"That's where Jerry wants them to stay. He was afraid they might take a notion to light out during the night."
Singleton rode back and again all was quiet. The Federals lay sleeping, their guns in their hands and revolvers by their sides. It would take but a word to bring them to attention.
About four o'clock the trampling of horses told the guerrillas were coming. In a whisper the word was passed and in an instant every man was alert. But the guerrillas halted some distance from the main road and only three rode forward. They were Jerry, Stevens and Billy.
"How is it, Sergeant?" asked Jerry as they came up.
"As quiet as a churchyard. Hayden and Singleton are down the road watching if the Yanks move. I have Singleton report every hour. There he comes now."
Singleton rode up. "The Yanks are beginning to stir," he reported. "They are building fires, no doubt to make coffee. It makes my mouth water to think of coffee."
"You men will have coffee enough before long, but there'll be a lot of blood spilling first," said Jerry.
"Sergeant, what time was it when you reached this post?" he asked suddenly.
"I should say somewhere near midnight," answered the Sergeant.
"Then the Yankees could have moved before you got here. Stevens, I thought I told you to have this cross-roads guarded and the Yankee camp watched as soon as we decided to attack. Slow, as usual. If this thing goes wrong, you pay for it."