"Stand! Corporal of the guard!"
The corporal went forward to receive the deserter. Now there came the sound of swiftly advancing footsteps in front of the rear post, and dim figures were seen through the darkness.
"Fire!" shouted Fred.
Seven rifles belched forth their contents, and for a moment the flashes of the guns lighted up the scene, and then all was dark.
There were cries of pain, hoarse yells of surprise and anger, and then a scattering volley returned.
"Use your revolvers," shouted Fred, and a rapid fire was opened.
"Fall back!" shouted a voice from the darkness. There were a few more scattering shots, and all was still.
The deserter, who was so anxious to give himself up, the moment the alarm was given fired at the sentinel and vanished in the darkness.
The sound of the firing created the wildest commotion in camp. The long roll was beaten; the half-dressed, frightened soldiers came rolling out of their tents, some without their guns, others without their cartridge boxes; excited officers in their night clothes ran through the camp, waving their bare swords and shouting: "Fall in, men, for God's sake, fall in."
It was some minutes before the excitement abated, and every one was asking, "What is it? what is it?"