"Hallo, Jack!" said Ellis; "who taught you to halt before the word is given?"
"Are they going to keep us standing here all day?" said Jack, presently.
"He's as wide awake now to be on the move as he was to stop," laughed Harris.
"Well," said Jack, nervously, "who likes to stand still and be shot at?"
"There's no shooting at us," replied Harris. "When it comes to that, we'll see the fun you talk about."
Fun! Jack's countenance looked like any thing but fun just then.
He gained some confidence by observing the officers coolly giving their orders, and the men coolly executing them, as if nothing of importance had happened, or was expected to happen.
Captain Edney deployed his company, pressing forward into the swamp. Bushes and fallen logs impeded their progress; the mud and water were in places leg-deep; and the men were permitted to pick their way as best they could. Suddenly out of a thicket a bullet came whizzing. Another and another followed. One tore the bark from a tree close by Captain Edney's head.
"Keep cool, boys!" he said; "and aim low."
He then gave the order, "Commence firing!" and the front rank men, halting, poured their volley into the thicket—their first shot at the enemy. Whilst they were reloading, the second rank advanced and delivered their fire.