"I hardly know how to answer you, sir," replied the lieutenant, "for I am as ignorant concerning the enemy's movements as yourself. So far as I know, there is not a soul in yonder village, though but a few minutes ago it was swarming with life."
"What has become of them, then?" demanded the officer, impatiently.
"I do not know, sir."
"You can at least tell in which direction they went."
"No, sir, I cannot even do that; for I did not see them go, nor do I know when they departed."
"Upon my soul, this is a most extraordinary state of affairs!" exclaimed the officer, flushing angrily. "I must confess that I had not heretofore credited you with blindness. Perhaps, sir, you can give us the desired information?" he added, turning to Ralph Boyd.
Upon the young Englishman claiming an equal ignorance with the lieutenant, the irate captain said in a tone of suppressed anger: "This matter shall be investigated at a more convenient time, but at present it seems that we must make discoveries for ourselves. To your places, gentlemen. Forward! Double quick! March!"
With this the line of blue-coated troops advanced swiftly up the slope and charged the empty huts of the deserted village.