"Well, I reckon I like ye better for that," nodded the old man.
"Pop, I wonder if you'd be willing to help the American company beat the Japanese company and bag it, whole hog?" proposed Raynes cleverly.
"Would I?" demanded the old man eagerly. "But, sho! What could I do, d'ye reckon?"
"Now, Pop, I reckon a couple of hours from now, or maybe three, there'll be two young soldiers come up along this way. You'll know 'em when you see 'em."
Raynes dropped into a description of Hal and Noll, while the old man listened attentively.
"Now, they'll probably ask you, Pop, which way the second company went. That's B Company, the Japs, you know. If they don't ask you outright, then you must fix it for 'em to ask you."
"I'll manage it," nodded the old hunter, a look of craft coming into his eyes.
"Now, don't let the make-believe Jap soldiers know that their company kept on up this trail. Tell 'em anything you like that'll send then off the trail—over to that hill, say," continued Corporal Raynes, pointing to a rocky peak distant about three miles. "Send 'em hiking straight over there. Then they won't get through with their news in time, and the American company will have a fair chance to bag the Jap company, whole hog. D'you see?"
"Don't I, though?" demanded the old-time hunter.
"Think you can work it, Pop?"