Thus happily assisted in his decision.  Gerald said, “since, Sir, you leave it optional with me, I think I shall avail myself of your kind offer and accompany Captain Jackson.  It is not a very cheering sight,” he pursued, anxious to assign a satisfactory reason for his choice, “to have constantly before one’s eyes the scene of so signal a discomfiture as that which our arms have experienced this day.”

“And yet,” said Colonel Forrester, “despite of that discomfiture, there was nothing in the conduct of those engaged that should call a blush into the cheek of the most fastidious stickler for national glory.  There is not an officer here present,” he continued, “who is not prepared to attest with myself, that your column in particular behaved like heroes.  By the way, I could wish to know, (but you will use your own discretion in answering or declining the question, recollect,) what was the actual strength of your attacking force?”

“I can really see no objection to a candid answer to your question, Colonel,” returned Gerald, after a moment’s consideration.  “Each division was, I believe, for I cannot state with certainty, little more than two hundred strong, making in all, perhaps, from six hundred to six hundred and fifty men.  In return, may I ask, the number of those who so effectually repulsed us?”

“Why I guess only one hundred and fifty, and most all my volunteers,” somewhat exultingly exclaimed Major Killdeer.

“Only one hundred and fifty men!” repeated Gerald, unable to disguise his vexation and astonishment.

“That ere’s a poser for him,” said the Major, turning and addressing Captain Buckhorn in an undertone, who replied to him with a wink from his nearest eye.

“Even so, Mr. Grantham,” replied the Colonel.  “One hundred and fifty men of all arms, save artillery, composed my force at the moment when your columns crossed the plain.  To-night we muster one hundred and forty nine.”

“Good Heaven!” exclaimed Gerald warming into excitement, with vexation and pique, “what a disgraceful affair.”

“Disgraceful, yes—­but only in as far as regards those who planned, and provided (or rather ought to have provided) the means of attack.  I can assure you, Mr. Grantham, that although prepared to defend my post to the last, when I saw your columns first emerge from the wood, I did not expect, with my small force, to have been enabled to hold the place one hour; for who could have supposed that even a school boy, had such been placed at the head of an army, would have sent forward a storming party, without either fascines to fill a trench, or ladders to ascend from it when filled.  Had these been provided, there can be no doubt of the issue, for, to repulse the attempt at escalade in one quarter, I must have concentrated the whole of my little force—­and thereby afforded an unopposed entrance to the other columns—­or even granting my garrison to have been sufficient to keep two of your divisions in check, there still remained a third to turn the scale of success against us.”