When he arrived at a certain distance from the camp, he laid himself on the ground, face downwards, and reached, by creeping along thus, a rough piece of rock, admirably situated for concealment and observation.
Everything appeared quiet around him; nothing denoted the approach of an enemy. After spending a sufficient time in keenly exploring with his eyes the country beyond him, he was preparing to return to the camp, with a conviction that the general was deceived, and no imminent peril existed, when suddenly, within ten paces of him, an asshata bounded up in great terror, with ears erect and head thrown back, and fled away with extreme velocity.
"Oh! oh!" the young man said to himself, "there is something here, though. Let us try if we cannot make out what."
Quitting the rock behind which he had been screened, he, with great precaution, advanced a few steps, in order to satisfy his suspicions.
The grass became powerfully agitated, half a score men arose suddenly from various points, and surrounded him before he had time to put himself on the defensive, or regain the shelter he had imprudently quitted.
"Well," he said, with disdainful coolness, "luckily I know now with whom I have to deal."
"Surrender!" one of the men nearest to him shouted.
"No, thank you," he replied, with an ironical smile. "You are fools if you expect that. You must kill me out and out before you take me."
"Then we will kill you, my dainty spark," the first speaker answered, brutally.
"I reckon upon that," said the captain, in a jeering tone; "but I mean to defend myself; that will make a noise, my friends will hear us, your surprise will be a failure, and that is exactly what I wish."