“That exit is closed. The enemy has buried there a thousand pounds of dynamite. If our troops pass over it it will explode.”
“Can they blow it up from a distance?”
“Yes, with an electric wire.”
“And can’t we turn back?”
“No; the valley is barricaded in the rear. If we tried it there would be a desperate battle in which every one would be killed or captured from the general to the last soldier.”
“Couldn’t we climb the mountains?”
“They are inaccessible and the enemy occupies the summit. Listen; they are already firing on us.”
We could indeed hear the first guns. The sun had gone down some time ago; the valley was dark. We could see the stars and the flash of powder on the tops of the mountains. Stray balls fell on our unprotected camp. The soldiers were preparing for battle. They were digging trenches and cutting down trees to make defences. All this silently as possible, and in the dark.
I asked the colonel how he knew the exit of the valley was mined.
“Two prisoners told us, deserters from the enemy.”