"Colonel, I am directed by Colonel Harmon to say that the enemy's guns are within easy reach of our rifles, and most of them visible from several points along the ridge."
The brigade commander looked at him without a trace of interest in his expression. "I know it," he said quietly.
The young adjutant was visibly embarrassed. "Colonel Harmon would like to have permission to silence those guns," he stammered.
"So should I," the colonel said in the same tone. "Present my compliments to Colonel Harmon and say to him that the general's orders for the infantry not to fire are still in force."
The adjutant saluted and retired. The colonel ground his heel into the earth and turned to look again at the enemy's guns.
"Colonel," said the adjutant-general, "I don't know that I ought to say anything, but there is something wrong in all this. Do you happen to know that Captain Coulter is from the South?"
"No; was he, indeed?"
"I heard that last summer the division which the general then commanded was in the vicinity of Coulter's home—camped there for weeks, and—"
"Listen!" said the colonel, interrupting with an upward gesture. "Do you hear that?"
"That" was the silence of the Federal gun. The staff, the orderlies, the lines of infantry behind the crest—all had "heard," and were looking curiously in the direction of the crater, whence no smoke now ascended except desultory cloudlets from the enemy's shells. Then came the blare of a bugle, a faint rattle of wheels; a minute later the sharp reports recommenced with double activity. The demolished gun had been replaced with a sound one.