“And are cautiously preparing to start.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then divide the troop into two, with their three guns each; leave one with the wagons as if not yet quite ready, and send the other steadily marching to the full extent of the open manoeuvring ground, and then make believe.”
“Make believe what?”
“To have caught sight of the hiding enemy; and, with a good deal of confusion, let the men face about and take flight to get back into the open.”
“I see,” cried Hulton eagerly. “It will be too much for the enemy, and they will pursue to a man, so as to take advantage of the panic.”
“Exactly,” replied Wyatt dryly. “Then the waiting troop can give them a few hints of what we can do, throw them into confusion, cut off their retreat back into the rough ground, and long before then the first troop will have begun to speak.”
“But the wagons, the baggage, and guard?”
“Let the wagons take care of themselves, Hulton,” cried Wyatt hotly. “You take three guns, and give me the other three; and if between us we cannot, by playing into each other’s hands, astonish these irregular gentlemen, we have been drilling together all this time for nothing.”
“Yes,” said Hulton, whose pale face was flushed with his growing excitement; “but there is one thing.”