“What good will that do?” asked Mr. Hicks. “That soldier yonder will return with a strong force, and then we will have to retreat into the mountains.”
“No, I think we can arrange a trap for them,” said Tom.
“How?” with interest.
“I’ll tell you. You know that the path leading into this valley extends for several miles along the side of the mountain, with a steep descent on one side, and almost a perpendicular wall at the other.”
“Yes, we know that.”
“So do I,” mused Tom, rubbing some of the sore spots resultant from his precipitous departure from his British comrades.
“Tell us your plan, Tom.”
“Well, after we have driven these redcoats out of the valley and back along that path, we will climb up to the top of the precipice-wall, and will gather a large number of rocks of good size and place them right along the edge of the precipice. Then when the redcoats come, we will roll the stones down upon them.”
The settlers looked at one another, and it was easy to see that they thought the idea a good one. “That will likely be effective,” said Mr. Hicks. “I believe that we can put a stop to the advance of any force, no matter how strong, in that manner. We can move along the edge of the precipice, keeping above the redcoats, and keep rolling rocks down on them, till they are all annihilated or take the back track.”
The others said they thought Mr. Hicks was right, and so they began making preparations at once to attack the redcoats. They loaded their rifles and as many pistols as they could find, and then they withdrew from the houses, entered the woods and made their way along till they were opposite the point where the redcoats were stationed. Then they slipped to the edge of the covered wood land and suddenly rushed out upon the British soldiers, firing as they went, and yelling at the top of their voices.