CHAPTER VIII
IN THE MIDST OF THE "HOSTILES"
IT was a pretty fix, indeed!
"Confound that lying old hunter down at the cabin!" ground Noll wrathfully behind his teeth.
Then both bunkies from B Company held their very breath.
Out beyond the ledge, near the mouth of the cave, a figure paced. Hal, as his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, was sure that this man was Captain Freeman. Just a little later the young soldier was sure of it, for another figure approached and saluted.
"Captain, I have to report that I have placed the guard as you directed."
"That's Lieutenant Holmes. Pretty nearly as fine a fellow as our own second lieutenant, Prescott," thought Hal.
"You impressed upon each of the men the cautions that I want observed?" queried Captain Freeman.
"Yes, sir," answered Lieutenant Holmes, "and I took the liberty of adding another caution on my own account."
"What was that, Mr. Holmes?"
"I told each member of the guard, when I left him, to look well to it that that young scout of B Company, Overton, didn't get his rifle."
Captain Freeman laughed quietly, then added:
"Overton is a very capable young soldier, Mr. Holmes, and a good man in the service. But just now, while these manœuvres are on, I'd like to make a prisoner of him, I can tell you."
"Wouldn't you, though?" shivered Hal, listening from where he crouched, while Noll pressed his bunkie's arm again. "And I'm very much afraid, captain, that you're likely to have your wish!"
"Ah, here comes the other member of our council. Good evening, Ray."
"Good evening, sir," replied the first lieutenant of C Company.
"Ray," continued Captain Freeman, "we were just discussing Overton, the scout of B Company, who made off with the arms of our outpost last night."
"Well, sir, we have some pretty fair scouts of our own to-night," laughed Lieutenant Ray. "I'd like to wager a month's pay that not a soul of B Company knows where this command is to-night. On the other hand, we know to a dot where B Company is encamped."
"And we'll have the enemy potted by eleven o'clock to-night," promised Captain Freeman in a tone of conviction. "But that's the least we're obliged to do after the disgraceful treatment that we had to stand last night. Unless our scouts bring different word by half past nine to-night, we'll slip in on 'em while they're asleep, rush the sentries and have B Company's camp for our own almost before the first blank cartridge has been exploded. It's fine work to roll in on your enemy and demolish him while he's asleep and dreaming of home."
All three of the officers laughed heartily.
"Their camp is well chosen, too," continued Captain Freeman. "In behind the rocks, just the other side of the blasted twin oaks, makes an ideal camp for a single company of infantry."
"By which route do you plan to approach, sir?" asked Lieutenant Ray.
"Through the ravine from the east," replied Captain Freeman, "for the simple reason that Cortland would least of all expect an attack from that quarter."
"It couldn't be better," declared Ray.
A fourth man now joined the group, saluting all three.
"What is it, my man?" inquired Freeman.
"Supper is ready for the officers, sir."
"Very good, Stubbles. We'll come at once."
Stubbles was Captain Freeman's "dog-robber," or field cook, one of the privates of C Company.
The steps of the departing officers soon quieted down and ceased.
"Oh, Noll, we've got to get out of here now," breathed Private Overton in an agitated tone in his bunkie's ear.
"Of course," retorted Private Terry. "We'll get out by airship, I suppose?"
"No joking, old fellow. We've simply got to get out, and then we've got to run all the way to the blasted twin oaks. You remember the place?"
"Perfectly," nodded Noll, though his bunkie could not see his head in the deep darkness of the interior of the cave.
"We've got to get there on the jump," Hal whispered. "Not a minute to lose!"
"Regardless of the fact that C Company is in camp all around us?" quizzed Noll.
"Noll, I tell you, we've got to get through the lines at once!"
"Make a break and run for it, trusting to luck and our ability to knock a lot of men down?" queried Terry.
"No, sir! We've got to get out, and away from here, without letting a soul from C Company know that we've been within miles of here to-night!"
"What nice, new problems you do put up!" murmured Noll ironically. "What earthly show, bunkie, have we to get out of here without being seen?"
