Of late, the colonel had often visited this mine in person.

He seemed a little uneasy about something in that quarter; but no one knew what: he was a silent man.

The third evening, after he dismounted Long Tom, he received private notice that an order was coming down from the commander-in-chief to assault the bastion.

He shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing.
That same night the colonel and one of his lieutenants stole out of the trenches, and by the help of a pitch-dark, windy night, got under the bastion unperceived, and crept round it, and made their observations, and got safe back.

About noon down came General Raimbaut.
"Well, colonel, you are to have your way at last.