“Sure! No regular revolutionists would come over the border and act in this fashion.”
“What do you say, Dave––shall we go?”
“I’m willing.”
“No, no! You young fellows had better stay in the camp,” announced Ralph Obray, who overheard the talk. “Just remember that in a certain sense I am responsible for your safety while you are under me.”
“But those others are going,” returned Dave, somewhat reproachfully.
“So they are, Porter. But they are all older than you, and most of them have had experience in this sort of thing. I would rather that you stayed here. Maybe if those raiders come this way we’ll have our hands full defending the camp.”
Dave and Roger realized that for the head of the camp to express his desire in this instance was equal practically to a command; so they at once gave up the idea of following Frank Andrews and 242 the others. The men rode off quickly, and were soon lost to sight in the darkness of the night.
An hour of intense anxiety passed. During that time those left in the camp heard an occasional shot in the distance. Then several shots seemed much closer. There followed some yelling, and, then about five minutes later, came a dull explosion.
“That’s at the bridge!” exclaimed Dave. “They must be trying to blow it up!”
The dull explosion was followed by a sudden rattle of rifle and pistol shots and more yelling. Once or twice some men seemed to come quite near to the construction camp, the hoof strokes of the horses being distinctly heard.