Chapter Twenty Nine.
Awful Moments.
It was with serious feelings of compunction that Bracy set this example to his eager companion, by seating himself on one of the stones and beginning to combat the weary sensation of faintness which troubled him by partaking of a portion of his fast-shrinking store of provisions. For the fact was beginning to stare him in the face that, going on as they had begun, their little store could not by any possibility last, till they reached the Ghoorkha camp, and that in depending upon their rifles for a fresh supply they would be leaning upon a very rotten reed, since, surrounded as they seemed to be by enemies, it would be impossible to fire, while everything in the shape of game had so far been absent. But his spirits rose as he refreshed himself.
“I will not build imaginary mountains,” he said mentally; “there are plenty about us at last.”
“There, sir,” said Gedge, breaking in upon his musings suddenly; “I’m ready for anything now. I should like to lie down and have a good sleep; but I s’pose we mustn’t do that.”
“Not till we have crossed that ridge up to the north, Gedge. It will be hard work, but it must be done.”
“And get into the valley on the other side, sir, ’fore we go on east’ard?”
“Yes.”
“S’pose there’ll be a valley t’other side, sir?”
“No doubt about it.”