After the fighting was over the youths dismounted to look over the ground and pick up anything that might be of value or would indicate to what company or regiment, if any, the men they had been engaged with belonged. They had done this on several occasions to advantage, and in the latter part of their campaigning it was a rule to which they adhered whenever circumstances permitted.
While they were inspecting the scene of the skirmish, Harry came to a large tree which proved on examination to be hollow. He remarked to Jack that it was a good place for a man to hide in, to which Jack replied that it would hold half a dozen or more if they did n't mind a little crowding.
“Who knows but that some of those fellows hid there when they found we were getting the best of'em,” said Harry. “Suppose we investigate that tree.”
Jack agreed to it, and they approached the tree, cocked their pistols and pointed them up the hollow into the darkness.
“Come down out of that,” said Harry, in a commanding tone, “or we 'll shoot daylight into you.”
There was no response, and Harry was about to turn away when Jack, more in fun than with any expectation of finding anybody, called out:
“Come down, I say. You 'll have just five seconds to come in.”
“I'm a-coming,” said a weak voice from the darkness, much to the surprise of the boys, and a moment later down slipped a forlorn looking “Butternut,” who was evidently greatly frightened.
“Surrender!” shouted Harry, “and tell the rest of'em to come right away.”
“There's only one more feller there,” said the prisoner, who surrendered by throwing his hands in the air and dropping his shotgun on the ground. The summons was renewed, and down came the “one more feller” and surrendered after the same fashion; and this was the way their prisoners were taken.