"Then, I suppose we are in no hurry," added the major. "I see that Captain Dingfield intends to carry out his plan as he laid it out for this forenoon." "Who?" asked the captain. "Captain Dingfield, who commands the Texans; I learned his name from the lieutenant who was wounded. I hardly supposed he would send another flanking party by that road," replied Major Lyon, "This news calls for some change in our plans." "I reckon that captain on the south road hain't got over fifty men with him, if he has that," continued the sergeant. "How could you estimate the number, Knox," asked the captain. "When I am sent out scouting, I generally find out all I can," replied the sergeant, who looked as though he felt that the correctness of his information had been questioned. "We know you do, Knox; and we only want to know your means of arriving at a conclusion, in order to judge of the accuracy of your report," the captain explained. "I looked them over when I climbed the tree," continued the scout with energy. "The force was just coming round a bend in the road down a hill, and I counted in fours up to forty. I don't know how many scouts they had out ahead, but I added ten to what I had counted." "I have no doubt you are quite correct, Sergeant," added the captain. "I did not doubt your statement in the first place, and I was only curious to know how you were able to make up your estimate." "I saw that six of you came down the hill together; have you left no pickets in front of the company?" inquired the major. "The captain gave me nine men to scout the region over there, and six of 'em have come in, for I thought they might be wanted," answered Knox. "You knew that we had nearly two hundred men at this point," suggested the major, who realized that the sergeant had something in his mind to which he was slow to give utterance. "If this is a council of war, Major Lyon, I ain't in it, and I've told all I know," replied Knox. "I have reported that the Texicans is divided into two bodies, one on 'em comin' down the south road slower'n cold molasses runs, and the other's movin' over the hill road; and I reckon they ain't goin' to no funeral over yonder." "In other words, you think the two divisions of the enemy intend to attack at the same time," added the major. "What be they goin' over that way for if that ain't what they mean?" asked the Kentuckian in answer to the question. "But I don't feel sartin that they mean to come down here by the east road." "What else can they do?" inquired the major, much interested in drawing out the sergeant. "I don't reckon I'd better say anything more. I obey orders, but I don't give none," answered Knox, who was evidently afraid of thrusting himself into the counsels of his superiors. "Captain Dingbat"-- "Dingfield," interposed the captain with a smile. "Captain Dingfield sent them men over here to knock down and burn that bridge; and I reckon he's go'n' to do it if he can."