CHAPTER XIII.
THE FIELD HOSPITAL.
“Do we get into our saddles again now, Rod?” asked Josh, as a halt was called.
The other glanced around. So far as he could see there did not seem to be any reason for delaying their departure further. Certainly any persons who may have been in ambush on the hillside could not have managed to get further along the road so as to waylay them.
“Yes, you start the ball rolling, Josh; and Hanky will follow. I’ll keep our new friend engaged until you get going, when I’ll start after you both.”
“Then you expect to leave Oscar here, do you, Rod?” questioned Josh.
“Oh! he’ll find assistance, if his sore feet get to hurting him dreadfully again,” replied the leader, whimsically. “But I’d advise him to sit down by the roadside, and not attempt to bother me any. He knows how well his gun is loaded; and I think I could hit that top button of his coat, even when on the move, the first clip!”
Oscar, as they would still have to call him for want of a better name, shrugged his shoulders at hearing this declaration.
“Believe me, young M’sieu, I do not mean to give you the chance. I know when I have enough. Things have not gone to my liking at all. And this is a very comfortable seat, I assure you.”
He sat down and folded his hands while Josh started off, Hanky Panky speedily following him, and calling back:
“Don’t trust him too far, Rod, please; really, I hardly like the look of his eye.”