"Oh, we may be seen," admitted Hal, a new and desperate scheme flashing through his brain.
"Then – " began Noll.
"But not recognized, bunkie. See here, Noll, I'm going softly down to the mouth of the cave. From here you can see me, against what light there is in the sky. Watch me. If I wave my hand, come to me. Bring your rifle, too, but unfix the bayonet and return it to your belt."
"But what – "
"Noll, the company is at supper now. The men have something especial to think of while they're eating. If we just lounge through the camp together, with our hats well forward over our faces, and keep from going too close to the groups, I don't believe any one will give us any thought, or recognize us in the dark. Understand, we'll just saunter until we get outside the lines. Then we'll vanish and duck as softly and swiftly as we can."
"By Jove, it's worth trying!" glowed Noll.
"Yes; because it's the only single chance there is of our getting back to B Company in time with the news. Wait – and watch!"
First Hal carefully took his own bayonet from the muzzle of his rifle, returning it to place at his belt. Then, on hands and knees, he crept forward to the mouth of the cave, cautiously peering beyond.
At last he signaled back.
In another moment Noll was by his side.
"Now, step out, old fellow," whispered Hal, rising. "Don't betray any sign of trying to escape attention. But, if you're spoken to, make believe you don't hear. Keep up your nerve, bunkie! This is real work for good old B Company and victory!"
In another instant the two soldier boys stepped carelessly out into plain sight, their sombreros drawn well down over their eyes.
C Company was just ahead at supper. As nonchalantly as possible the two young soldiers of B Company began their leisurely stroll through the "hostile" camp of C Company.
Could they hope to "get away" with this daring trick?
CHAPTER IX
PLANNING FOR THE NIGHT ATTACK
FOR a distance of several yards the soldier boys proceeded through the darkness without appearing to attract any attention.
The officers and soldiers of C Company were finishing their hasty, cheerless meal. There was nothing strange about two soldiers having finished ahead of the rest and deciding for a stroll through the camp.
The darkness was the greatest protection of our young friends. They refrained from going very close to any group. Added to this, their campaign sombreros were so well drawn down over their faces as to hide a good deal of their features, and this without exciting suspicion.
Hal and Noll were two thirds of the way through the camp, when there came a sharp hail that made Private Overton quiver inside:
"Hey, there!"
There could be no doubt that the hail was intended for the soldier boys, though neither gave any heed, even by as much as turning.
"Look out Overton, of B Company, doesn't catch you!" jeered the same voice.
Noll threw one hand behind him, waving it.
"Don't go more than ten or twenty yards beyond our lines, men," warned Captain Freeman, looking up from the hard tack at which he had been munching.
Hal wheeled about, saluting respectfully, but did not trust himself to speak.
Then the chums continued their slow stroll.
Three minutes later they were just beyond the edge of the camp, halting beside a bush.
"Here's our chance," whispered Hal, glancing just past the roots of the bush.
A little gully started there. Twenty feet further on it was more than six feet deep.
Hal passed around the bush, dropping into the gully. In another moment Noll had leisurely joined him.
Now, they traveled faster over the bed of the gully, though they were careful to go cat-footed, for they had yet to pass sentries, very likely outposts, and there was a grave risk of their running into some scouting detachment from C Company.
The gully ran for some two hundred yards. Then the soldier boys came out in the open once more.
"More caution than ever now," whispered Hal, detaining his bunkie by a strong grip on the arm.
"We must be beyond their guard line," Noll returned in a whisper.
"Don't you believe it! Freeman isn't the captain to maintain lax guard. Don't attempt to stand up. Crouch low, and get all the cover you can behind bushes. Better let me lead. I'll halt often and listen."
With great stealth the pair had covered another two hundred yards or so, when there came a sharp hail of:
"Halt! Who's there."
The challenge had come from some one invisible to the bunkies. Hal instantly and noiselessly dropped to the ground, lying as flat as he could.
Noll imitated his example.
"Halt! Who's there?" came the insistent challenge.
