Gilbert was resting on a bed of boughs he had had a coolie cut for him when, from a distance, he heard a shot, followed by several others in rapid succession. At once he leaped up, and at the same time an alarm sounded throughout the whole camp.
“Something is wrong, that is certain,” came from Ben, and a few minutes later the companies were formed. In the meantime a strong guard plunged into the forest, to learn what the shots meant.
There was an anxious wait, and then it was learned that a body of sixteen Cossacks on horseback had appeared on a ridge overlooking the forest. Unfortunately the Japanese picket in that vicinity had shown himself, and some of the Cossacks had fired on him and he had fired in return. Then of a sudden the Cossacks had disappeared.
It must be confessed that under these circumstances Major Okopa did not know whether to advance or retreat. He waited where he was until night and then made a movement as if to withdraw. This was only, however, a ruse, and at midnight the University Corps went forward at a faster pace than ever.
“We must take some risk, even if we draw on a regular engagement,” said the major to Gilbert.
“Can’t we send spies ahead, major? That might save the battalion from trouble.”
“I’ve thought of doing that towards morning. But I don’t want any detachment to get too far away from our main body.”
“I see. Well, if you send out spies, I hope you’ll let me go with them,” continued the ex-lieutenant of the American regulars.
“Have you ever done such work before?”
“A little.”