As they moved they tried, Indian fashion, to find new cover behind rocks over which they could aim and fire.
Hal and Noll, not ten feet apart, occasionally glanced at each other after firing.
Both young rookies were thoroughly enjoying this actual taste of fighting life.
It was not many minutes before the advancing handful of soldiers were within seventy or eighty feet of the rocks that sheltered the rascals.
Then suddenly they saw three crouching figures begin to retreat among the rocks.
With a cheer the attacking force went forward, crouching.
But just then three rifles from out beyond spoke, and bullets whistled past the scoundrels from a new quarter.
"Great smoke, boys!" bellowed one of the fugitives hoarsely. "The sojers have us hemmed in on all sides."
"Yes, we have," shouted Captain Cortland. "Do you want to surrender?"
"Make your men stop shooting or moving, and give us two minutes to think."