FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90  
91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   >>   >|  
angements were made. Fires were laid ready for instant kindling, so that in case of a midnight alarm the woods might be quickly illuminated, and the enemy readily discovered. Paul went about certain preparations on his own account, nor did he take any one into his confidence, not even his chum. "When does the moon set to-night, Wallace?" he asked, knowing that the sober Carberry Twin always kept informed concerning such matters. "Eleven twenty-seven," came the immediate reply, just as if Wallace might be reading it from an almanac; and so he was, only it was figured out in his wise old brain, and not printed upon book paper. "Then if there's going to be any sort of row, believe me it will hold off until after that time," remarked the patrol leader, positively. "Yes, Ted is always copying after the Indians in those cheap library stories he buys for his nickels," Wallace made reply. "Those five-cent redmen never used to attack a camp until the moon had gone down. Generally it was just before peep of day, because men, and boys too, seem to sleep sounder then." "All right. You and I will be on deck to receive them. I've fixed it so our turn comes after eleven, for I knew the new moon would be gone by then. That gives us a chance to snatch some sleep beforehand," remarked Paul. Once more, just before taps was sounded, he made the rounds of the encampment in order to reassure himself that all was well. At that time nothing suspicious caught his eye. If any of their foes were hovering near by they knew well how to conceal themselves so as not to be discovered. Dobbin was still munching the sweet grass as far around him as his rope would permit. Like most old raw-boned horses he seemed never able to get enough to eat. Still, Paul thought that the expedition would be reduced to more or less straits if deprived of old Dobbins' services; and so he ordered that the animal be led up closer to the camp, being secured to a tree where he could be watched. With the warning call from the bugler there was an immediate dispersal of the merry group around the campfire. These boys had been drilled in the duties that devolve upon organized forces in the field. They understood that without discipline nothing could ever be accomplished; and all were ready to obey orders to the letter. There was a little good-natured scrambling when the rude beds were made up; but as soon as "taps" really sounded all activity ceased. No fe
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90  
91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Wallace

 

remarked

 

discovered

 
sounded
 
snatch
 

rounds

 
permit
 

horses

 

reassure

 

caught


suspicious
 

hovering

 

conceal

 

Dobbin

 

munching

 
encampment
 

ordered

 

discipline

 

accomplished

 
orders

understood

 
duties
 

drilled

 

devolve

 

organized

 

forces

 

letter

 
ceased
 

activity

 

natured


scrambling

 

Dobbins

 

deprived

 

services

 

animal

 

chance

 

straits

 

thought

 

expedition

 

reduced


closer

 

dispersal

 

bugler

 

campfire

 

warning

 

secured

 
watched
 

Carberry

 

informed

 

knowing