
“If I can eat, sir?” said Gedge, turning over his officer’s words. “Why, sir, I feel famished. Don’t you?”
“No,” said Bracy sadly. “I suppose the anxiety has taken away my appetite.”