“And perhaps they can stalk us,” said Langdon. “But I think both sides are afraid to try it.”
“You're right, Langdon,” said Captain Sherburne, “It's a case of checkmate. I confess that I don't know what to do.”
“We could wait here while they waited too, and if we waited long enough it would get so dark we couldn't see each other. But captain, you are a kind-hearted and sympathetic man, do you see any fun in sitting in the snow on top of a mountain, waiting to kill men whom you don't want to kill or to be killed by men who don't want to kill you?”
“No, Tom, I don't,” replied Captain Sherburne with a laugh, “and you're talking mighty sound sense. This is not like a regular battle. We've nothing to gain by shooting those men, and they've nothing to gain by shooting us. The Massanuttons extend a long distance and there's nothing to keep scouts and spies from climbing them at other places. We'll go away from here.”
He gave the order. They rose and crept as softly as they could through the snow and bushes down the side of the mountain. Harry looked back occasionally, but he saw no faces appear on the crest. Soon he heard Langdon who was beside him laughing softly to himself.
“What's the matter, Tom?” he asked.
“Harry, if I could take my pistol and shoot straight through this mountain the bullet when it came out on the other side would hit a soldier in blue clothes, going at the same rate of speed down the mountain.”
“More than likely you're right, Tom, if they're sensible, and that man Shepard certainly is.”
Further down they met some of their own men climbing up. The troop had heard the shots and was on the way to rescue, if rescue were needed. Captain Sherburne explained briefly and they continued the descent, leading their horses all the way, and breathing deep relief, when they stood at last in the plain.
“I'll remember that climb,” said Langdon to Harry as he sprang into the saddle, “and I won't do it again when there's snow up there, unless General Jackson himself forces me up with the point of a bayonet.”