MILITARY AD VENTURES. 61 



little mountain guns soon put in position ; 

 thus, when the enemy thought our guns 

 were miles in rear, they were bewildered 

 at finding a couple of shells bursting in 

 the midst of them, and knocking perhaps 

 half a dozen of them over before they 

 had time to escape. We often managed 

 this at the beginning of the campaign, 

 but after a little they became too cunning, 

 and carefully avoided us if our party 

 consisted of more than half a dozen. 



But to return to my story. We allowed 

 the troops two days rest to get their arms 

 and accoutrements put in order, and 

 rubbed up ; besides, the horses and mules 

 required rest and shoeing, and the pack 

 saddles restuffing. 



On the third morning the whole force 

 started off, leaving only a sergeant's 

 guard to take care of the camp, and such 



