"Take twelve of the men, now, Sergeant. You know where to post them," directed Captain Cortland briskly. "As soon as you have done so return to me."
Hupner marched off in the darkness with his dozen men. In a few minutes he was back.
"We'll want until daylight now for the rest of our work," announced the company commander.
Slowly enough the time passed. No word was spoken. All was as still around the little military force as though they had been isolated in the center of a vast desert.
Then the first faint signs of dawn came. Some of the soldiers were seated on the ground, gaping and with difficulty refraining from going to sleep, for these men of Uncle Sam's Army had been routed from their beds in the middle of the night.
The morning light increased, though it was still dim, and the first vague shapes near the ledge began to take more definite shape.
"We won't need to wait more than five minutes more, Sergeant Hupner," declared the captain.
Cortland stood holding his watch close to his face. As soon as he could read the time he turned to whisper:
"Now, Overton, lead us up to the exact spot from which you had your interview with the fellow Branders."
"Shall the men load, sir?" whispered Sergeant Hupner.