“I had supposed we were three scouts working together, and one of the same rank as another,” Gabriel said quietly, “but howsoever you put it, this plan which I have in mind must be agreed to by both, else I shall abandon it. It seems to me, in case we learn that those fellows are Tories, we may safely count on their having been sent out to discover where the general is in hiding, and therefore it seems our duty to carry them into camp lest they learn more than may be advantageous to us.” “But they are seven to three,” Archie replied, without giving himself time to realize he was suggesting that which might imply fear on his part. “Ay, so they are; but did you hesitate to hold with the troop when we made the attack upon Major Gainey, where we were outnumbered six or eight to one?” “I have no care as to the numbers,” Archie replied, coloring deeply as he understood that he had spoken unwisely. “I am agreed on capturing the party, and will do my full share.” “Of that there is no doubt,” Gabriel said, clapping him on the shoulder in a friendly fashion, lest there be somewhat of irritation in his mind. “We will leave our horses here, and follow those fellows to where they have encamped for the night, unless it so be they go too far before halting.” There was no need for argument, because we were all eager for such an adventure as would redound to our credit, and after making certain that the horses were securely picketed, we set off up the road until coming to a point where freshly broken twigs of bushes told that they had struck across country. There is less difficulty in successfully stalking a man than a deer, and this last had all three performed time and time again until it seemed like a simple task. We pressed forward as rapidly as was consistent with silence, until coming so close upon their heels that it was possible for us to hear them making their way through the underbrush, and then followed at equal pace until such sounds came to us as told that they had halted. Now it was only a matter of waiting, which under almost any circumstances is a difficult task to perform patiently, yet every lad who has hunted wild turkeys is well schooled in such work, and it can safely be said that we did not risk a valuable opportunity by being over eager. The strangers having advanced with but little caution, seemed to realize the fact that there might be enemies in the vicinity, for they refrained from building a camp-fire, and thus rendered our work rather more difficult than it otherwise would have been. After it was certain they had settled down for the night, we crept nearer and nearer until it was possible to distinguish words spoken in an ordinary tone, when we remained motionless and silent, straining our ears to catch that which should tell us of what complexion were those whom we had tracked.