Chapter 45

Saturday

CALEB LED THEM along the ridge at a good pace,following the stream until the land began to rise sharply.“Here’s where we left the stream,”he said.“If the men haven’t left their camp,we’ll see them in thirty or forty minutes.”

“It’s time to proceed very quietly then,”Josh said,and the others nodded in agreement.“Lead on,Caleb.”

Jake was astonished at how quietly Caleb and Jethro slipped through the undergrowth.It’s just like in the books I’ve read,he thought,I don’t even hear any twigs snapping.

Eventually,Caleb slowed down,then came to a stop.He turned to look at the others,pointed to his nose,and audibly sniffed.

Josh sniffed,and mouthed the word,“smoke.”He nodded his head,and motioned Caleb over to where he and the others were.He dropped his voice to a whisper.“Okay,guys,time to put our plan into action.Is everyone ready?”

Heads nodded,and Josh turned to Caleb.“It’s time to crawl,isn’t it?”

“Yes,Sir.”