130 CXXX. The Wagon

Being the steep climb, the three explorers were able to reach the summit, hiding in a small grove of sturdy and squat trees.

They crouched down and continued compact, Dag and Reidar forward and Karl further back.

As Dag predicted, there were guards.

Three men with torches stood still, about a hundred yards from each other.

Behind them, the descent continued, until it reached a small but high wooden palisade.

"Behind those wooden walls must be the operating base of those bastards" Dag whispered, turning to his friends so as not to disperse his voice.

They approached a few more meters, remaining hidden in the vegetation.

Behind the fence, Dag spotted two roofs and a chimney, throwing out white smoke.

"There are only two houses behind those walls and they don't look very big. I don't think there are more than 20 men inside. Including the guards, they should be about 25" Dag continued.