"There! I popped you over, you sneaking rebel!" cried Seth Tucket, watching the effect of his shot. "Take the fellow next to him there, Harris! behind that stump!"
"Let him put up his head a little higher!" said Harris, taking aim.
He fired. The rebel dropped, not behind the stump, but beside it.
"You've saved him!" shouted Tucket. "That'll pay for Ellis and Jack Winch!"
The fire of the enemy in the woods was soon concentrated on Captain Edney's company, which happened to be most exposed.
"Fire and load lying!" rang the captain's voice through the din.
Frank saw those next him throw themselves down behind a fallen tree. He did the same. The trunk presented an excellent rest for his musket, and he fired across it. But when he came to load, he found difficulty. He had been exercised in the manual of arms, yet the operation of ramming the cartridge while on his back was beyond his practice. Give him time, and he could do it. But he felt that time was precious, and that every shot told.
He glanced at Atwater, resting on his left side as he brought his gun back after discharging it; taking out his cartridge; then turning on his back, holding the piece with both hands and placing the butt between his feet; and in that position, with the barrel over his breast, charging cartridge, drawing rammer, and so forth.
All which the tall soldier performed scientifically and quickly. Yet Frank saw that it took even him much longer to load lying than standing. What, then, could he hope to do?
What he did was this. He deliberately got upon his feet, and with the balls singing around him, proceeded unconcernedly with his loading.
"Down!" called Atwater to him; "down! You're making a target of yourself!"
Frank resolutely went on with his loading.
"Down, there! down, Frank!" shouted Captain Edney.
"Never mind that! Down!" repeated his captain, peremptorily.
"I've got my cartridge down, any way," said Frank, triumphantly, dropping again behind the log.
"The orders were to load and fire, and I was bound to obey them before any others!" said Frank, preparing to prime.
Just then Atwater, who was again on his back, suddenly dropped his piece, which fell across his left arm, and brought his right hand to his breast. The movement was so abrupt and unusual it attracted Frank's attention.