"The odds are only tin to one," said Dennis, chuckling as if the fact was more of a joke than a peril. "They're comin', too," he added as he pointed toward a small body of men who could be seen advancing up the side of the hill.
CHAPTER IV
THE V IN THE FENCE
The prophecy of Dennis that a small body of men were approaching up the winding road was in part fulfilled.
The men advanced until both the crouching soldiers were able to see distinctly that they were clad in the uniform of gray. This fact confirmed their suspicions that somehow the small body of men had come between them and the camp at Harper's Ferry. Just what this meant or how much it implied, neither was able to conjecture.
The afternoon sun was low in the western sky. As Noel glanced behind him he became aware of this fact, and with it also came a hope that if the advancing party might be kept off until the sun had set, the darkness would provide a shelter under which he and his companion might be able to retrace their way to camp.
"They're stoppin', lad!" whispered Dennis excitedly.
"So they are," replied Noel "If they will only stay there we may be able to get away from here after all."
"But they have seen us," protested Dennis.