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 and threatened on the north by Santy Annie's twelve thousand."

"What's to be done nixt, wud ye think?"

"Cap'n Lee, of the engineers, made his way back to general headquarters at San Augustine. He got in about eleven o'clock with dispatches—the only officer out of eight that tried to open communication between Smith and Scott. He came all the way from Smith, some four miles across the lava, and through the Mexican scouts—had to feel with hands and knees, for it's black as the inside of your hat, out doors, and raining pitchforks. Smith intends to attack by the rear at daylight, before Santy Annie gets down from up the road; asks for a frontal attack at same time to help him out. So I guess we'll all be in it, for Twiggs 'll need every man."

A little silence fell on the group. Jerry's heart beat rapidly. The situation seemed serious.

"I pity those poor fellows yonder acrost the lava," Sergeant Mulligan uttered. "Hark to the rain, now! It's a crool night. An' they've been marchin' an' fightin' all the long day, an' likely the most of 'em are lyin' out soakin' wet an' hungry besides. Did we lose many, have you heard?"

"Haven't heard exactly, sergeant. The batteries lost fifteen officers and men and thirteen horses. The infantry got off better, for the batteries took the brunt of it. But to-morrow. You see, at San Augustine there are only the Marines and Second Pennsylvania; and here we are. That's the reserve, except the dragoons—and they're no good on the lava. Twiggs has only the Ninth and Twelfth Regulars of Pierce's brigade in Pillow's Third Divi