Sheitan is too strong for us. Your excellency will see the ground is
covered with our dead. Bring fire," he ordered, and at the word one of the
soldiers lighted a torch made of straw, soaked in oil, which threw a lurid
flame over the ground. "See, excellency, how we have suffered."

"Are they all dead?" asked the officer, stepping nearer.

The boys held their breath, when there was a sharp cracking of musketry,
the man with the torch fell prostrate, and several cries arose from the
column. The watchers on the roof of Gubbins' house had been quick to
discern their enemy.

"Move on, march!" the officer exclaimed hastily, "double. Yes, I see, it
is hot here; but when we have attacked, and their attention is distracted,
you may do something."

So saying, he went off at a run with his regiment.

The boys lost no time in creeping out again, and making the best of their
way back; once fairly over the crest, they rose to their feet and ran down
toward the intrenchment. As they neared this Ned whistled twice. The
whistle was answered, and in a minute hands were stretched down to help
them to scramble over the earthwork.

"All right," Ned said to Mr. Johnson; "the guns are useless, and weakly
guarded. There are lots of infantry on both sides, but some of them will
be drawn off, for they are going to make an attack from Johannes' house.
Where is Mr. Gubbins?"

"He has just made his rounds," Mr. Johnson said; "I will take you to him."