Benjamin stared into the distance, watching the wildlife around him. As his eyes scanned the path up ahead, he noticed what looked like a hastily erected barrier. He squinted his eyes so he could make it out more clearly. It consisted of two fallen maple trees - it looked as though they had been cut down. He pulled back hard on the reins and the horses reared and whinnied. The Sergeant, noticing the barrier as well, did the same.
Benjamin warily approached the barrier with rifle in hand. Not a sound was heard behind the fallen trees. The Sergeant and his aide studied the path up ahead for any signs of human activity - none could be seen.
At this point Benjamin was frustrated, as the barrier offered no openings for himself and the others to squeeze through, much less the coach. The Sergeant thought it was better to be cautious and remain here for the time being, although Benjamin disagreed. He thought that the coach should try to find another path as soon as possible.
"Thomas Preston has an agenda, you know! Delaying the delivery of cash is not an option!" argued Benjamin.
"Be reasonable," said the Sergeant "we'd be wasting more time trying to find another path than staying here."
Reluctantly, Benjamin agreed to stay put for the night.
"But we leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow!"he reminded the Sergeant before dozing off.
Stewart Mac was left on sentry duty, and as the night fell, the warm glow of his torch settled over the landscape. He wondered, what could possibly be behind that barrier?
End of chapter one.
