"
Three times the man came and went, while they waited, timing him. And Harry
found that he passed the spot at which they had entered every fifteen
minutes. That was not exact for there was a variation of a minute or so,
but it seemed pretty certain that he would pass between thirteen and
seventeen minutes after the hour, and so on.
"So we'll know when it's safe to make a dash to get out," said Harry. "The
first thing a general does, you know, is to secure his retreat. He doesn't
expect to be beaten, but he wants to know that he can live to fight another
day if he is."
"We've got to retreat, haven't we?" said Dick. "It wouldn't do us any good
to stay here."
"That's so. But we've got to advance first. Now to get near that house,
and see what we can find. Look out for those traps and things our friend
warned us of. It looks like just the place for them. And keep to cover!"
They wormed their way forward, often crawling along. Both knew a good deal
about traps and how they are set, and their common sense enabled them to
see the most likely places for them. They kept to open ground, avoiding
shrubbery and what looked like windfalls of branches. Before they came into
full view of the house they had about a quarter of a mile to go. And it was
an exciting journey.
They dared not speak to one another.
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