“That’s the way to do it, sir; but that’s cutting off our retreat.”
“Yes.”
“Well, then, sir, we must lie low till the enemy is cleared off. They won’t come up here.”
“No; they must be making for the track we crossed—the one below there, where we saw the men going towards the valley-bend.”
“That’s it, sir, and they’ve got their work cut out; but our lads won’t follow ’em right up there.”
“No; they will only follow till they have scattered them as far as possible.”
“And then go back, sir, and leave us where we are.”
“Yes,” said Bracy sadly.
Gedge was silent for a few minutes, during which they still watched the scene below. Then he broke out with:
“It’s all downhill, sir.”