‘The map says there are caves all through them. And the Outsiders just love to hide away in dark places. I think we’ll go into combat formation,’ he added.
Will glanced at him, but the suggestion made sense. The countryside here was open and the going was easy. There was no reason to bunch up together on the trail. Combat formation meant they would ride on a wide front, with some thirty metres between them. That made them a more difficult target and it allowed each of them to provide cover and support for his companions if necessary.
Will edged Tug out to the left, while Horace went right. Halt stayed in the centre and they rode quietly, in a long extended line, for about an hour. Then Halt whistled and placed his clenched fist on top of his head, the field signal for ‘join me’.
Mystified, because he had seen nothing to indicate a reason to move closer again, Will trotted Tug through the long grass to where Halt sat waiting on Abelard. Horace joined them a few moments later and Will waited until he was with them before he queried Halt.
‘What is it?’
Halt looked a little puzzled. ‘What’s what?’
Alarm bells began to jangle even louder than before in Will’s brain at the reply. He spoke carefully and patiently.
‘Halt, you put us into combat formation an hour or so ago. Now you’re calling us in. What happened to make you change your mind?’
‘Oh, that!’ A look of comprehension dawned on Halt’s face as he realised the reason for Will’s question. ‘I just thought we might ride together for a while. I was feeling … lonely, I suppose.’

Halt's Peril, Chapter 24