Then the lurkers heard a man coming toward them. Neither dared stir, as the slightest noise might prove enough for their undoing. It was a desperate situation, at any rate, for it hardly seemed possible that the sentry could fail to come upon them.
But in another minute the sentry had halted.
"Huh!" the bunkies heard him mutter. "I reckon I'm getting as nervous as a sick cat, after what happened to Corporal Raynes's outpost last night."
Then the lurkers heard the sentry slowly returning to the point from which he had first challenged them.
It was three full minutes ere cautious Private Overton ventured to crawl away from the spot. He crawled for more than a hundred and fifty yards, too, ere he ventured to rise to crouch, peering all around him. Then he nodded to Noll, close behind him, and the bunkies proceeded.
It was not until they had made fifteen minutes more of the most stealthy progress that Hal and Noll began to feel really easy.
"Now, see here, bunkie," spoke Private Overton at last, "we're not as well 'out of the woods' as we might be fooled into imagining. I think it is even dangerous for us to go together just now. We might run into a scouting detachment, lurking among the rocks, or behind bushes, and get captured after all. Look hard through the darkness. Do you see that massive, peculiar formation of rock ahead? About three quarters of a mile from here, I would say."
"Yes; I remember noting it in daylight," nodded Terry.
"All right. You make a wide detour to the left, and I'll do the same to the right. Go cautiously every step of the way, and have your eyes and ears open. Take your time. I'll meet you there."
"But what's the good of doing that?" objected Noll.
"Just this: If we go together we may run into a superior force of the enemy and be captured. If we go singly we won't both be caught by the same force, anyway, and there'll be a chance for one of us to get through to Captain Cortland with the news. Left oblique for yours, Noll! March!"
It was nearly fifteen minutes later when the chums met at the spot agreed upon.
"Whew!" muttered Hal, halting, as he came up and recognized his bunkie. "I guess we're safely away now, Noll. That being the case, I don't mind admitting to you that when we left the cave and stepped out into the camp, I hadn't a belief in the world, hardly, that we'd get away with our strategy."
"Oh, my shoes!" winced Noll.
"What's the matter with them?"
"Oh, nothing, except that they're full of sore feet!"
"I've some trouble of that sort myself," Hal grinned. "But we've got to forget all about it until we get to the twin oaks. Forward, bunkie!"
They traveled together, after that. An hour later they heard the most welcome challenge in the world:
"Halt! Who's there?"
The speaker belonged to a B Company outpost.
"Friends," replied Private Overton.
"How many friends?"
"Two."
The sentry spoke something in an undertone. Then, after a brief pause, he continued:
"Advance two friends, but two only, to be recognized."
As the bunkies came up they saw Corporal Cotter and two privates eyeing them.
"Oh, if it's the kid soldiers, they're all right," spoke Corporal Cotter easily.
"Corporal," begged Hal, "show us the quickest, easiest cut to camp. I've news for Captain Cortland."
"Been scouting some more?" laughed Cotter.
"My news, Corporal, is for the company commander."
"That's all right, kid. See the grove yonder?"
"Surely."
"Right in the middle of that you'll find the tent of the company officers. They're asleep, I guess. Sergeant Hupner is commander of the guard, and Lieutenant Prescott is officer of the day."
"Thank you. Corporal."
"Proceed!"
Two minutes later the bunkies were halted by one of the camp sentries. Then they hurried direct into camp.
At a distance of some twenty yards young Lieutenant Prescott was found seated on the ground, talking in low tones with Sergeant Hupner. The young West Pointer leaped quickly to his feet when he saw the soldier boys approaching.
"Sir," announced Hal, saluting, "we report our return to the company."
"You've completed this afternoon's duty?"
"Yes, sir – and much more."
"How more?" queried Lieutenant Dick Prescott, eyeing them closely.
"Lieutenant, we desire, sir, to speak with Captain Cortland at once."
"It's as important as that?" asked Prescott.
"Judge for yourself, sir. We have just returned from C Company's camp, and we've heard Captain Freeman and his officers discussing the plan by which they expect to attack this camp to-night and bag B Company whole hog."
