“Column in half companies!” repeated the Captains.
“With double platoon—hollow!” chanted Shulgovich.
“With double platoon—hollow!” answered the choir.
“Dress-ing—ri-ight!” thundered the giant.
“Dress-ing—ri-ight!” came from the dwarfs.
Shulgovich now took breath for two or three seconds, after which he once more gave vent to his voice of thunder in the command—
“First half company—forward—march!”
Rolling heavily through the dense ranks across the level plain came Osadchi’s dull roar—
“First half company, dress to the right—forward—march!”
Away in the front was heard the merry rattle of drums. Seen from the rear, the column resembled a forest of bayonets which often enough waved backwards and forwards.