CHAPTER XI

THE CROSSING OF THE RIO GRANDE RIVER

"For gracious' sake, what did we want to retreat for?" demanded Ben, as soon as the command halted and Major Morris had come within speaking distance. The young captain had been at the very front of the firing line, and had seen that complete victory was only the work of a quarter of an hour or less.

"Orders from general headquarters," replied the major, in a low tone. "I fancy the staff is pretty angry, too," he added.

"We could have whipped them with ease."

"So we could, captain, but--" And Major Morris finished with a shrug of his shoulders which meant a good deal.

"I don't believe General Otis would have given such an order had he been here to see what was going on," continued Ben, earnestly.

"Well, we're ordered back to Angat, and that is all there is to it. The army must have supplies, you know."

"Hang the supplies!" muttered Gilmore, but under his breath. "We can get all the supplies we want as we go along." And Ben was rather inclined to agree with him.

There was no help, however, for the turn in the situation; and with crestfallen faces the soldiers moved still further back and went into temporary camp. Only a few had suffered, and the wounded ones were promptly cared for by the hospital corps.

"And how do you feel?" asked Gilbert, as he came up to see Ben. "Does the wound hurt still?"

1. Where the fighters happy about what was happening?
2. What was happening?
3. What weren't they happy about?
4. Why?
5. Why weren't they happy about it?
6. Where were they retreating to?
7. Who confronted the leader to ask why they retreated?
8. What was the leader's name?
9. Who was the leader?
10. Who was the leader on the field?
11. Was he old?
12. Where had he been during the fight?
13. How much long before they would have won?
14. Did the leader also think they could have won?
15. What gesture did he give in response to the whole thing?
16. How many had been injured?
17. What happened to them?
18. Were they taken care of?
19. Who shows concern for Ben?
20. Does he imply that Ben was injured?

Provide a numbered list of answers.
1. no
2. THE CROSSING OF THE RIO GRANDE RIVER
3. retreat
4. Orders from general headquarters
5. could have whipped them
6. Angat
7. Ben
8. no
9. General Otis
10. Major Morris
11. no
12. front of the firing line
13. hour or less
14. yes
15. shrug of his shoulders
16. a few
17. wounded
18. yes
19. Gilbert
20. yes