“Let’s have it to-day,” said Fred.
They caught it up and clamoured to have the battle at once.
“The swords are not ready,” said Mark.
“Are the eagles ready?” asked Phil.
“Two are,” said Mark.
“The other two shall be made this afternoon,” said Bevis. “Phil, will you go in to Latten for the blue ribbon for us; here’s three shillings.”
“Yes,” said Phil, “I’ll get both at once—blue and red, and bring you the blue.”
“To-morrow, then,” said Fred. “Let’s fight to-morrow.”
But they found that three of them were going out to-morrow. So, after some more discussion, the battle was fixed for the day after, and it was to begin in the evening, as some of them could not come before. The camps were to be made as soon after six o’clock as possible, and, this agreed to, the council broke up, though it was understood that if anything else occurred to any one, or the captains wished to make any alterations, they were to send despatches by special messengers to each other. The swords and eagles for Ted’s party were to be fetched the evening before, and smuggled out of window when it was dark, that no one might see them.
“Hurrah!”