It was a long and exciting race, but at last he was caught; Herbert
overtook him, seized him with one hand, the flag with the other.

Max wrenched himself free, but Herbert's superior strength compelled him
to yield the flag after a desperate struggle to retain his hold upon it.

Then with a wild hue and cry Chester's party chased Herbert till after
doubling and turning several times, he at length regained the fort and
restored the flag to its place.

The next instant Harold and the rest of his command regained and
reoccupied the fort, the attacking party following close at their heels,
and the battle with the snowballs recommenced with redoubled fury.

All this was witnessed with intense interest by the spectators at the
windows and on the veranda; at the beginning of the chase the band
forgot to play and dropping their instruments employed themselves in
encouraging pursuers or pursued with clapping of hands and shouts of
exultation over their exploits.

The contest was kept up for a long time, the flag taken and retaken
again and again till the fort was quite demolished by the repeated
assaults, and the snow well trodden down all about the spot where it had
stood.

The lads, too, found themselves ready to enjoy rest within doors after
their continued violent exertion.

Some quiet games filled up the remainder of the morning and the