“It will do me harm, not good,” I said. “Now tell me, what are we going to do?”
“Wait till dark,” he said, “and then try and reconnoitre the village over yonder. As far as I can make out the rebels are making it their quarters for the day. I want to see whether it will be possible to do anything by a night surprise, but whether I shall attempt it must depend on the position they have taken up.”
“Where is the village?” I asked.
He led me to the edge of the patch of forest in which we were hidden, and pointed out a cluster of mud-houses about a couple of miles away, right in an open part of the plain which spread away from us for miles.
“Keep back behind the leaves,” he said, “in case watchful eyes might be directed this way.”
I obeyed, and tried to make out the glint of steel or the white garments of the rebels. But nothing was to be seen but the glaring sunshine bathing the trees which overhung the cottages. Not a soul was in sight.
“They can’t be there,” I said, after watching for some time.
“They are there,” replied Brace, quietly. “Look under that tree, the one with a couple more standing out from it at intervals. Tell me what you can see.”
I looked as well as the glare of the sun and the distance would allow me.
“I can only see a cottage,” I said.