"
"I suppose I shall come straight out again?" Ralph asked.
"I should think so; for with all this still-hunting business three
officers are wanted here. But of course you will report yourself to
the colonel and get orders. Here are the orders he gave me to give
you. You are to start early, make a twenty-mile march, halt for the
night, and go on again the first thing in the morning. You are to hire
a cart for the wounded prisoners, and to exercise the utmost vigilance
on the way. The men are to carry loaded muskets. It is not likely
there will be any attempt at a rescue; but such things have happened
before now. If anything of the sort should take place, and you find
that you are likely to get worsted, your orders are that you are not
to let the Red Captain be carried off alive. Put a man specially over
him, with instructions to shoot him rather than let him be taken away
from him. The colonel will hold you harmless. The scoundrel has
committed too many murders to be allowed to go free."
"I understand," Ralph said, "and will carry out the orders; and now I
will be off at once, for it will be dark in an hour."
Ralph was glad to find that the two officers were going on better than
he had expected. Lieutenant Desmond was already up, with his arm in
splints and a great patch of plaster across his forehead.
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