Part 12 (2/2)
”Sure, an' this is fightin' wid a vengeance,” said the Irish volunteer, srimly ”It's sthuck we are like flies on a fly paper, eh, Captain Russell?”
”We've got to get out somehow, Casey,” answered Ben, half desperately
”Our co farther and farther away, and we'll have all we can do to get up to them”
”Sure thin, an' Major Morris betther send a detail back wid a long rope to pull us out We couldn't fly from the inimy noe thried, could we?”
”This is no joke, Casey”
”Joke, bedad? No, captain, I'hty sarious difficulty But there's no use av cryin', no matther how bad it is,”
finished the Irish soldier, philosophically
Ahe could do was to go back part of the distance they had come, and make an endeavor to cross the little stream at another point
They retreated with difficulty, first one sinking into some treacherous hole and then the other Once Casey went flat on his back, and gave a loud yell of dismay when he found himself covered with aelse
”Sure, an' I'll not go in such a cane-field again, bedad,” he un he had dropped As he did so a cracking of cane-stalks near thehten up in alarm
”Who comes?” cried Ben, and drew the pistol he had shoved into his belt
There was no answer and he repeated the demand ”Are you Americans?”
he added
Still there was no reply But the cracking of the stalks continued, and the sounds see of a circle Then ca dialect At once Dan Casey clutched Ben by the arm
”They be afther surroundin' us, captain,” he whispered ”Be the noises there ht or run fer it?”
CHAPTER XIV
SURROUNDED BY THE ENEMY
For thehi the would have answered the young captain of Company D had they been Aerous in the extreiving shelter to the eneals could see the volunteers with ease
”Keep quiet, Casey,” whispered Ben, as the soldier started to speak again ”They may not knoan ambush”
The Irish volunteer nodded to show that he understood He was holding his gun before him, ready to shoot whenever it appeared necessary
Presently there was another whispered coht movement in the cane-brake followed, and then all became silent once more
”Come!” whispered Ben ”Don't fire until you see me do so”