“Then perhaps I’ll let you go, since you desire it.”
Another halt was made at three o’clock in the morning. They were now at a point where the road forked, that to the left leading to the mountain pass, and that on the right to one of the mountain tops. The trail was a narrow one, hardly fit for anything but men on foot or horseback.
After a brief discussion it was decided to send out two detachments, one under Gilbert and another under Ben. Gilbert was to take the trail leading to the mountain top and at sunrise get the best view possible of the situation. Ben was to hunt for the Cossacks, but not to engage them unless it could not be helped.
The work just suited Gilbert, and it was not long before he was on the way, accompanied by eight men from his company whom he knew he could trust implicitly.
It was still dark, but the road was a fairly straight one up the hills and not difficult to follow. The detachment went in single file, and each man had his weapon ready for use.
“Do not shoot unless it is necessary,” said Gilbert, and the men under him knew that the American officer meant just what he said. Gilbert never issued an order twice, consequently his men did not look for it.
For fully an hour the detachment climbed one hill and then another. Occasionally they passed the huts of some Koreans, but if the inhabitants were anywhere about they did not show themselves. They knew it would be useless to apply to any of the natives for information, for whatever might be told to them could not be relied upon.
Presently they began the ascent of the mountain proper. Here the trail was more difficult and progress was, consequently slow. There was a cliff to pass, narrow and dangerous, and then a series of rocks around which the trail ran in serpentine fashion.
So far there had been nothing in the way of an alarm, but now, from a great distance, came two shots, followed, after an interval of several minutes, by half a dozen others. Gilbert at once called a halt.
“Satmo, what do you think? where did those shots come from?” he asked of a sharpshooter trudging behind him.