The two men ran back to report to their company what they had seen. At the same moment, the company, being recalled, doubled back to its position in the square.
Here they found the defence work so far advanced that the generals were beginning to feel some confidence in their being able to repel any attack. At the same time the men were working with tremendous energy, for news had just come in that the enemy was advancing in strong force.
Chapter Eighteen.
Wherein are described an Assault, a Furious Fight, and some Strange Personal Encounters.
It was nearly two o’clock in the afternoon when Captain Lacey and his company resumed their place in the square.
About that time an officer of the Berkshire Regiment represented the condition of his men as requiring attention. They certainly did require it, for they had been without food since four o’clock that morning, and were consequently in urgent need of provender as well as rest and water—the last having been all consumed.
As it was imperative that the work should go on, it was found necessary to serve out food by wings.
Accordingly, the men of one half-battalion received rations and water, and were then sent to their zereba with the Gardner guns, while the other half, still lying in reserve by their piled arms, received their rations.