It was altogether likely that Colonel Winchester would not have sent Dick unless he had been able to send the wise sergeant with him.
"While you are guarding us from ambush," he said to Dick, "be sure you don't fall into an ambush yourself." "Not while Whitley, here, is with us," replied Dick.

"He learned while out on the plains, not only to have eyes in the back of his head, but to have 'em in the sides of it as well.

In addition he can hear the fall of a leaf a mile away." The sergeant shook his head and uttered an emphatic no in protest, but in his heart he was pleased.

He was a sergeant who liked being a sergeant, and he was proud of all his wilderness and prairie lore.
Dick gave the word and the little troop galloped away to the right, zealous in its task and beating up every wood and thicket for the hidden riflemen who were so dangerous.

At intervals they saw the cavalry force riding steadily on, and again they were hidden from it by forest or bush.
More than an hour passed and they saw no foe.