"Of course, we might've knowed them muddle-headed officers 'd run
us right slap into a hornets' nest of Rebels before they knowed a
thing about it," grumbled Abe Bolton, hastily tearing a cartridge
with his teeth, and forcing it into his gun.

"Hold on, my weak-kneed patriot," said Kent Edwards, catching Jake
Alspaugh by the collar, and turning him around so that he faced
the enemy again. "It's awful bad manners to rush out of a matinee
just as the performance begins. You disturb the people who've
come to enjoy the show. Keep you seat till the curatin goes down.
You'll find enough to interest you."

The same sudden inspiration of common-sense that had flashed upon
Captain Bennett, in encountering the snake now raised him to the
level of this emergency. He comprehended that the volley they had
received had emptied every Rebel gun. The distance was so short
that the enemy could be reached before they had time to re-load.
But no time must be lost in attempting to form, or in having the
order regularly given by the Colonel. He sprang toward the enemy,
waving his sword, and shouted in tones that echoed back from the
cliffs:

"Attention, BATTALION! Charge bayonets! FORWARD, DOUBLE-QUICK,
MARCH!"

A swelling cheer answered him. His own company ran forward to
follow his impetuous lead. The others joined in rapidly. Away
they dashed down the side of the declivity, and in an instant more
were swarming up the opposite side toward the astonished Rebels.