rned the salute. "I congratulate you on the fruits of your
discovery. You have given us an excellent chance of punishing the
enemy. Whose idea was it to take to the trees?"

"Mine, sir," admitted Dick. "I am in command."

"Exactly so, my lad, and it was a smart movement. It is not every
commander who would have thought of it. May I ask if you have been
operating in the clearing on our right? I have just passed through it."

Dick again admitted the fact, and described in a few words what had
happened.

"Not all quite so simple as you imagine, or as you have stated," was the
hearty answer. "You give all the credit to your men. Quite right, sir.
Every good officer who has good men to command does that. It is only
right and fair. Allow me to say that something is also due to the one
in command, upon whom all the responsibility of every movement depends.
Do you know the result of that little action? No. Then I will tell
you. The enemy were practising a favourite manoeuvre: they were
attempting to close in on our flanks. On the left the sailors and
marines put a stop to the movement, while here on the right they would
have succeeded had it not been for you. Gallantly done, men; a very
fine piece of work. You accounted for thirty-seven of the enemy, and
beat back their flank attack. I shall take good care to mention the
matter at headquarters. Now we will advance along this flank, and see
if we cannot induce some of the enemy to halt and give us a fight."

Dick and his men were delighted and glowing with pride. They had worked
hard, and fought hard, too, all knew that. But, though they were aware
that the force opposed to them was a large one, they did not imagine
that _such_ an important movement had been in progress, and that they
had been the means of putting a summary stop to it. It was therefore
with light hearts and spirits raised to the highest point that they
continued the advance. Then as the troops swept the enemy before them,
and turned along the beach, where they encountered another of the
hostile villages and burned it, Dick and his party received an order to
halt, and the same officer addressed them.

"We shall be moving well away from the river now," he said, "and it will
hardly be safe for you to advance with us. Return to your launch now,
for otherwise you might have to fight every inch of the way."

Turning about the party retraced their steps past the bush and into the
forest.