Here, their carbines cocked and ready for instant use, they
remained standing for what appeared to them ages, listening with
the most intense earnestness for any sound which might tell of the
failure or success of their father's enterprise.
Mr. Hardy had ridden on for, as nearly as he could tell, two miles,
so that he was now to the southwest of the enemy; then, turning
west, he kept along for another mile, when he judged that he was,
as nearly as possible, a mile in their direct rear. He now advanced
with the greatest caution, every faculty absorbed in the sense of
listening. He was soon rewarded by the sound of the baaing of the
sheep; and dismounting and leading his horse, he gradually
approached the spot. At last, on ascending a slight rise, he
fancied that he could make out a black mass, at a distance of a
quarter of a mile. Of this, however, he was not certain; but he was
sure, from an occasional sound, that the herd was exactly in this
direction, and at about that distance.
He now left his horse, taking the precaution of tying all four
legs, to prevent his starting off at the sound of the rockets. He
next set to work to cut some turf, with which he formed a narrow
sloping bank, with a hollow for the rocket to rest in--calculating
the exact distance, and the angle required.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203