Noel meanwhile anxiously watched his friend, fearful every moment that the report of guns in the distance would be heard. His fears, however, were relieved when in a few minutes Dennis returned with the spade.
"There, now!" he exclaimed. "We'll be ready for the Johnnies in a jiffy. Just watch me!"
It was marvelous to see what he was able to accomplish with his spade and still without exposing himself to the possible fire of the enemy, who were not moving from the position where they had halted some distance up the road.
As soon as a slight excavation had been made, both Noel and Dennis leaped into it. A few fence rails were also secured and piled upon the fence in front of them.
"You see now," said Dennis, "we're ready for almost any kind of an attack."
Noel smiled, though he made no reply. The full seriousness of the peril in which he and his companion now found themselves was plain. They were confronted by a band which had seen them scurrying across the road, and though the gray-clad soldiers had halted some distance down the road the young soldier was aware that they knew of the presence of the two boys in blue. Why they had not advanced he did not understand.
He was afraid to make the attempt to gain the woods in his rear, as he believed his enemies were still watchful and that any effort to escape would meet with a quick fire.
Meanwhile Dennis had succeeded in digging a ditch along the two sides of the V-shaped rail fence.
"There," he exclaimed, with a sigh of relief. "That will keep out the Johnnies, I'm thinkin'."
"Not very long," said Noel quickly.