"You've been to C Company's camp?" repeated Lieutenant Prescott, eyeing the rookies closely. "Wasn't that exceeding your instructions by a very wide margin?"
"We didn't go there by design, sir. It's a long story."
"And you do well to remind me that I am wasting time in not calling Captain Cortland," continued the young lieutenant. "Wait here, men."
It was barely more than a minute when Lieutenant Prescott came back with Captain Cortland and Lieutenant Hampton.
"What's this I hear, Overton?" demanded B Company's commander. "C Company expects to bag us here to-night?"
"Yes, sir."
"How?"
Hal briefly sketched the plan, as he understood it, of attacking the camp by moving up through the ravine.
"We've a sentry down at the ravine," declared Captain Cortland. "But, Mr. Prescott, I believe you would do well to rouse enough men to create an emergency outpost beyond the other end of the ravine. Also send a small scouting detachment out considerably beyond the ravine. But instruct the scouts to be prepared for a quick recall at any moment."
Lieutenant Prescott saluted his superior officer, then hastened away to rout out the needed men and post them.
"Go on with your story, Overton. Better give it all to us in order, but be brief in the telling, my man."
So Hal plunged promptly into the narration of what he and Noll had been through, beginning with the false scent on which they had been sent by the hunter at the cabin.
Captain Cortland held out his hand almost impulsively, both to Hal and to Noll.
"My men," he said earnestly, "I must tell you that I believe you both did wisely in adopting the profession of arms. Obedience is the first requisite of the soldier. The records of both of you stand well in that respect. But scouting work, which comes under the head of the service of information and security, is of the utmost importance in a campaign, and you two show positive genius as scouts. This is all of a piece with your great work of last night, Overton. I shall not forget it. As every man will be called within fifteen minutes, you may remain here under Sergeant Hupner's orders. Mr. Hampton, you and I will take a brief stroll and decide swiftly upon what we are to do."
"Lads," broke in Sergeant Hupner, as the officers strolled away, "either you're mighty lucky or else you're born soldiers. I believe it is the latter."
Five minutes later the two senior company officers returned.
"Sergeant Hupner, we are going to call the men, but no bugle will be sounded," stated Captain Cortland. "Rouse the remaining sergeants first; then instruct them to rouse all the men and with great quietness."
B Company was soon aroused; in ten minutes more all of the guard except the soldiers down by the ravine had been recalled.
"We won't strike our tents," Cortland informed his sergeants. "It will do no harm to leave the camp standing, especially if the enemy's commander uses his night glasses at a distance. He will feel certain that we are nicely bagged. Now, pass the word, without loud command, for the company to fall in."
Two minutes later, in single file, B Company marched toward the ravine like so many unsubstantial spectres.
CHAPTER X
TRAPPERS AND TRAPPED
"HALT, who's there?"
A single sentry, just at the opening of the ravine, called the challenge in a low voice.
There was no response.
"Halt! Who's there?"
There still being no response, the sentry advanced toward a line of bushes.
He stepped through, peering beyond.
Almost without sound four C Company men leaped at the sentry, clutching him by the throat and bearing him to the ground.
The captured sentry was able to make only a low gurgling sound in his throat. His rifle was snatched away from him. Working at professional speed, the sentry was gagged and bound, then tossed upon the ground once more, while a C Company man sat upon him.
"Now, take the word back, Daly," ordered the non-commissioned officer in command of the captors.
The sentry did not offer to struggle. It was as though he feared physical punishment would be inflicted upon him if he dared attempt to make trouble.
Little did the exultant C Company men dream that this solitary sentry was the only man on guard duty for B Company. The fact was that this sentry had been posted with explicit instructions to allow himself to be captured without making any outcry or firing his rifle.
Three minutes later the ground about the captured sentry appeared to be covered with dimly defined figures of advancing men – soldiers in full field equipment.
It was C Company, advancing by column of twos, with Captain Freeman and Lieutenant Ray at the head, and Lieutenant Greg Holmes, alertly watchful of the line, at the rear.
