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" gracious' sake, what did we want to retreat for?" demanded Ben, as soon as the command halted and Major Morris had come within speaking distance. The young captain had been at the very front of the firing line, and had seen that complete victory was only the work of a quarter of an hour or less.

"Orders from general headquarters," replied the major, in a low tone. "I fancy the staff is pretty angry, too," he added.

"We could have whipped them with ease."

"So we could, captain, but—" And Major Morris finished with a shrug of his shoulders which meant a good deal.

"I don't believe General Otis would have given such an order had he been here to see what was going on," continued Ben, earnestly.

"Well, we're ordered back to Angat, and that