“Our company has been pretty well shot to pieces, boys,” the captain began, “but the success of this entire drive of course depends upon the manner in which every unit carries through its especial mission. And ours is a difficult one tonight. The men have been fighting all day, and those who are not dead or wounded are so utterly exhausted that they hardly can be asked or expected to do anything further tonight.” The colonel was gazing at them intently. The captain paused for a moment. The young men remained at rigid attention, waiting to learn what new service or sacrifice lay before them. Tired as they were, they knew that they had rested and slept since other members of the company had, and that they had not endured the awful conflict of the day, under which hundreds of their friends had gone down. And besides, there was something exhilarating and thrilling in receiving some commission directly from the captain, in the presence, and undoubtedly with the approval, of the commander of the regiment. “We are not more than a quarter of a mile from a swift but narrow river,” the captain continued, pointing off to the right, “but we were unable to get further before darkness. Most of the enemy are on the other side, but a strong rear guard is holding the near bank. “To properly lay our plans for the morning it is necessary that we have some definite idea of whether the Germans have decided to make a determined stand here, or whether the main force is retreating beyond the other side of the stream, leaving only this comparatively small guard to harry and delay our advance. “As I have said, our men are exhausted. It is necessary that we send out scouts to reconnoiter. You men already have gone through a great deal that has earned you the respect and admiration and commendation of your officers. Do you feel that you can go forward on the difficult and dangerous mission that I have outlined? I would send John Big Bear with you, but he has been through enough in the last forty-eight hours to kill an ordinary man. Are you men prepared to take up this necessary task?” “We are,” the three young soldiers answered in unison, and at the same instant from out of the darkness behind them came a deep grunt and John Big Bear stepped forward. “Young ’em fellas go; me go, too,” the Indian announced briefly John Big Bear had been listening! The captain swung on him suddenly, his lips already framing a reprimand, when he caught the colonel’s eye. The latter merely gave an almost imperceptible nod of his head, and the captain at once changed his tactics. “John Big Bear,” he announced, as though it had been he instead of the Indian who had decided the question, “you and Sergeant Walton and Harper and Ogden are assigned to report upon the approximate strength of the enemy forces on the opposite bank of the river, and also whether they are preparing to make a stand there, or are moving on.”