"Nothin' yit, but I expect to every minute," replied Shorty, without turning his intent eyes. Si's gun was already cocked, and he bent his head forward eagerly, to get a better view. But he could see nothing, except that the tops of the bushes were shaking.
"Shall we skip back an' report?" asked Si.
"I ain't goin' till I see something," said Shorty, stoutly.
"Nor me," echoed Si, rather ashamed that he had suggested it.
"Steady, there; steady, on the right! Come for ward with that left company," called out a stern voice in front.
"Must be a full regiment in there," whispered Si, craning his neck still farther. The tramping and crashing increased.
"Steady, men, I tell you! Steady! Press on the center," commanded the unseen Colonel. "Forward! Forward!"
In spite of his perturbation, Si noticed that the sounds did not seem to be coming any nearer.
"We must get a squint at 'em," he said, desperately, to Shorty. "Let's git down an' crawl forward. There must be an openin' somewhere."