The task accomplished, he listened attentively. There was no token that his work had attracted the attention of any one in the British camp six hundred feet below. Congratulating himself on such supposed fact, he moved on to the next gun, and set firmly a second file. Again he listened, but could hear nothing.
“The sound does not reach the camp,” he said to himself, and as rapidly as possible disabled the other four cannon. Straightening up from the labor, he found himself face to face with the captain of the engineer corps, who demanded:
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”
Rejoicing that he had not yet been recognized, Ira, with quick wit, replied:
“I am watching the guns.”
“I was not aware we posted any guard here to-night,” the officer said sharply. “Unless you can give a better reason for being here I shall run you through,” and there could be heard a certain rustling which told that he was drawing his sword from its scabbard.
“The general sent me,” the lad replied, not thinking it worth while to explain what general.
“Oh!” the officer stammered. “I—I didn’t think a sentinel was necessary here. I received no orders to that effect.”
“That is nothing to me,” was the cool reply.
This answer appeared to anger the engineer.