interior of such a house as this offered too many defensive advantages
which the daylight would largely overcome.

"Have you had some hard fighting?" I asked of the man lying next me, a
manly-looking fellow, wearing the yellow chevrons of a corporal of
cavalry.

"They pitched in mighty strong at first, sir," he answered civilly.
"An' we had so few men they pretty nearly rushed us, fer sure. It was
our repeatin' rifles thet drove 'em back."

"You suffered to some extent?"

"Two killed, sir, and three or four wounded. It wus hot 'nough fer a
while, I tell you; as lively a little jig as I've ever bin in. McNeal,
there, got a lump of lead in his arm. Would you mind explainin' 'bout
you fellows comin' in here to help us, sir? It seems kinder odd to be
fightin' longside of gray-backs."

I told him briefly the circumstances, and his eyes danced merrily at
the recital.

"Be a rum story to tell if ever we get out of here, sir," he commented,
patting his gun. "I've mostly seen you fellows from the t'other side,
but, dern it all, this is more the way it ought to be."

I agreed with him thoroughly as to that, and we relapsed into silence,
each intent upon the uncertainty without.

As I lay there, gazing anxiously into the darkness, I could not forbear