“I’ll tell you what,” said Tom, who had been doing considerable thinking. “Let’s take the offensive, and go out and attack those redcoats and drive them out of the valley.” “What good will that do?” asked Mr. Hicks. “That soldier yonder will return with a strong force, and then we will have to retreat into the mountains.” “No, I think we can arrange a trap for them,” said Tom. “How?” with interest. “I’ll tell you. You know that the path leading into this valley extends for several miles along the side of the mountain, with a steep descent on one side, and almost a perpendicular wall at the other.” “Yes, we know that.” “So do I,” mused Tom, rubbing some of the sore spots resultant from his precipitous departure from his British comrades. “Tell us your plan, Tom.” “Well, after we have driven these redcoats out of the valley and back along that path, we will climb up to the top of the precipice-wall, and will gather a large number of rocks of good size and place them right along the edge of the precipice. Then when the redcoats come, we will roll the stones down upon them.” The settlers looked at one another, and it was easy to see that they thought the idea a good one. “That will likely be effective,” said Mr. Hicks. “I believe that we can put a stop to the advance of any force, no matter how strong, in that manner. We can move along the edge of the precipice, keeping above the redcoats, and keep rolling rocks down on them, till they are all annihilated or take the back track.” The others said they thought Mr. Hicks was right, and so they began making preparations at once to attack the redcoats. They loaded their rifles and as many pistols as they could find, and then they withdrew from the houses, entered the woods and made their way along till they were opposite the point where the redcoats were stationed. Then they slipped to the edge of the covered wood land and suddenly rushed out upon the British soldiers, firing as they went, and yelling at the top of their voices. The redcoats, taken by surprise, were seized with a feeling of terror, and sprang to their feet and ran toward the end of the valley at the top of their speed, leaving two or three seriously wounded soldiers behind them, however. The settlers pursued the fleeing soldiers, and kept after them till they left the valley and were making their way along the path on the side of the mountain. Then the settlers paused and held a council. “Now what shall we do next?” asked one of the settlers. “A few of us will stay here and guard the entrance to the valley,” replied Tom. “And the rest will climb to the top of the precipice and gather stones and place them where they will be handy to roll down on the heads of the redcoats when they come.” “That is good advice, I think,” said Mr. Hicks. “We will do that.”