circular saw was, and a stretch of the flume that brought the logs down from the mountainside on the other bank of the stream. The stream showed clear and smooth-looking in the glasses and, below the curl of the falling water, the spray from the dam was blowing in the wind.
"There is no sentry."
"There is smoke coming from the millhouse," the old man said. "There are also clothes hanging on a line."
"I see them but I do not see any sentry."
"Perhaps he is in the shade," the old man explained. "It is hot there now. He would be in the shadow at the end we do not see."
"Probably. Where is the next post"
"Below the bridge. It is at the roadmender''s hut at kilometer five from the top of the pass."
"How many men are here" He pointed at the mill.
"Perhaps four and a corporal."
"And below"
"More. I will find out."
"And at the bridge"
"Always two. One at each end."
"We will need a certain number of men," he said. "How many men can you get"
"I can bring as many men as you wish," the old man said. "There are many men now here in the hills."
"How many"
"There are more than a hundred. But they are in small bands. How many men will you need"
"I will let you know when we have studied the bridge."
"Do you wish to study it now"
"No. Now I wish to go to where we will hide this explosive until it is time. I would like to have it hidden in utmost security at a distance no greater than half an hour from the bridge, if that is possible."