“Tell me at once! It will keep me from thinking about that miserable despatch.”
“And the jacket! You and I will have to take turn and turn with mine when the cold nights come, unless we pretend to lovely Anson that we are going to stop, and ask him to get you a fresh covering for your chest and back.”
“Oh, none of that, Ingle! I can’t bear lying subterfuges. I’d sooner bear the cold of the bitter nights.”
“Don’t use big words, lad! Subterfuge, indeed! Say dodge—a war dodge. But about my plan! You have noticed that for some reason they have not taken our ponies away.”
“Yes, they are still tethered to the wheel ox that wagon. What of that? It would be impossible to get to them and ride out unchallenged.”
“Oh no: not my way!”
“What is your way?” said West excitedly.
“Last night was dark as pitch.”
“Yes; but there are double lines of sentries about.”
“With sharp eyes too; but there was a commando rode out, evidently to patrol the country and look out for our people.”