"Let 'em come," said the first speaker. "Take shelter behind trees or rocks, and make sure of every head that peeps out of the woods."
The men, about fifty in number, sprang to cover. The officer in command, chancing to look around, saw Crazy Joe, still spell-bound with wonder.
"Hey, fellow," he cried, "what are you doing there?"
"Nothing," said Joe.
"Well, then, come here and I'll give you something to do."
Joe obeyed. One look in his face was enough to betray the poor fellow's weakness.
The lieutenant knew that he was crazy, but, reckless of what the poor fellow's fate might be, he pointed to the musket Joe had laid on the rocks, and said:
"Pick that up, get behind those rocks, and when I say 'Fire!' shoot at the men you see coming from those trees."
Joe knew nothing else to do, but obey, little dreaming of the dread consequences that were to follow.
"What do you expect that crazy chap to do?" asked a soldier, as he rammed a ball down his rifle.