"The enemy, by Jove!" whispered George, who was leading in his usual
eager fashion, pointing out the flag and the hamlet to the lieutenant.
"Wouldn't it be a good joke to whip off their flag from that old mill,
sir!"
The officer laughed at the notion; he was not much more than a boy
himself.
"My lad," said he, "we must know how many the enemy are first."
"I'll climb to the roof there, and from it I can see right down into
the village and command a view of everything in it."
"Do you mean to say, youngster, that you would risk it?" the officer
asked in surprise.
"Oh, wouldn't I, sir," the lad replied with flushed face. "Say the
word, sir, please."
The lieutenant nodded, saying, "It's worth it. But be cautious."
The soldiers looked on while the boy carried out his freak, for such
they judged his bit of reconnoitring to be. Cautiously George crept
towards the mill, the sloping roof of which came almost down to the
very hill side. Tying a wisp of long grass and weeds round each boot,
he crawled noiselessly up till within a foot or two of the ridge. He
paused a moment to gaze down the dingle. There, well seen from his
vantage point, a couple of miles away, ran a far larger valley, which
was filled with tents.
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