The music, if music it could be called--was greeted with roars of
laughter, and ceased at once.

"Oh this will never do!" cried Maud; "we must settle upon some one of
the national airs. Shall it be 'Yankee Doodle'?"

"Yes," they all said, and began again, with less discord but not keeping
very good time.

Harold and his party were in the fort, a huge heap of balls beside them.

"Now man your guns, my lads, and be ready to give a vigorous repulse to
the approaching foe," he said.

Chester had drawn up his men in line of battle. Max was among them.

"Wait!" he cried, "I'm going into the fort."

"What! going to desert in the face of the enemy?" queried Chester.

"Yes; I can't fight against that flag," pointing to it with uplifted
hand. "Fire on the stars and stripes? _Never_! 'The flag of our Union
forever!'"

"Oh is that all? Well, we're not going to fight against it, my boy; it's
ours, and we're going to take it from them and carry it in triumph at
the head of our column."

"No, sir; its ours," retorted Harold, "and we stand ready to defend it