movement, he began to open and focus his glass again, and looking
towards the west for some time. "Worse and worse. They mean to have
us. I suppose they look upon us as a danger that must be crushed out
once and for all."

"If they could do it, sir," said Denham.

"They evidently mean to try, Denham," replied the Colonel, with a sigh.
"Some of us will have to bite the dust before this business is over.
There's a fresh commando of quite five hundred men coming up yonder
under the sun, and before dark we shall be regularly ringed round."

"Well, let them come, sir," said Denham bitterly; "they can't all hit at
us at once. What you said was right."

"What I said was right?" replied the Colonel, staring. "Why, what did I
say?"

"Something about advancing to-night in the darkness; and then, as soon
as we were discovered by the outposts, making a gallop for it."

"Did I say that?"

"Yes, sir."

"Not a bad plan either," said the Colonel, his face wrinkling up.

"No, sir; just the exciting rush I love."

"Humph!" said the Colonel. "Well, gentlemen, we may as well go down."

"`Well, gentlemen,'" whispered Denham to me, with a laugh, as soon as he
had the opportunity. "I say, recruit--private--whatever you call
yourself--why don't you blush?"

No more was said then, as orders were given for every man to make a good
meal from his haversack; and as soon as the order was passed along, the
men looked at one another and began to whisper.

"We're not going to stop here for to-night," said one. "I had picked
out my corner for a good snooze."

"The Colonel was afraid the ruin would be too draughty for us, and
didn't wish to see his boys getting up in the morning with stiff necks,"
said another; and plenty of laughing and banter went on amongst the men,
who in all probability would be engaged in a deadly struggle before many
hours had passed.

I thought of this for a time, and I ate my bread and cold salt pork
slowly and without appetite, for the thoughts of the pleasant old farm
came back; and I began to wonder how father and Bob were, and what Aunt
Jenny would be thinking about. Then, between the mouthfuls, a vision of
Joeboy's black face and grinning white teeth seemed to rise up; and I
fell to thinking how disappointed he would be when he returned from the
foraging expedition to find that the corps had been suddenly called out.

"Poor old Joeboy!" I thought to myself; "it's a pity father didn't keep
him