He also noted the lay of the land near the church. This was familiar to him, as he had played around this spot, off and on, for years. Paul knew just where every tree reared its leafy branches, and could easily in his mind plan a mode of approaching the rear of the building without once leaving the shelter of the shadows.
So they stalked along, and were soon hugging the stone walls. Thus far all seemed quiet and peaceful. If any of the Slavin crowd were in the near vicinity they must be keeping under cover.
A pinch on his arm told Paul that Jack, with
his keen eyes, had discovered something he deemed suspicious.
"Where?" he managed faintly to whisper in the ear of his chum.
"Ahead, by the sun dial," came in reply.
Paul remembered that something had happened to the old fashioned sun-dial that used to stand in the cemetery connected with the church; and that it had been placed up against the wall of the building. He knew, because he had once fallen over it in the darkness.
Looking closely he could just make out some object seemingly perched on the stone that offered a seat to the weary one.
It might be Bobolink, and then again there was always a possibility that the figure would prove to be that of an enemy on the watch.
Paul had instituted a system of signals whereby two scouts of the Stanhope troop could communicate, should they happen to draw near one another in the dark, and wish to unite forces.