"But this is your regiment, isn't it?"
"Well, yes. It's part of it."
Just then a young captain came running up from the front, and cried out to his major:
"Major, we're having a hard time of it there. Won't you come up and take charge? I'm afraid they'll force us back."
"No," said the major, "I won't. I'm going back there to that last village. It's a much better place to defend. Besides I'm not feeling well. You fellows can stay here if you like. I shan't order the regiment back, but I'll go back and get ready for them there. We ought to have trenches there, you know," and he got up and walked rapidly off down the road. The captain turned to Sam.
"I beg your pardon, captain," said he, "but what are we to do? Our officers have given out, and we're a new regiment and haven't any experience. Won't you take command?"
Sam was by no means satisfied in his mind that he would behave much better than the major, but here was an opportunity that he could not afford to lose.
"I'll see what I can do," said he. "Let's see what the orders are."
He opened the document and saw that it was a direction to keep on to the front until they arrived before the town of San Diego, which they were to assault and capture.
"Show me where your men are," said Sam. "Who have you got there?"