The officers gave their final orders to the men--no smoking, no talking, no noise, no firing, bayonet only.

As if nothing unusual was occurring, the bugle from the fort sounded the last post.
At the start the pace was for some time good but, after passing Prempeh's palace, the road became a tortuous track and, at every yard, the tall grass became thicker and, here and there, a fallen tree lay across the path.

The dead silence that prevailed rendered every one nervous.

At last they came in sight of the great cotton tree.

Here all halted, and crouched down.
Two leading companies formed up and were awaiting orders when, suddenly, two signal guns were fired and, instantly, the line of timbers was lit up by a glare of fire, and a crashing volley of slugs was poured in.