Into the ravine C Company advanced, moving with barely a sound. It was Freeman's intention to reform his men once they were through the ravine and advance, yelling and firing, upon a surprised camp.
The head, then the center of the line, slipped into the ravine. At last the whole of C Company was fairly within the ravine.
Nor did Captain Freeman have the slightest idea of the many pairs of keen eyes that watched the progress of his command from the tops of the low walls of stone that bound the ravine.
Above stood Captain Cortland, well concealed in a bush, watching, revolver in hand.
Bang!
Captain Cortland fired his revolver into the ground – the signal shot.
Instantly a tempest of firing broke loose. Men stationed on either side, above the ravine, poured down their rifle fire – of blank ammunition, of course.
From the inner end of the ravine two squads of men fired from behind hastily erected entrenchments.
"Sound the retreat!" roared Freeman, above the din of the firing, in the ear of the bugler at his side.
But with the first notes of the bugle a din of reports and a belching of flame came from other B Company men, now stationed at the end of the ravine through which C Company had just entered.
The ambuscade was complete. Under any war conditions C Company was hopelessly engulfed, and ready for complete slaughter.
Suddenly the bugler up aloft, stationed by Captain Cortland's side, blew as though he would blow his lungs out, the signal for "cease firing."
Then the din of musketry died down.
"Captain Freeman," called Cortland, "I call upon you to surrender your command. You must realize that, under war conditions, you have already lost nearly every man of your force."
"I surrender my command," replied Captain Freeman promptly. "As you say, Cortland, you have us wholly at your mercy."
At the word, passed by their non-commissioned officers, the wearied men of C Company squatted on the ground.
"I take it I may go through the ravine to your camp, Cortland," called Captain Freeman, "now that we are harmless prisoners of war."
"Yes; you had better march your company through into the open and we'll join you."
"Thank heaven the cruel war is over," muttered a soldier in C Company, and a hearty laugh from victors and vanquished answered this sally.
Ten minutes later the recent mimic combatants were all together on the same ground.
But Captain Freeman was burning with curiosity.
"May I ask, Cortland," he demanded, "how on earth you guessed our plans so well that you had that trap spread for us?"
"I didn't guess your plans," smiled Captain Cortland.
"Oh, come now!"
"Not a bit of guess about it, my dear Freeman. I knew your whole plan for to-night."
"Knew it?"
"Yes."
"You had scouts out, Cortland, who detected our advance? From your knowledge of our advance you cleverly guessed our plan?"
"Oh, no! As I just said, I knew your plan, and did not have to guess it."
"But how?" pressed Captain Freeman, still disconsolate and much mystified.
"Indirectly, I had the plan from your own lips. In other words, Freeman, scouts of mine were in your camp at early dark to-night. They heard you and your officers discussing the plan. Then, very naturally, my scouts brought the information to me."
"Scouts?" cried the bewildered commander of C Company. "By Jove, I remember two men who strolled down through my camp to-night. I called to them to keep close to our lines."
"But they didn't," chuckled Captain Cortland gleefully, "for those two men whom you hailed happened to be my scouts."
Captain Freeman took two great, gulping breaths in his sheer amazement.
"Cortland, now that the sham campaign is over," he begged, "may I know who your scouts were?"
"Certainly, my dear Freeman. They were Privates Overton and Terry."
"Overton!" gasped Captain Freeman, in deep chagrin. "The clever young rascal who looted my outpost last night?"
"The same."
Several of C Company's enlisted men were within hearing.
Now, from one of these men, came the heart-felt utterance:
"Hang that kid Overton!"
"Terry's just as bad," growled another C Company soldier.
"Cortland," remarked C Company's chop-fallen commander, "I congratulate you on having two fine young soldiers in your company."
"I surely have," nodded Captain Cortland. "I have already informed Overton and Terry of my estimate of their abilities."
Twenty minutes later the reunited companies of wearied officers and men slept side by side under the stars of the Colorado sky.