“It was a surprise, no doubt of it,” returned Gilbert, but he did not dream of the still greater surprise in store for them.
Less than a mile was covered when they heard a noise to their left. At first they imagined it was a band of Russians, and thought to seek shelter, but then they came upon a small body of Japanese soldiers, two companies in all, also bound for the camp.
“We’ve been on special outpost duty,” said the officer in command, to Gilbert. “We have seen nothing of the enemy.”
He was much surprised to learn of what had occurred, and readily consented to go after those who had caused the trouble. The two companies were separated, one to return to the camp with those who had been wounded, and the other to go on the hunt for the fleeing enemy.
Gilbert and Ben went with the latter command, taking two of their own soldiers with them.
“I don’t know if this is a good move or not,” said Gilbert. “But I should like to round up the fellows who knocked over poor Major Okopa.”
“That’s exactly the way I look at it,” answered Ben. “And, for all we know, those rascals may be the very spies we want. You can depend upon it, they weren’t so close to our lines for nothing.”
The march was in the direction of the cornfield. Here the trail was soon struck. It led to the northwest, over a slight rise of ground and then along a small brook, into which it disappeared.
“I hope we have not lost it,” was Gilbert’s comment, as all came to a halt in perplexity.
But the trail was not so easily missed. Getting down close to the water, several of the Japanese soldiers made an examination which would have done credit to an Indian. Soon they announced that the trail led down the stream. It was followed up despite the fact that it was from a foot to two feet under water, and a few rods away was found to lead directly into a patch of short timber.