ut not of how grave. They thought it meant that another
attack would be made immediately, and they sprang to their work with
renewed vigor, and a zeal as fresh as if it were but the beginning and
not the end.

The time wore on, however, and there was no demonstration below, though
hour after hour it was expected and even hoped for. Just as the sun
sank into a bed of blue cloud a horseman was seen coming up the darkened
mountain from the eastward side, and in a little while practised eyes
reported him one of their own men--the sergeant who had been sent back
the day before for ammunition. He was alone, and had something white
before him on his horse--it could not be the ammunition; but perhaps
that might be coming on behind. Every step of his jaded horse was
anxiously watched. As he drew near, the lieutenant, after a word with
the Colonel, walked down to meet him, and there was a short colloquy
in the muddy road; then they came back together and slowly entered the
camp, the sergeant handing down a bag of corn which he had got somewhere
below, with the grim remark to his comrades, "There's your rations," and
going at once to the Colonel's camp-fire, a little to one side among the
trees, where the Colonel awaited him. A long conference was held, and
then the sergeant left to take his luck with his mess, who were already
parching the corn he had brought for their supper, while the lieutenant
made the round of the camp; leaving the Colonel seated alone on a log
by his camp-fire. He sat without moving, hardly stirring until the
lieutenant returned from his round. A minute later the men were called
from the guns and made to fall into line. They were silent, tremulous
with suppressed excitement; the most sun-burned and weather-stained of
them a little pale; the meanest, raggedest, and most insignificant not
unimpressive in the deep and solemn silence with which they stood, their
eyes fastened on the Colonel, waiting for him to speak. He stepped out
in front of them, slowly ran his eye along the irregular line, up and
down, taking in every man in his glance, resting on some longer than
on others, the older men, then dropped them to the ground, and then
suddenly, as if with an effort, began to speak. His voice had a somewhat
metallic sound, as if it were restrained; but it was otherwise the
ordinary tone of command. It was not much that he said: simply that it
had become his duty to acquaint them with the information which he had