“That suits me,” cried Gilbert. And Ben echoed the sentiment.
Soon after that the soldiers were set to work packing their belongings. The stores of the commissary department were taken care of by twenty-odd coolies and a score of Korean donkeys and ponies. Many of the stores were in big, square boxes, and it was a queer sight to see a donkey or pony coming along with a big box strapped on each side, and perhaps another on top of him. Behind the animal would trot a coolie, carrying another box, or a big package, on his shoulders.
“Those coolies are no better than slaves,” declared Gilbert.
“That is true,” said Major Okopa. “But they are as faithful as anybody you can imagine.”
It was known for a fact that the Russians had some troops at Chong-ju, so the advance through the mountains had to be made with caution. The Russian command was composed of six squadrons of Cossacks, under General Mischenko,—as daring a set of cavalrymen as ever existed.
“We’ve got to keep our weather eye open for those Cossacks,” said Gilbert, while on the march that evening. “It would be a fine thing if they should surround us and cut off our retreat.”
“It will be our own fault if we allow them to do it,” returned Ben.
The battalion was now perfectly drilled, and each man could shoot fairly well. Because so many of the soldiers had been students the command had been nicknamed the University Corps, and this name clung to it throughout the entire campaign. Among the privates and under-officers not only Gilbert, but also Ben, had made many friends.
No rest was taken until almost daybreak, and then the battalion went into temporary camp between two hills, where a dense wood cut off the view from nearly every side. The spot was practically in the heart of a Korean forest, with a small stream flowing silently at the base of the hills. There had been a footbridge over the stream, but the recent freshet had carried the timbers away.
All were tired out after a tramp of many miles, and glad to rest on any sort of bed that came handy. The place was picketed with care, and then all became quiet.