“All right, now,” said I; “look there!”
From the hill we now stood upon a range of lanterns was distinctly visible, stretching away for nearly half a mile.
“There are the trenches; they must be at work, too. See how the lights are moving from place to place! Straight now. Forward!”
So saying, I pressed my horse boldly on.
We had not proceeded many minutes when the sounds of galloping were heard coming along behind us.
“To the right, in the hollow,” cried I. “Be still.”
Scarcely had we moved off when several horsemen galloped up, and drawing their reins to breathe their horses up the hill, we could hear their voices as they conversed together.
In the few broken words we could catch, we guessed that the attack upon San Benito was only a feint to induce Crawfurd to hold his position, while the French, marching upon his flank and front, were to attack him with overwhelming masses and crush him.
“You hear what’s in store for us, O’Malley?” whispered Hampden. “I think we could not possibly do better than hasten back with the intelligence.”
“We must not forget what we came for, first,” said I; and the next moment we were following the horsemen, who from their helmets seemed to be horse-artillery officers.