Colonel Jim cast one hurried glance round him. “If we had axes,” he said, “we could make a barricade, and keep them at bay until we could send for reinforcements. As it is, I’m afraid we must clear out.”
“What, and leave my sister-in-law shut up there!” exclaimed Wooden’s aunt. “Never! If nobody else stays, I shall. I’ve got a sharp pair of nails, and I can give them a few scratches.”
Now, this was plucky of Wooden’s aunt, and loyal too. She had only mentioned Wooden’s mother, but no doubt she had had the Queen in her mind as well. But she had left out of account the military situation, not knowing much about that sort of thing, and her opinion could not be allowed to stand against that of Colonel Jim, who was quite as brave as she was, but knew when there was a chance of fighting successfully and when it was better to retreat.
“We shall have to go,” he said decidedly. “If they take us prisoners we can’t do any more good, but if we get back to Dolltown we can bring out reinforcements and take the fort. To horse, all of you!”
The wooden soldiers were now about halfway across the stretch of open country. They were not running so fast now, as they must have got rather winded with their first effort, but more and more of them were coming out of the fort, and it was quite plain that the little band in the wood would have no possible chance against them.
They untied the horses and ponies, and were just preparing to mount, when Wooden’s aunt said, “Hark! I heard a shout.”
She turned towards the interior of the wood, and they all listened. Yes, there was somebody shouting, and they heard the noise of a horse galloping furiously, besides. In a moment there came into sight, among the trees—who do you think? None other than Peggy’s faithful old Teddy.
XVII
THE BATTLE
Teddy galloped up to them and threw himself off his horse. One glance at the advancing wave of wooden soldiers showed him what the position was. There was no time to explain what he had been doing. Every moment was of value. “There’s cavalry and infantry coming up,” he said to Colonel Jim. “We can make a stand here. Better send one of your men back to hurry up the guns.”