“What?”
“Suppose they have the two regiments of horse we have been drilling for them?”
“We will not suppose anything of the kind,” said Wyatt dryly. “Of course, if they had it might be bad for us. Now what do you say?”
“I am obliged to confess that the heart’s good, Wyatt, but the body’s weak. Take the three guns and advance; leave me with the other three. I’ll do my best, but if I break down I want Darrell and Stubbs; they will carry out your plans, and we will do what you say. Only mind, every effort must be made to keep the enemy from getting back among the mountains. We must not have them again between us and safety.”
“I see,” said Wyatt, drawing himself up in his saddle. “Now for your orders.”
They rode back the few dozen yards to the waiting troop, Dick taking a final glance at the lovely stretch of mountain and forest to their south, so beautiful in the morning light that it seemed impossible for it to hold a foe. Then he was listening to his orders, with his heart beginning to palpitate at the thought of what was to come.
Wyatt’s proposal was carried out to the letter. The first troop rode off with three guns, and the men left stared and wondered, and then stared the more at being ordered to dismount, detach the teams from the wagons, and do over again what had already been done.
Dick sat watching the first troop, already half a mile away, till he saw that Stubbs was trying to catch his attention; and when he met the old sergeant’s eye there was a question in it, and that question was, according to the young officer’s interpretation: “Is the captain going off his head?” And he looked again when Hulton gave the order for the wagon teams of six to be separated from the uniting traces into three pairs, each with its well-armed driver.
But everything was of course done, and was ready for the manoeuvre long before Wyatt and his party had ridden leisurely to the end of the level ground.
Then all at once those waiting saw him call a halt, ride forward with a couple of men as if in doubt, and then wheel round, waving his hand as he galloped back, and the next minute his troop was in full flight.