But he returned in ten minutes, and, although Dick could not see it in his face, he was triumphant.
"There's a glade not more'n four hundred yards ahead," he whispered to the colonel, "and about a hundred and fifty men, armed with long rifles, are lying down in it waiting for a second force, which I judge from the cry of the owl will be there inside of five minutes." "Then," said Colonel Winchester, breathing fast, "we'll wait ten minutes and attack.

It would be a great stroke to wipe out Slade's band.

I'm sorry for those Ohio fellows, but the luck's ours to-night, or I should say that the sergeant's skill as a trailer has given us the chance." It was soon known along the black, winding line that the enemy was at hand, and the men were eager to attack, but they were ordered to have patience for a little while.

Their leader wished to destroy Slade's whole force at one stroke.
Colonel Winchester took out his watch and held it before him in the faint moonlight.

He would not move until the ten minutes exactly had passed.