Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/51

Rh both of us however continued to peer through our glasses until I judged the nearest machines were about two miles off, at which range our shot should tell with effect, when I motioned to my companion and said, "Now!"

A deep-voiced oath from Gell made me turn sharply round. Where were the men? Not one left in the position where I had placed them. Poor cowards! Taking advantage of our long and anxious watch, they had silently slunk away, man by man, dropped their arms, and now were running in utter panic across the bridge that protected the town. Yes, and the officers too. I promised myself that if ever I got hold of those wretches it would not be my fault if they were not tried by drum-head court-martial, backed against a wall, and shot by a file of their own men, too good a fate for such curs.

I believe I turned white with passion, but was too utterly angry to give vent to any oath or invective. On the contrary I looked at my comrade and said icily, "Dear me, Gell, it is a great pity for you to stay here. Pray run away, if you wish to. Don't mind me. I should run too, only I have got a stitch