It may be that he can hurry up the reinforcements, or that they may be already on their way.

Even a few hundreds would be better than none.

At least he should know our need." Fritz was ready in a moment to take the message, but he had small hope of any result, and he saw that the brave Colonel had little either.

General Webb was a man upon whose courage and generalship several aspersions had already been cast.

If ever he was to regain confidence and show these aspersions to be untrue, this was the time to show himself in his true colours.