The beggars are building a wall, now."
"Where?"
"Between us and the bastion."
"Show me."
"I can't, colonel; the moon has gone in; but I did see it."
"How long was it?"
"About a hundred yards."
"How high?"
"Colonel, it was ten feet high if it was an inch."
"Have you good sight?"
"La! colonel, wasn't I a bit of a poacher before I took to the bayonet?"
"Good! Now reflect. If you persist in this statement, I turn out the
brigade on your information."
"I'll stand the fire of a corporal's guard at break of day if I make a
mistake now," said Dard.
The colonel glided away, called his captain and first lieutenants, and
said two words in each ear, that made them spring off their backs.
Dard, marching to an fro, musket on shoulder, found himself suddenly
surrounded by grim, silent, but deadly eager soldiers, that came pouring
like bees into the open space behind the battery. The officers came
round the colonel.
"Attend to two things," said he to the captains. "Don't fire till they
are within ten yards: and don't follow them unless I lead you.
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