The attack would not be made until close upon midnight.
Monteith Sterry would be given the chance, provided Duke Vesey showed the way for him.
The crisis was so near that it was deemed best to let all know what was in contemplation.Capt.Asbury, therefore, explained it to the men, as the daughter had explained to the mother.
"Those fellows can't be trusted," the leader added; "they may seek to give the impression that the delay has been granted, while preparing to assail us when least expected.

The night is dark, as you see, and favourable to their plans.

Keep the closest watch possible on all sides of the house, for to set fire to it they must approach near enough to touch the building." "Suppose we catch sight of some one stealing up ?" asked one of the cattlemen.
"Challenge him, and if he does not give a satisfactory response, fire." "What will be a satisfactory response ?" "The voice of Fred Whitney, and I may say of Duke Vesey, or the announcement that the individual is the bearer of a message for us.

In the latter case, of course, he will approach from the front.

When you shoot, too, boys, you mustn't throw away any shots, for this isn't going to be child's play." "We understand that," was the significant response of a couple of the stockmen.
It was now growing so late that Sterry placed himself near the rear door to watch for the expected signal from Vesey, feeling, as the minutes passed, a nervousness greater than at any time before.
Since no light burned in the house, the only means of determining the hour was by striking a match and holding it in front of a watch.