These sound too many for us." The men kept watch, and saw the soldiers file by.

There were close upon two hundred.

It would have been madness to attack them, and the Rangers looked at one another in disappointment.
"Cheer up! there may be more to come," suggested Rogers; and before another hour had passed, their listening ears were rewarded by the sound of a bugle call, and in a few minutes more the trampling of feet was heard once again, and this time the sound was less and more irregular.
"Some stragglers kept behind for something, seeking to catch up the main body," spoke Rogers in a whisper.

"Be ready, men; mark each his foe, and then out upon them, and take prisoners if you can." The taking of prisoners was most important.

It was from them that each side learned what was being done by the various commanders.