This being made known to Serge, he laughed softly.
“There, you’ll see how our generals will carry to-day’s work out, my lad. That’s it: Cracis has calculated upon its being like this, and this place will be instead of a retreat a masterly scheme which will end this war.”
“How?” said Marcus.
“How? Why, in the way your father has arranged. You’ll see that when we advance the general will throw out two wings to secure the little hollows by which the Gauls have been advancing, till he has got round them, and then, and then only, he will advance his centre. Do you see?”
“Not quite,” said Marcus, “though I am trying to follow you.”
“Well, I should have thought you would have been soldier enough to have seen what would follow.”
“A desperate fight?” said Marcus.
“Most likely, boy; but don’t you see what will happen then?”
“A horrible slaughter, Serge,” said Marcus, excitedly.
“Perhaps, boy, but it may happen that when the enemy finds how he has been out-manoeuvred and that he is trapped he may surrender.”