For perhaps half an hour the troop rode rapidly on, but finally Hal
called a halt. He listened attentively. There was no sound to break
the stillness, other than the faint boom of heavy guns in the
distance, telling that the long-range artillery duel, farther south,
was still in progress.
But, as Hal was about to give the word for a further advance, from almost
directly ahead, though still some distance away, came the sound of a
single pistol shot. Just one shot; that was all. In vain did the lads
strain their ears to catch a possible reply to the shot. None came.
Hal ordered his men to advance at a slow trot, and the troop moved
forward once more.
Now they came to a woods. They advanced rapidly and the woods became less
dense, and the darkness caused by the heavy overhanging trees gave way to
more light. Hal again called a halt, and himself rode forward to
investigate. Twenty yards ahead he came to a clearing in the woods,
stretching out for a possible quarter of a mile.
In the very center of this clearing the lad made out a strange sight.
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