As Major Okopa fell Gilbert ran into the farmhouse, with Ben upon his heels. They saw a man disappearing into an inner apartment, and rushing forward Gilbert tripped him up. Then came a shot through a window, and Ben fired at the Russian who had aimed it, and the enemy fell in the grass outside. In the meantime the rest of the detachment went after some Russians and Chinese in the barn, and a fierce hand-to-hand struggle ensued.
With the major seriously, if not mortally wounded, the command of the detachment fell upon Gilbert, and as quickly as he could he called his men together, and placed them behind a corn-crib which commanded a view both of the house and the barn. One man had been killed, and, among the Russians and Chinese, three were badly wounded.
“I think there are about three Chinese and about nine or ten Russians,” said Ben, after the first excitement was over, and they had done what they could for the major. “The Chinese do not amount to much as fighters, but those Russians appear to know their business.”
“I reckon we can show them that we know ours,” replied Gilbert dryly.
“What you propose to do?”
“Shoot them down as soon as they show themselves.”
“Perhaps they won’t show themselves.”
“Yes they will. Just look there!”
As the young captain spoke he pointed to a spot between the barn and the house. Here were piled some dry cornstalks. In some unaccountable manner the cornstalks had caught fire, and a stiff breeze that was blowing was sending the sparks flying in all directions.
“Good. I hope the sparks set fire to the barn,” cried Ben, and hardly had he uttered the words when the roof and one side of the structure, which was very dry, burst into flames. The smoke rolled into the barn, and those inside had to either come out or be burned like rats in a trap.