I could not doubt that Dr. Fu-Manchu was set upon the removal

advantage to the enemy in case of our defeat, but our own safety

demanded the hazard. All along our attenuated line the fighting was

now sharp, and the enemy's firing indicated such numerical strength

that fear of disaster to Alger increased my anxiety terribly as the

time set for his cheering arrived and no sound of it was heard.

Relying, however, on the fact that Beene's knowledge of the roads

would prevent his being led astray, and confident of Alger's

determination to accomplish the purpose for which he set out, as soon