"Then I've delivered my message from yer captain," finished the old hunter with a satisfied air.
"And thank you very much," acknowledged Hal. Both he and Noll saluted the venerable old man of former times.
"Nice spoken soger lads, them," muttered "Pop," as he watched the bunkies step off the trail and start to cross the rocky wastes to the distant peak. "If they wa'n't make-believe Japs in this tom-fool sham fight I'd feel ashamed of myself. But I reckon a little extry hardship will do 'em good, anyway."
"Say," muttered Noll, halting, when they had gone something more than a mile of the rough way, "I don't want to criticize my commanding officer, but I wish he had chosen a camping spot that was easier to reach."
"It's a dandy good place up on that peak, anyway," laughed Hal, whose feet were beginning to feel decidedly sore. "C Company's men wouldn't enjoy hiking over this rough ground in the dark to make a night attack."
They covered another mile.
"I'm beginning to think that old fellow gave us a false scent," grumbled Noll. "I don't believe Captain Cortland would be heartless enough to march heavily laden soldiers over ground like this."
"Why, the old man back at the cabin was the soul of courtesy, and he described Captain Cortland to a dot," returned Hal.
Dusk was coming on by the time the bunkies had covered the rest of the distance, and had reached the ledges near the top of the lonely peak.
"Now, where's B Company?" demanded Noll almost savagely.