So they hastened, and closer and closer to the village they drew. Finally they were at the edge of the village, and all was quiet. They did not see any signs of the settlers.
“They’re gone,” said the lieutenant.
Then the redcoats scattered and entered the houses, and searched for valuables, but found nothing of much use, the settlers having indeed taken pretty much everything out of the houses.
“They’ve gone up into the mountains,” said the lieutenant. “Let’s fire these houses, and then follow.”
With cries of satisfaction, for they were angered by being cheated out of their plunder, as they looked at it, the soldiers set fire to the houses, and soon the village was going up in flames.
“Now head up into the mountains, men,” said the lieutenant. “We’ll run the rebels to earth and help ourselves to their valuables, anyhow.”
The soldiers hastened into the forest, and began ascending the mountain. The ground was rough, but they made pretty good headway. They spread out, fan-shape, so as to cover as much ground as through this alignment they could obtain, and looked eagerly in all directions for the patriot settlers.
“They must have a hiding-place somewhere up the mountain,” said the lieutenant. “Make a thorough search.”
But, although they searched till nightfall, they did not find the hiding-place of the settlers, and they finally went back down to the village, or rather, where it had stood, for the houses were now burned to the ground, and there camped for the night.
And next morning they set out on the return to Ninety-Six, reaching the fort about the middle of the afternoon.