"You know, Captain, it was eleven o'clock before I received orders to post the guard," said Stevens uneasily.
"Well, we have no time to lose now. Go back, have the force moved into the field and see that instructions are carried out to the letter. Sergeant, you call in your men and join the force."
While these orders were being carried out Jerry and Billy lingered a minute looking over the field. "Couldn't be a better place for an ambuscade," said Jerry. "If the Yanks ride into it, not a man will come out alive."
"Hark!" suddenly exclaimed Billy.
"What is it?" asked Jerry, startled.
"I thought a heard a horse stamping."
"It's Hayden and Singleton coming in from guard."
"No, it was over there to the left, in the bushes. I'm sure I heard it."
Both gazed anxiously into the bushes, as if to pierce the secret they contained.
Harry's heart stood still; was the ambuscade to be discovered at the last minute? But the wind had risen, and nothing was heard but the rustling of the leaves.