"
"Why?" I stared at him, now thoroughly aroused to the thought that he
had important news to communicate.
"Wal," he explained slowly, "whin ye wint off, I sorter tuk a notion
ter look 'bout a bit. Used ter be an ol' stompin' ground o' mine. So
Dutchy an' me clumb thet big hill back o' whar we halted, an' by gum,
down thar in ther gully on t' other side thar's a durned big camp o'
fellers."
I reined up short, and with uplifted hand signalled the men behind to
halt.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" I questioned sternly. "How many
were there? and what did they look like?"
He scratched the back of his head thoughtfully, and answered with
careful deliberation. "Durn it, I didn't jine ye till after ye'd
started, an' I reckon as how it took me all o' tew mile ter git this
yere blame muel up ter whar I cud talk. Thar's quite a smart bunch, but
they hed some pickets out, an' I cudn't git close 'nough ter tell
zackly. Dutchy thought thar wus nigh onter two hunderd o' 'em, but I
jist don't know. They wusn't dressed like sojers o' either army, an' I
reckon they're out o' ther hills."
I glanced at my little handful of men, scarcely knowing what decision
it might be wise to make. Undoubtedly they would fight if occasion
arose, but the odds were terribly heavy; besides, if Brennan came, and
his party got away that same evening, as was planned for them to do,
then it might not be necessary for us to strike a blow.
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