Too, the clothes seemed new.
These troops had apparently been going forward with caution, their rifles held in readiness, when the youthful lieutenant had discovered them and their movement had been interrupted by the volley from the blue regiment.

From the moment's glimpse, it was derived that they had been unaware of the proximity of their dark-suited foes or had mistaken the direction.

Almost instantly they were shut utterly from the youth's sight by the smoke from the energetic rifles of his companions.

He strained his vision to learn the accomplishment of the volley, but the smoke hung before him.
The two bodies of troops exchanged blows in the manner of a pair of boxers.

The fast angry firings went back and forth.