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 Mexican gunners? An' they'll be killin' their own men, wance we're inside the walls. Then wid the fut o' the hill cleared, we can march up all the 'asier, in case such be the orders."

"How many Mexicans this time, I wonder?"

"Well, the ingineers an' Ould Fuss an' Feathers, not to spake o' Gin'ral Worth himself, haven't discovered many, for all their reconnoiterin' the long day. Seems like there are cannon in the mill, an' in that ramshackle Casa-Mata; an' a line o' breastworks are connectin' the two. But scarce a sign o' much of a supportin' force of infantry. An' I'm thinkin' that by an 'arly mornin' attack we'll walk in after the fust scrimmage. Annyhow, we'll get our orders; an' it's soon to bed, for me, an' a bit o' sleep."

Jerry managed to get over to the Eighth Infantry and find Hannibal; a rather sober Hannibal.

"Couldn't see you before," said Hannibal. "I've been on detail. But you know now; we're to take the Mill and Casa-Mata. Three o'clock in the morning is the hour, and no reveille. So good-by and good luck, if we don't meet up again."

"Why's that. Will it be much of a fight, you think, Hannibal?"

"I dunno. But I'm in the storming column—five hundred picked troops from all the regiments. We charge first and break the center. Major Wright, of the Eighth, commands. About half the Eighth is chosen. The Eighth is General Worth's own regiment, you see, and he knows what we can do."

"Maybe I can get in it, too," Jerry blurted.

"Don't think so. The First Brigade has only seven hundred and fifty men; the Second had eleven