Moreover, the choice was already made for them, because Billy was now running to the stable for his horse.
"He goes with us, or rather he leads us, Cousin Eliza," said Dalton.
Billy appeared the next instant, with his horse saddled and bridled, and his own proud young self in the saddle.
"Billy, take 'em straight," said his Spartan mother, as she drew him down in the saddle and kissed him, and Billy, more swollen with pride than ever, promised that he would.

But the mother's voice broke a little when she said to Dalton: "He's to guide you wherever you want to go, but you must bring him back to me unhurt." "We will, Cousin Eliza," said Dalton earnestly.
Then they galloped away in the dark with Billy leading and riding like a Comanche.

He had taken a fresh horse from the stall and it was almost as powerful as those ridden by Harry and Dalton.
"See the mountains," said Billy, pointing eastward to a long dark line dimly visible in the moonlight.

"That's the Blue Ridge, and further south is the Gap, but you can't see it at night until you come right close to it." "Do you know any path through the woods, Billy ?" asked Harry.

"We don't want to run the risk of capture." "I was just about to lead you into it," replied the boy, still rejoicing in the importance of his role.