“That’s the spirit to take it in, Bracy. Of course we must fight; and the sooner the scoundrels give us the chance the better—eh, Graham?”
“Yes; we’ve come to give them a lesson, and they’ll get it. We ought to reach the station by evening. The poor fellows there must be anxiously looking out for us.”
“Yes; I’ve sent three different messengers to say that we shall be there by night, and I hope one out of the three will get there with the news.”
“Then you mean to go on at once?”
“Of course. Did you think I meant to stay here?”
“I only thought it possible that, as this was a strong place, and we have plenty of provisions and good water, you might hold on and let them attack us.”
“Oh no,” replied the Colonel, taking his seat on the ground with the rest. “If we do that the enemy will take it for granted that we fear him. It must be forward, and plenty of dash.”
“Yes; but while our lads are raw they would be more steady behind such a breastwork, or zareba, as we could soon make round us.”
“I thought the boys were steady enough yesterday,” said the Colonel quietly; “and we shall be far better off in the open than drawn out in a line on that narrow shelf.”
“Oh, then we shall have a better road to-day?”