CHAPTER XXIX
THE BATTLE NEAR THE FALLS
"We are certainly in for a fight now, Henry!"
It was Dave who spoke, as he examined the priming of his new gun, to make sure that the weapon was ready for use. "That little brush day before yesterday woke the French up, and they will sail into us heavily—if they can," he added.
"Well, we came to fight," returned Henry, as he, too, looked his weapon over. "And I guess we can be thankful, all things considered, that we are here to do them battle and not killed, or laid up as Sam Barringford is."
"I hope Sam pulls through and that quickly."
"The surgeon said he would—if he'll keep quiet for a while. But it's like putting a torch to gunpowder to keep him quiet when there's a scrimmage in sight,—he's such a born fighter."
The two young soldiers were standing behind a breastworks which had been thrown up early that morning. The first works thrown up by the English engineering corps had proved untenable and the
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