"Unsling carbines!" called Langford to his men; and they promptly obeyed the order.
But the baggage guard did not fire; for some one among them seemed to have more sense than the others, and had interposed to prevent a useless sacrifice of life. A dispute followed among them, and the sergeant advanced upon them.
"No more jaw!" interposed Langford. "Start your mules, and go ahead!"
"Where are we going? We ain't no use over there now," said one of the men.
"You are no use anywhere! Start your teams!" added Langford, as he slapped the last speaker with the flat of his sabre. "Shove them along, boys!"
"We ain't goin' over there; we'll turn round and go back where we come from," added the spokesman of the party.
"Are you all idiots?" demanded Langford. "Your wagons are wanted over at the bridge, and that is where you are going."
The troopers soon started the teams with a vigorous use of the flat sides of their sabres. The guardsmen were disposed to resist; but they were vigorously pushed forward, and when a fellow hung back, he was gently pricked with the point of the sharp weapons.
"I believe a good part of these ruffians are idiots, as Langford suggested," said Deck, as he and Artie rode forward. "They don't seem to understand that they are taking part in the war."
"That's so," replied Artie, laughing. "If they find they cannot destroy the bridge, all they have to do is to go back where they came from, and call it square. But Langford has brought them to their senses."