"Mr Moray, I spoke in haste and disappointment.

Now then, gentlemen, perfect silence, please.
I believe we shall hear some signal from below, and that is what the party above are waiting for.

Then they will attack simultaneously, to give us a surprise, and we're going to surprise them.

Every one to his post, please; and then, at their first rush, let it be volleys and slow falling back, so as to keep them from breaking our too open formation." The next minute every man was in his place, and the pass so dark and still that it was impossible to believe that a terrible conflict was so close at hand.

As I stood waiting and listening for the enemy's order to attack, I could feel my heart go _throb, throb, throb, throb_, so hard that I seemed to be hearing it at the same time making a dull echo in my brain.
Still there was no sign; and at last I began to go over my brief interview with the Colonel, and to wonder whether he would turn now upon the two scouts and charge them with having deceived themselves, for according to their report the enemy ought to have been upon us long before.