98 The Rough Riders 



heads, and then it ceased entirely. When we ar- 

 rived at the buildings, panting and out of breath, 

 they contained nothing but heaps of empty car- 

 tridge-shells and two dead Spaniards, shot through 

 the head. 



The country all around us was thickly forested, 

 so that it was very difficult to see any distance in 

 any direction. The firing had now died out, but I 

 was still entirely uncertain as to exactly what had 

 happened. I did not know whether the enemy had 

 been driven back or whether it was merely a lull 

 in the fight, and we might be attacked again; nor 

 did I know what had happened in any other part of 

 the line, while as I occupied the extreme left, I was 

 not sure whether or not my flank was in danger. 

 At this moment one of our men who had dropped 

 out, arrived with the information (fortunately 

 false) that Wood was dead. Of course, this meant 

 that the command devolved upon me, and I hastily 

 set about taking charge of the regiment. I had 

 been particularly struck by the coolness and cour- 

 age shown by Sergeants Dame and Mcllhenny, and 

 sent them out with small pickets to keep watch in 

 front and to the left of the left wing. I sent other 

 men to fill the canteens with water, and threw the 

 rest out in a long line in a disused sunken road, 

 which gave them cover, putting two or three wound- 

 ed men, who had hitherto kept up with the fighting- 



