French to keep up the border war. Unless we can take them by
surprise, we be all dead men; for they are as ten to one, and are
armed to the teeth."

Charles's face in the moonlight was set and stern.

"Here is a stack of wood," he said. "Let every man take his fagot;
but be silent as death."

Plainly these men knew what they had come to do. In perfect
silence, yet with an exercise of considerable strength, they loaded
themselves with the dry brushwood, and split logs which the Indians
had cut and piled up ready for use either to burn or for the
building of their huts. Then, thus loaded, they crept like ghosts
or ghouls through the sleeping street of the Indian town, and piled
their burdens against the walls of the centre hut, which belonged
to the chief.

Twice and thrice was this thing repeated; but Charles remained
posted beside the door of the house, working in a strange and
mysterious fashion at the entrance. Upon his face was a strange,
set smile. Now and again he shook his clinched hand towards the
heavens, as though invoking the aid or the wrath of the Deity.

The bold little band were in imminent peril. One accidental slip or
fall, an unguarded word, an involuntary cough, and the lives of the
whole party might pay the forfeit. They were in the heart of an
Indian village, enemies and spies. But the good fortune which so
often attends upon some rash enterprise was with them tonight. They
completed their task, and drew away from the silent place as