“If you’ll allow me to make a suggestion, major—” began Ben.
“Make a dozen, captain.”
“Why not take a course to the left then.”
“For what reason?”
“There is a big rock on that side, on the very top of the hill.”
“But we can’t climb that rock.”
“No, and neither can the rebels fire over it with their field-pieces. When we get up to the rock we can march around it.”
“Well spoken, Russell—you’re a born strategist,” cried the major, who was too generous to 197 have any ill feeling because somebody offered him a suggestion. “We’ll go that way.” And he immediately gave necessary orders.
But the advance was by no means easy, and soon the battalion found itself under such a galling fire that the men were glad enough to seek the shelter of every rock and bush which came handy. The battery could not do everything, and afraid of having his pieces taken from him, the captain had called upon several companies of the Filipinos to assist him in maintaining his position.
“Down!” suddenly shouted Gilbert Pennington, and down went the men, and the next instant a shell burst directly over their heads.