"Ten minutes," he muttered. "Well, we'll hold it that long, but afterwards I can't be held accountable, there will be none of us left."
In the basement Chester and his five men still were unmarked. Though they had stood at the small windows and fired at whatever German forms came within view, they had had little work to do, the men were beginning to murmur among themselves.
"We're not needed down here," said one. "We should be upstairs where the fighting is being done. No Germans will seek to come in here."
"That's right," said another, "we might do some good above. Here we are doing nothing at all. Why, we have hardly seen a German. I don't believe any of the enemy have spotted this opening yet, either."
"Nor I; wish they had let me stay upstairs."
"What's all this?" demanded Chester, suddenly. "You men have been in the ranks long enough to know better than to question your officers' orders. You have been posted here and here you shall remain until I get orders to the contrary."
"But, sir," said one of the men, "we would like—"
"Silence!" said Chester. "Back to your places."
The men obeyed, though they continued to murmur. Chester softened a few minutes later and again addressed his men.
"I have no doubt you fellows will have all the fighting you want before this thing is over," he said quietly. "As nearly as I can make out from here the men upstairs must be about done for. I question whether they will be able to beat off another attack."