"Therefore, to my way of thinking, the sooner we
make a start the better."
Without further delay the lads stepped cautiously from the hut. Keeping
out of the glare of the small fires on the outside they stole away in
the darkness.
At the far end of the camp, toward the river, they came upon a troop of
horses picketed. Silently Hal crept forward, and with his penknife
slashed the ropes with which two of the horses were tied. Leading the
animals quietly some distance away, he gave the bridle of one to Chester.
Quickly both lads leaped to the saddles.
Chester now passed one of the weapons he had taken from Captain Eberhardt
to Hal, and, grasping a bridle in one hand and a revolver in the other,
the lads urged their mounts silently forward.
They passed close to several bodies of moving troops, but were not
challenged.
Hal rode his horse close alongside of Chester.
"We had better bear off to the east or west," he said. "We may not have
so much difficulty in getting across the river there."
"Right," Chester agreed.
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