“Nonsense, Diana. Your presence here shows that you’re on our side, but you can do no good with us. Depart while you may. They are almost within gunshot.”
“I am going with you,” said Diana, firmly. “If it is a mere matter of fast riding, I can ride too.”
“But you may escape by going the other way,” objected Schuyler.
“Which I shall not do,” she said. “I’ve taken a fancy to see what you soldiers call a battle, and you can not stop me, so you may as well attend to your men.”
The hussar shrugged his shoulders, and turned away to his followers, just as several white puffs of smoke came from the enemy’s skirmishers, followed by the thump, thump, of two or three bullets, tearing up the earth around them. The horses began to fidget, and the faces of the men were somewhat uneasy. Adrian saw that they must be encouraged at once, or possibly desert in confusion.
He drew his sword and threw back the dripping cloak from his arm, while he spoke to the rangers.
“Men,” he said, “it’s time we were doing something. Never flinch from a few bullets at long range. Those fellows are firing to no purpose. Fall in, and deploy as skirmishers.”
The rangers promptly obeyed the order. Adrian knew that in times of danger, men should be occupied, and he insisted on his line being formed in perfect order, even when the bullets began to whistle unpleasantly near. The longer the men were exposed to a harmless fire, the greater grew their confidence, and contempt for the enemy. As soon as the line was formed, the hussar gave the signal to fall back, which, as he anticipated, provoked a loud yell, and rattling volley from the enemy, who took the run in their eagerness. The rangers retired at a slow trot, the hussar keeping in the rear and watching his foe keenly, till he saw that the rapid motion was producing the desired effect.
The excited enemy were firing wild.
“Halt!” he suddenly shouted. “Face about, lads! We’ve gone far enough. Now, follow me, and charge!”