“No.—Hurrah!”
“Hoorray!” roared Gedge, joining in.
“They’re the Ghoorkhas, Gedge. They must be a thousand strong.”
“Then one o’ the messengers must ha’ got to them after all.”
“Yes; that must be it, Gedge; and they surprised the enemy’s camp at dawn.”
“That’s it, sir!” yelled Gedge. “Hoorray! hoorray again! Then there is life in a mussel after all.”
“They’ve scattered this force, Gedge, and the fort will be relieved, for the bravo little fellows will cut their way through all.”
“Yes, sir. Now then, sir, you needn’t hardly move. There’s a bit o’ slaty stone yonder as’ll do, and all I want of you, sir, is for yer to sit still upon it, and nuss the rifles while I steer you down to the truck.”
“Right in among the enemy, my lad?”
“Right through ’em, sir. They’re on the run, and won’t dare to stop to go at us. I never heard of a nigger as’d stand a moment when a Ghoorkha was coming after him with his crooked knife.”