to the last gasp. Come on; take it if you can! We dare you to do it?"

"Up then and at 'em, boys!" shouted Chester. "Go double quick and charge
right over the breast works!"

The command was instantly obeyed, the works were vigorously assaulted,
and as vigorously defended, snowballs flying thick and fast in both
directions.

Max leaped over the breast works and seized the flag. Harold tore it
from his hands, threw him over into the snow on the outside, and
replanted the flag on the top of the breast work.

Max picked himself up, ran round to the other side of the fort, and
finding Harold and the other large boys among the defenders, each
engaged in a hand to hand scuffle with a besieger, so that only little
Walter was left to oppose him, again leaped over the barrier, seized the
flag, leaped back and sped away toward the house waving it in triumph
and shouting, "Hurrah! victory is ours!"

"Not so fast young man!" shouted back Herbert, bounding over the breast
works and giving chase, all the rest following, some to aid him in
recovering the lost standard, the others to help Max to keep out of his
reach.

Herbert was agile and fleet of foot, but so was Max. Back and forth, up
and down he ran, now dodging his pursuers behind trees and shrubs, now
taking a flying leap over some low obstacle, and speeding on, waving the
flag above his head and shouting back derisively at those who were
trying to catch him.