The crash of rifles was heard on the opposite side of the meadow, but there was no reply from the Overland side.
“Where are they? Oh, where are Hippy and the people he is with?” cried Nora.
“I think they are on the other side of the meadow among the trees, creeping toward their enemies,” answered Grace Harlowe. “Two parties are shooting over on that side now.”
“Yes,” answered Tom. “You have it right, Grace. The Peanut Man offered himself as a possible sacrifice to enable his companions to work around to the other side of the meadow and attack the enemy on their own ground.”
“But where is Mr. Haley? Are you sure that he wasn’t hit?” begged Emma.
“No. I could see by the way he went down that it was to avoid the volley that he knew would be fired at him,” Tom informed them. “Girls, I am in hopes that this morning’s work may mark the finish of the job that certain men have been sent up here to accomplish.”
“I don’t understand,” said Elfreda, interested at once.
“You will later,” was Captain Gray’s noncommittal answer.
“Should we move from here, Tom?” questioned Grace a little apprehensively. “The firing has stopped.”
“No. We must wait here. That is the arrangement, no matter which way the fight goes. We must be on our guard, so get your rifles and sit down behind the boulders, while I keep watch here.”