a very
strong suspicion that he would again need them for special service ere
long.

The guns were advanced at a gallop, brought to action front, and
unlimbered, all with very creditable smartness; and the next moment
shell fire was opened by both weapons upon the little patch of cover
just vacated by Jack's marksmen. The aim was good, shell after shell
dropping so close to where those marksmen had been concealed that within
the first five minutes they must all have been destroyed had they
remained there, even although about two out of every three shells failed
to explode. The Spanish general was soon convinced that his guns had
accomplished their mission, for when they had fired some thirty shells a
galloper was seen approaching the artillery officer, and the next moment
that individual gave the word to cease fire and limber up. At the word,
the drivers put their mules into motion and advanced toward the guns;
whereupon Jack, who had been patiently awaiting this movement, gave an
order to his sharpshooters, who immediately opened fire upon the teams,
with the result that before the guns could be moved every animal was
down. Then the artillerymen themselves attempted to drag the weapons
away, upon which they also began to drop; and at length a squad of
cavalry was dispatched to move the weapons. But they were obliged to
gallop nearly half a mile across Jack's front, within range the whole
time; and, although they covered the ground at a good pace, so hot was
the fire maintained upon them, and so deadly the aim, that not one of
the horsemen was able to reach the guns: Jack had got the weapons under
the cover of his rifles, and he did not mean to let them go.

But Singleton soon had something else than the two guns of the enemy to
think about; for while he had been concentrating his attention upon the
two field pieces, the entire body of troops had begun to move, and were
advancing, in two columns, with the evident intention of endeavouring to
force the passage of the stream somewhere in the neighbourhood of the
ruined bridge: apparently they were unaware of the existence of the
still weaker position which Carlos had undertaken to defend. Through
some strange oversight or carelessness on the part of their commander,
they were advancing in close order, and Jack felt that now was the
moment when his twelve-pounder was likely to prove useful. He intended
to captain the gun himself, and had caused it to be loaded wit