"Fifteen."
"Can they all be depended on?"
"Ten or twelve can."
"Good! Tell them if an attack comes to stand by the train to the last. Captain Jackson has charge of the advance; how many men has he?"
"Twenty. Half of them are no good. They would run at the first shot."
"That leaves fifteen men to guard the center of the train," replied Lawrence. "Under whose command are they?"
"Sergeant Strong. He's a good man."
"Let's see him."
The Sergeant was seen and found to be a keen young soldier, fully alive to the situation. "I have had hard work," he said, "to keep my men in hand owing to the example of those in front, but I am doing the best I can. One shot would stampede the whole advance."
"If an attack should come in front," said Lawrence, "and the advance come back panic-stricken, don't give way; Lieutenant Hale, here, will come to your relief. If the rear is attacked, go to him. If the center is attacked he will come to you."