“Failure of the rear movement, cease firing ordered from the front,” said the major quietly. “Now we shall have time to repair damages.”
“Ah, major,” cried the captain, “if I could only be as cool as you!” and he wrung his hand.
“My dear Strong, you are a regular lion,” replied the major. “You were getting hard pressed there.”
“And you were as calm as if nothing were the matter.”
“Way to win, my dear sir: way to win; but I say, between ourselves, things were looking ugly just then.”
“I believe you saved us—you,” said Morgan.
“Humph!” replied the major. “It’s my belief, sir, that if those scoundrels had not let themselves be damped by the failure of the plan, and had kept on, we should have been all prisoners by now. Or—”
“I understand you,” said the captain gravely. “Well, we must still hope.”