"Yes; full magazines."
As silently as possible the men of the little searching party slipped back the bolts of their pieces and loaded.
"Go ahead, Overton," whispered Captain Cortland.
Just behind Soldier Hal stepped the company commander himself, watching every footstep in order not to step on any loose stone that might sound a premature alarm.
Yet one man among them slipped and made a noise. It was trifling, but almost instantly a whistle sounded ahead.
Without even thinking to wait for orders Hal returned the whistle.
"That you, Tip?" called the voice of an invisible man. "Good for you, lad. We thought you was a goner."
Hal did not answer further, for Captain Cortland broke in:
"Rush 'em, men! We've got 'em."
"Ho! The blazes you have!" sounded a rough voice ahead. "Come on, boys—it's the sojers! Give it to 'em!"