But, first, he gave the map to Shepard to carry.
Sergeant Whitley came down the slope and joined them.
"I think we'd better lie down, all of us," he said.
Now the real leadership passed to the sergeant, scout, trailer and skilled Indian fighter.

It passed to him, because all of them knew that the conditions made him most fit for the place.

They knelt or lay but held their weapons ready.

The sergeant knelt by Dick's side and the youth saw that he was tense and expectant.
"Is it a band of the Johnnies ?" he whispered.
"I merely heard 'em.

I didn't see 'em," replied the sergeant, "but I'm thinkin' from the way they come creepin' through the woods that it's Slade and his gang." "If that's so we'd better look out.