"I trust that we shall have him hanging from a strong oak bough before nightfall," said Belfort, who also had been sent on the service.
"I can scarce say that," continued Blake, who was a gallant fellow. "I would rather fight these people with the sword than with the cord."
The country seemed to be the abiding-place of peace. The district through which we rode had not been harried, and we saw some farmers going about their business.
They noticed us but little; doubtless soldiers had ceased long since to be an unaccustomed sight to them. The fresh air and the beauty of the country acted like a tonic upon us. We broke into a gallop, our sabres clanking at our sides. I forgot for the moment that I was with enemies,--official enemies.
"We should meet Barton somewhere near here," said Blake.
Barton was the commander of the first troop that had been sent out to trap Wildfoot. Blake had been sent along later, for fear Barton's squad would not be strong enough for its task. Blake was to command both detachments when they united.
"Barton may not like to be superseded thus," said Blake, "but it is the general's orders. He did not wish to take unnecessary risks."
"Anyway, we will make sure of the rebels," said Belfort, "and a bit of service like this does not come amiss, after so many weeks of feasting and dancing in Philadelphia."
"Those must be our friends on that distant hill-side yonder," broke in Marcel, "for against the green of the grass there is a blur of red, which I take to be British coats."
Marcel was right, and the two parties soon formed a junction. Barton, a middle-aged officer, did not seem so displeased as Blake thought he would be at the coming of the reinforcements and his own supersession in the command.
"What news?" asked Blake eagerly of him. "Have you seen anything of the rebels yet?"
"No," replied Barton; "but if you will ride with me to the crest of this hill, I will show you the wagon-train."
Blake beckoned to several of us to accompany him, and we ascended the hill, which was crowned with oak-trees.
"See, there they are," said Barton, pointing into the valley beyond, "and I think those wagons carry enough food to tempt the starving rebels to almost any desperate deed."