"Very well. What next?"
"You will tell the captain that, if he wishes it, I will deliver the girl up to him this night."
"Hum! that appears to me rather difficult."
"You are stupid."
"Very possibly, but I don't see how."
"Attend then. The guarding of the camp is thus distributed:—In the daytime the soldiers guard the intrenchments; but as they are not accustomed to the life of the prairies, and as in the night their assistance would do more harm than good, the other guides and I are charged with the guard whilst the soldiers repose."
"That's cleverly managed," Kennedy said, laughing.
"Is it not?" the Babbler said. "You get on horseback then? when you arrive at the bottom of the hill, six of the bravest of you must come and join me with their aid I undertake to bind, while they sleep, all the soldiers and the general himself."
"There is something in that; that's a good idea."
"Don't you think so?"