It was some fifteen miles distant, and over a rough trail; but they reached the camp soon after midnight, and found the officer in command and his men all under arms and ready for the fray, for they had heard the firing from the middle ford and expected to be called upon to move at any time.
“It is no alarm, Benedict, at least to us, though it is for the Indians.
“I took a fancy to let the redskins know we were across here in very heavy force, as Sergeant Fallon had so reported to them, and got Percy to open on them, and, borrowing one of his guns, I did the same, and now I wish you to stir them up.”
“With great pleasure, Lieutenant Worth,” answered Lieutenant Benedict, who was in command.
“Have you any idea of just where their camp and corral is?”
“I reconnoitered with my glass just before sunset and think I found their camp, and behind it is a meadow where I saw a pony astray.”
“We’ll chance it.”
Accordingly, the guns were placed in position, the spots pointed out to the gunners, and first one, then another roar came, the shells went shrieking on their errands, and bursting just where it was intended they should.
Again startled yells answered, and then half a dozen more shells went crashing into the timber on the other side.