“general, the men are getting restless. they want to get into action and it seems to me that we ought to hurry our plans for the attack,” said the old soldier. the two little officers were sitting at the tiny table in front of the general’s tent.
“yes, i believe you’re right,” answered the general thoughtfully. “the plans for the attack are almost ready, but i would like to get some more information about the wild men. i’d like to know just how many are guarding the fort, what sort of arms they have and a lot of other details. the turk has been able to get much valuable information, but the grass is so tall around the fort that he has not been able to get very near in the airplane, so i’m afraid i’ll have to send the scouts out for the facts i want.”
“that’s mighty dangerous,” said the old soldier, stroking his beard. “the jungle is full of the saboes—they are swarming all through the grass, thicker than ants on a chocolate drop.”
“yes, i know it’s dangerous, but i believe the cowboy and the indian can get through unseen and bring back the information i want,” the general said. “either one of the little fellows is at home in the woods and grass. they are both pastmasters in covering up their tracks. why, i believe the indian could walk through a lady’s powder box without ever leaving a single track,” and the general said it so earnestly there was no doubt but that he spoke the truth.
turning to the guard that stood near his tent, the general ordered him to bring the indian and the cowboy. “tell them it is important and that i wish them to report at once.”
in a few minutes the two scouts appeared and, clicking their tiny heels together, they saluted in the most approved military fashion.
“you sent for us, sir?” said the cowboy.
“yes,” answered the general, looking seriously at the sturdy little men. “i have a piece of work for you to do. first i want to tell you that it is mighty risky—in fact, it is extremely dangerous. i will not send you unless you are willing to go—you shall choose.”
“we are ready to go,” answered the little scouts quietly, and their loyalty touched the general greatly.
“i want you to go to the wild men’s fort and get all the information you can,” said the general. “find out how many men they have, what sort of weapons they use, note the condition of their fort and get some idea of the ground beyond the fort. get all the facts you can and report to me as soon as possible.”
“yes, sir,” answered the scouts and, saluting, they hurried to their tent, where they buckled on their tiny pistols. next they each secured a supply of dried minnow and half a boiled bean, which they stuffed into their pockets.
they slipped quietly out of camp and after a long and tiresome trip they finally drew near to the wild men’s fort. they could hear the voices of the wild men now and then and the two teenie weenies were forced to steal along with the greatest care. presently they crawled up to a place quite near the fort where they could see the wild men every now and then through the long grass. the scouts watched the wild men for several hours and it was quite late before the little fellows could find a chance to crawl away safely and unseen.
several times on their way back to the teenie weenie camp the scouts were forced to hide under leaves and dry grass to keep from being discovered, and once they had to lie for almost an hour in a hollow stick, as several wild men stopped near them to rest.
“it be heap much dark soon,” grunted the indian as he peered through the grass at the sky.
“we can never get back to camp before night and we couldn’t possibly get through this jungle in the dark, so we’ve got to find some place to spend the night,” whispered the cowboy.
the two teenie weenies found a deserted bird’s nest in a bush near by, and, climbing up the bush, they soon made themselves comfortable for the night.
early in the morning the little scouts were awakened by voices, and looking over the edge of the nest, they saw several wild men coming towards the bush. the wild men stopped beneath the bush, where they soon made a fire and cooked pieces of frog ham for their breakfast.
the two teenie weenies had eaten what little food they had brought with them the day before and as they smelled the delicious meat cooking it made them as hungry as bears. there were too many of the saboes for the two scouts to fight, so they could do nothing but lie quiet until the wild men had gone. in a short time the wild men finished their breakfast and after talking in their strange language for a few minutes they hurried away.
when the wild men had disappeared into the jungle of tall grass near by, the two scouts carefully climbed out of the nest and set off in the direction of the teenie weenie camp. several times they had to hide behind sticks and leaves when the wild men passed near them, and once, three of the savage little fellows came so close to the spot where the scouts lay hidden that they thought they would surely be discovered. it was almost evening before the cowboy and the indian reached camp and the little fellows reported at once to the general. they gave the commander of the teenie weenie army such valuable news that he at once called in his staff for a council of war.
the little officers talked for a long time and when they finally came out of the general’s tent, it was very plain to see that something was about to happen. officers dashed about the camp giving orders, the doctor and the two nurses busied themselves around the tiny hospital, while paddy pinn spent much time with his teenie weenie cannon.
three of the soldiers carried two big firecrackers into the tunnel the mole had made. in fact, everyone was busy and the whole camp teemed with excitement, wondering as to what was to happen next.
