The two boys and the dog were quickly swallowed up in the darkness. The men watched them as they went, and shook their heads. "Cap oughtn't to have let them go," said one. "Don't worry," said Dan. "The boys can take care of themselves, and they have Bruno." It was well they had Bruno, for after going a mile the dog turned up a road that crossed the one they were on. "We would have gone right on," said Harry. "It's funny how much more a dog knows about some things than a man." After following the cross-road a space they saw the dim lights of a house ahead. They also became aware there were dogs on the place. Bruno began to bristle up. "Quiet, old boy, no fuss," said Harry. Bruno obeyed and walked meekly by his side. But the dogs of the house barked so furiously that two men came out. Harry and Jack sought shelter in a clump of bushes by the roadside. It was starlight and objects could be distinguished some distance away. The dogs began leading the men directly to where Harry and Jack lay. With revolvers in their hands, the boys waited. They knew a shot might destroy the object of their scout, but saw no way out of it. Just at this moment a rabbit scurried across the road, and the dogs, with yelps of delight, took after it. "Them blame dawgs," growled one of the men, "to make all that fuss over a rabbit. But, Hicks, we 'uns might as well git our hosses an' be goin'." Just then two horsemen came galloping down the road. They halted at the sight of the two men and one cried, "Why, Sloan and Hicks, what's up? Why aren't you with Red Jerry?" "Jes' goin' to start," said Sloan. "Whar hev' yo' uns been?" "Watching the Yanks. We're on our way to report to Jerry. Hicks, the Yanks are camped on your place." "What's that? The Yanks camped on my place!" cried Hicks. "Sure. Reckon you'll be short on fodder and pork and sweet 'taters by morning." "The ole woman and children?" gasped Hicks. "Reckon they're all right, seeing their natural protector is not at home. The Yanks won't hurt them. Git your hosses and come on. We've been gone too long now. Jerry will give us the devil for not reporting before." As he was speaking horsemen were heard approaching from the other direction, and in a moment Jerry and Billy rode up. "Is that you, Stevens?" Jerry demanded angrily. "Yes," was the hesitating reply. "I have a notion to have you cashiered for dawdling along the road. You know everything depends on your report. I've been waiting an hour." Stevens was Jerry's lieutenant and he did not relish the idea of losing his office. "Captain, I came as quickly as I could," he responded meekly. "You told us to make a thorough examination, and that took time. I arrived here just a moment ago. Sloan halted me, saying his dogs were making a fuss. Then he asked us to wait a minute; saying they would get their hosses and come with us." "Well, what did you find?"