"Come on, then, Pete," the young man ordered. "The sooner we get
through with our business, the sooner you can come back for your ducks.
One of those fat fellows would go well for supper."

Turning somewhat to the right, they followed the trail over the rugged
hills, where through breaks in the trees they could catch occasional
glimpses of the marsh and the water beyond. The way here was rough,
and their progress somewhat slow. But steadily they plodded on,
knowing that their destination was now not far off.

After crossing an exceptionally bad piece of ground, they came out upon
a pleasant little lake lying like a gem among the hills. At its outlet
was a small saw-mill, but now idle, and with no one in sight. Here
they paused for a few minutes, and when they were about to proceed a
great roar startled them. It was quickly followed by three more in
rapid succession, and then all was still.

"It's the Fort cannon!" Dane exclaimed, much excited. "Something's
happening over there. Maybe that old pirate, Crabtree, has come up the
harbour again. He won't find Fort Howe as easy to take as Fort
Frederick, let me tell you that. Come on, Pete, let's see the fun."

Hurrying on their way, ere long they reached the summit of a hill above
the lake, from which position they were able to obtain the first view
of the Fort away in the distance. The guns were silent now, and no
sign of life could they see.

Below stretched a deep wooded valley through which the trail ran. It
did not take the excited men long to speed down the hill and up the
opposite side. The roar of the cannon had roused these hardy sons of