He shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing.
That same night the colonel and one of his lieutenants stole out of the
trenches, and by the help of a pitch-dark, windy night, got under the
bastion unperceived, and crept round it, and made their observations,
and got safe back. About noon down came General Raimbaut.
"Well, colonel, you are to have your way at last. Your bastion is to
be stormed this afternoon previous to the general assault. Why, how is
this? you don't seem enchanted?"
"I am not."
"Why, it was you who pressed for the assault."
"At the right time, general, not the wrong. In five days I undertake to
blow that bastion into the air. To assault it now would be to waste our
men."
General Raimbaut thought this excess of caution a great piece
of perversity in Achilles. They were alone, and he said a little
peevishly,--
"Is not this to blow hot and cold on the same thing?"
"No, general," was the calm reply. "Not on the same thing. I blew hot
upon timorous counsels; I blow cold on rash ones. General, last night
Lieutenant Fleming and I were under that bastion; and all round it.
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