began his tale.
38 "I withdrew only a short distance," he answered, "waiting to see
what was going to happen, when through my glass I saw you rallying
outside
the enemy's range. Then, as I turned my glass on the enemy, I saw him
making a tremendous error! He was starting to move his guns forward, to
bring them to bear on you, but he was moving all of his guns at once,
leaving none to cover him.
39 'This is our chance! ' I told my men. 'We can move three times as
fast as they can, we can be before them, and firing, before they can
use their pieces!'
40 Turning to my assistant, Bright Blossom Boar, I told her, 'Take two
of our guns. Go to that high ground and rake the rear of the enemy's
column. Take all our cluster shot and air burst.'
41 She looked at me with tears in her eyes. 'Sir,' she objected, 'you
are after their ammunition bearers, aren't you?'
42 I understood her pity. These young boys the enemy used to carry
ammunition for their soldiers were not a pleasant target. 'I desire it
no more than you,' I told her, 'but if they have no ammunition they
can't shoot our people.'
43 Without another word she exchanged shot with the other pieces and
hurried off. Then, we rolled. We came out before the enemy, unhitched,
and were loading before they even saw us.
44 'Fire for the middle batteries,' I told my people. ‘'til you get
your range. Then, if you overshoot you'll get the ones behind. If you
fall short, you'll get the ones in front. Don't waste a round.'
45 Our first volley took eight of them and blew some of their powder.
Our second took five