"I have found the enemy," he said quietly. "Come, men, I shall show them to you."
All dismounted, and Hal led the way, Stubbs following protestingly. At the edge of the woods Hal stopped, and, taking Stubbs by the arm, led him forward.
"There," he said, pointing, "is the enemy; and I don't believe they chased you very far."
Stubbs looked and gasped, then mumbled:
"I wonder, I wonder—"
For the objects upon which his eyes rested, the movements of which had sent him scurrying down the road in fear for his life, were nothing more than a drove of about a dozen sheep, which, thrashing about in the field, had led Stubbs to suspect the presence of the Germans.
Stubbs, after the one look, turned and strode majestically to where the horses had been left. The laughter of the troopers rankled in his ears and his face was a dull red. He was mounted when Hal, Chester and the others returned.
"Stubbs," said Hal, as they rode forward again, "you could have whipped all those fellows yourself."
"Well," replied Stubbs, "they might have been Germans."
He lapsed into silence.