THE SIEGE OF THE CITY OF PINES The battle was already lost.

From a thousand feet above us swelled the shouts of victory.

The battle was lost, and yet I must fight on.

As swiftly as I could I withdrew those who were left to me to a certain angle in the path, where a score of desperate men might, for a while, hold back the advance of an army.

Here I called for some to stand at my side, and many answered to my call.