“Yes,” said the Colonel, going on calmly enough with his meal. “As far as I can gather from our guides, who all agree as to the character of the road, we have wide, open valleys, with forest till within a couple of miles of Ghittah; then the mountains close in again, and we have a narrow shelf to traverse high above the bottom of a gorge.”
“With plenty of places for stone-throwers?” said the Major.
“Plenty,” replied the Colonel; “so you know what you have to expect, gentlemen. But I hope and believe that unless they are too closely beleaguered the little garrison at the station will make a sally to meet us, and help to clear the way.”
“What a jolly old humbug Graham is!” whispered Roberts. “It’s all to belittle our lads. He knew that as well as the Colonel.”
“I suppose so,” replied Bracy. “Ah, here’s the Doctor.”
For that gentleman came bustling up, smiling and nodding to all in turn.
“Morning, Doctor,” said the Colonel. “What do you think of your patients this morning?”
“My patients? Seen them?”
“Yes,” said the Colonel quietly. “Bracy and I had a look at them as soon as it was light.”
“Getting on splendidly,” said the Doctor, rubbing his hands. “Narrow escape for that boy whose cheek is scratched; an inch or two more to the left, and—”