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Rh crack! with their Mausers. Evidently they did not intend to give ground without a bitter struggle.

Presently Ben's company reached a stone wall which ran at right angles to the church. The wall was joined to a stone shed, and there was a second wall reaching to the rear door of the church itself.

"Be careful, boys," said the young captain. "Don't take too much for granted. Those rebels may be planning a surprise."

He had hardly spoken, when several reports rang out, and the bullets hit the stone wall just in front of the captain and his men. Only the gun barrels of the enemy were visible, and the Americans did not, therefore, return the shots.