"Listen," he said, sitting bolt upright; "I have got a rattling good plan in my head, but," throwing a severe glance in Tommy's direction, "there must be no more disobedience, or the whole thing will be spoiled."
Tommy looked properly abashed, and Hal went on. "I mean to hose Dodds out of the fort."
"Hose him out!" Drusie and Jim echoed in astonishment. "What do you mean, Hal?"
"For goodness' sake, take care," Hal remonstrated. "If you shout like that he'll hear, and the whole thing will be spoiled."
Then Hal proceeded to explain in rapid undertones what he meant.
"I am going to bring up the water-barrel, pump it full from the stream, fit the biggest hose to it, and let fly into the fort."
His four soldiers held their breath for a moment, and gazed at their captain with dumb admiration.
"It's a gorgeous plan," said Helen at last.
"I think it ought to answer," Hal said. "I have been thinking it out for some time. I shall go for it, but I will tell you what you have to do while I am away."
For the next quarter of an hour silence reigned in the camp—a silence so unbroken that the enemy who lay waiting in the fort became more watchful with every passing moment. He distrusted such a complete cessation of hostilities. It could only mean that an attack of unusual fierceness was being planned; and so, that it might not find him unprepared, he cast an eye round the fort to see if he could strengthen it in any way.