“It will take you an hour to go, and another hour for Sweetzer to reach the cross-roads.”
“How many men have you?” demanded De Banyan, in business-like tones.
“About a hundred,” replied the captain. “We can make a sure thing of it, for we shall outnumber the Yankees, and choose our own ground besides.”
“Where are they now?”
“At Raybold’s, on the Salem road. I have driven them hard lately, and I gave them a few days to rest.”
“I know the place. It is near the mountains.”
“Just so. I believe in strategy, and I thought I should do better with twenty men than I should with over a hundred; but I calculated to take the greenbacks on the train.”
“Your plans are good; but do you send only one man on such a message? Suppose he should fall from his horse, or be shot by a Yankee?”
“I can’t spare but one, for I may have to do the job before the rest of my force arrives.”
“Send Somers,” suggested the major.