The enemy's fire had slackened considerably, and the noise of the projectiles as they struck the wall and roof of the pagoda, sang overhead or clattered through the branches of the banyan, was hardly noticeable when compared to the racket they had kept up a few minutes before. From the hillocks before us only occasional puffs of smoke arose, followed by isolated reports from their rifles.
At his call I went out to our "non-com," who said:
"They seem to be sick of it, and certainly show no disposition to rush us. I wish they would try, Sacré bleu! The ground is too open for them. If we could depend on the linhs—but we can't—we might make a dash for the convoy; without them the odds are too great, so I have decided to withdraw. I will start off with this lot. When we have got away give them a volley to keep them still; and if they show any signs of moving, a little independent firing. Don't be extravagant, though. You understand?"
PAGODA USED FOR AMBUSH.
[See page [139].]
"Yes," I answered. "But you must take that wounded linh; he would hamper me."
"Of course," he replied. "Sacré bon Dieu! I had forgotten the coward. Can he stand?"
"I don't think so."