That Lawrence and Dan had fixed up that bit of strategy was evident, for just as darkness was closing in, Lawrence ordered the scouts to stop long enough to gather a good feed of corn for their horses, from a near-by field. Then they rode on and camped in a wood, some little distance from the road.
"The guerrillas will not now attack us until some time in the night," he said, "thinking to surprise us."
He gave orders for the horses to be tethered a little distance in the rear of the camp, where they would be sheltered. "Hitch them so you can loose them in a twinkling, if it becomes necessary," he ordered.
Then he told the men they might build a fire, make some coffee, and roast some corn, if they wished.
"Had we not better dig a hole for the fire, and screen it with blankets?" suggested one of the men. "A light might give us away."
"Just what I want it to do," answered Lawrence, to the astonishment of all but Dan and Harry.
Lawrence then explained to his men his plan: "The guerrillas will attack us some time during the night, thinking to surprise us. I want the surprise the other way. Therefore I propose to camp as if we were unconscious of danger. The fire is to be left, not too bright, but smouldering enough to give a little light. Each man of you is to prepare a dummy. A log with a blanket around it will do. These will be placed in a row a short distance from the fire. In the dim light they will look exactly like a row of sleeping men. Last of all, we will fix a dummy sentinel, leaning against a tree as if asleep.
"We will all lie down a little to one side in the bush. Then, when the guerrillas charge on the supposed sleeping camp, give it to them. If things go wrong, each man make for his horse, and get away the best he can. Make for Mexico."
These instructions were obeyed implicitly, and soon the camp was buried in apparent slumber.
To make sure they were right, the guerrillas had inquired at the first house they passed, and were told that a small party of men had passed but a short time before.