Yet the fall was by no means a pleasant one, and for a brief instant the young captain of Company D thought that the bottom had dropped out of everything, and that he would surely be killed. He tried to catch hold of something, but all he could reach was the major's shoulder, and then both landed with a thud on the soft dirt left at the bottom of the hole. Ben was the first on his feet, which was not saying much, since the bottom of the opening was not level, and he stood in the soft loam up to his ankles. Shaking himself to find that no bones were broken, he drew a long breath. "Major, are you all right?" he asked. "No--no--I'm not all--all right," came with a gasp. "I've had my wi--wind knocked ou--out of me." "Any bones broken?" "I gue--guess not. But wh--who ever heard of such a con--founded trick?" "I've heard of it several times, major. But we are not as bad off as we might have been had the rebels put some sharp sticks down here to spit us with." "True." Major Morris gave a grunt, and wiped the dirt from his eyes. "Well, I reckon we've learned what their engineering corps was up to." This was said so dryly that in spite of his discomfiture Ben was compelled to laugh. "Yes, we've learned. The question is, now we are down here, how are we going to get out?" "Better make a light and see how deep the hole is first," replied the commander of the first battalion. Fortunately Ben had plenty of matches with him, and striking one, he lit a bamboo stalk and held it up as a torch. By the flickering light thus afforded they saw that the hole was about eight feet wide and twice as long. The level of the road above was fully eight feet over their heads. "Looks as if we were in a box, eh, captain?" said the major, grimly. "We're certainly in a hole," responded Ben. "But I think we can get out without much trouble. I wish we had a spade." "Well, wishing won't bring one, and there is nothing here to take the place of one, either." "Nothing but our hands. Here, if you'll hold the light, I'll see what I can do." "Here is a bit of a flat stick, try that," rejoined Major Morris; and taking the article mentioned, Ben set to work with vigor, attacking one end of the hole by loosening the dirt so that a large portion of it soon fell at their feet. Standing upon the fallen portion he continued his operations, and presently more of the dirt fell, leaving an incline up which both began to scramble on hands and knees. It was not a very dignified thing to do, but it was far better than to remain in the hole, and besides, there was nobody at hand to comment on the want of dignity in the movement. "We are well out of that," began Major Morris, brushing off his clothing as he spoke. "In the future--"