After they had all satisfied their hunger, Fortner informed Harry and Aunt Debby that the enemy had fallen back to London, from which point he was sending out wagons into the surrounding country, to gather up food, forage, arms, clothing, ammunition, etc., with the double object of depriving the Union men of them, and adding the same to the Rebel resources.

A long train had also been sent out to the Goose Creek Salt Works--twenty-five miles northeast of London--to bring away a lot of salt stored there, of which the Rebels had even more need than of food.
Fortner proposed to go out in the morning, and endeavor to capture some of these wagons.

It seemed altogether probably that a few might be caught in such a position that their guards could be killed or driven off.
All readily agreed to this plan, Aunt Debby leading off by volunteering to ride ahead on her mare, as a scout.
Harry suddenly remembered that he was weaponless.

"What shall I do for a gun ?" he asked, anxiously.
"I declar, I done forgot all 'bout gittin' ye a gun," said Fortner with real concern.

"My mind was disturbed by other things," he added with a suspicion of a grin at Edwards and Bolton; but they were leaning back in their chairs fast asleep.