“Stop your talking and laughing!” shouted a voice of authority. “Must we stay here all day? Lazybones, get to work, or I’ll have you knouted!” And then the task of building a temporary bridge was hurried along in silence. Soon the artillery was again on the move and had passed out of sight and hearing.
Losing no time, Gilbert hurried back to where he had left Ben and the horses.
“Come on, the coast is clear, and we have no time to lose,” said he.
“Did you hear anything of importance?”
“I certainly did, Ben,” and the young captain related the particulars.
“We must report this—if we’ve got time to do it,” exclaimed Ben. “Where is this Shan-gow bridge?”
“I haven’t any idea, excepting that it must be between us and General Kuroki’s army.”
“I’ve heard of such things before. Don’t you remember the holes the Tagals in Luzon used to dig?”
“To be sure I do. But they never blew up a bridge with our artillery or soldiers on it.”
“If they did, I don’t remember it. Yes, you are right, we must get back to camp at once and report this.”