“To keep the rest here while four of us search the grounds. The moment we discover the location of the cannons we will return.”
“Good,” said Edwards; “and who is to go ahead to reconnoiter?”
“My idea was to have you, Ray Wendell, Harry Elder, and perhaps Tony Larcom accompany me, but you have no masks.”
“Oh, pshaw!” exclaimed Ray, “what has that to do with it? We don’t need to hide our faces. Go ahead; we’ll follow.”
“All right,” answered Percy; “don’t waste a minute, then, but come on.”
Then, turning to the rest, he said in a louder whisper:
“Lie low, fellows, till we want you.”
All dropped flat upon the ground, where the high grass hid them completely from view. Percy Randall had them well in hand, and had evidently given them minute instructions. Whatever might be said of Percy, he was certainly in thorough command of the situation, and his coolness and courage made him a valuable leader for our party at this critical period of our expedition.
Leading the rest, the five of us crept stealthily forward under the shadow of the campus trees, looking sharply to right and left for the least indication as to the whereabouts of our old artillery pieces.