The news had travelled swiftly that the regiment was ordered to China; and many of the officers and men of other commands close by came in to verify the report, and to say good-by to their friends. Several came to see Gilbert and wish him the best of luck, for he had always been popular.
"I thrust we'll be afther seein' Captain Russell in Manila," said Dan Casey to the young lieutenant. "I wouldn't loike to go away widout sayin' him farewell." Casey and Stummer had both been members of Ben Russell's company of volunteers before joining the regulars.
"Yes, I hope we do see him, and Larry, too," answered Gilbert. "I would give a good deal to have the Russells go along." But this was not to be, as the duty of the Russell boys lay elsewhere.
The colonel of the command was a stickler for military discipline; and promptly at twelve the regiment moved, or at least the two battalions which were located in that neighborhood. The third battalion had gone up in the mountains to the southward, and a special message had been sent to it to rejoin the main command at the earliest opportunity.
