"Those troops cannot reach here until after dark," said Slim.
"No," Lieutenant Mackinson acknowledged, "but they are in such numbers that we could not hope to keep our identity or presence hidden, and they are getting around the mountain quicker than we could get down and beyond their line."
"It looks as though we were hemmed in," said Frank Hoskins in an even tone.
"Yes," agreed Jerry, "and in a tight place."
CHAPTER XVII
The Lieutenant's Invention
While the others speculated upon various means of escape, and in turn found every one of their suggestions useless, Lieutenant Mackinson had remained silent and in deep thought. Finally, his countenance showing that he had arrived at a conclusion, he turned to the others.
"Come with me," he said simply, "it is the only way."