"It's a perfect surprise to them! they didn't think we could do it!" cried Gray, elated. "Lively, boys! lively."
The firing, regular at first, running along the line from right to left, soon became a continual rattling, each man loading at will, and firing whenever an enemy's head showed itself.
"There! I popped you over, you sneaking rebel!" cried Seth Tucket, watching the effect of his shot. "Take the fellow next to him there, Harris! behind that stump!"
"Let him put up his head a little higher!" said Harris, taking aim.
He fired. The rebel dropped, not behind the stump, but beside it.
"You've saved him!" shouted Tucket. "That'll pay for Ellis and Jack Winch!"
The fire of the enemy in the woods was soon concentrated on Captain Edney's company, which happened to be most exposed.
"Fire and load lying!" rang the captain's voice through the din.
Frank saw those next him throw themselves down behind a fallen tree. He did the same. The trunk presented an excellent rest for his musket, and he fired across it. But when he came to load, he found difficulty. He had been exercised in the manual of arms, yet the operation of ramming the cartridge while on his back was beyond his practice. Give him time, and he could do it. But he felt that time was precious, and that every shot told.
He glanced at Atwater, resting on his left side as he brought his gun back after discharging it; taking out his cartridge; then turning on his back, holding the piece with both hands and placing the butt between his feet; and in that position, with the barrel over his breast, charging cartridge, drawing rammer, and so forth.