IN THE FOREST.

"See, Peter!" Harold exclaimed; "there is a whole fleet of boats
ahead."

"I sees 'em," Peter said, "and have seed 'em for the last quarter of
an hour. It's Schuyler, with the rest of what they calls their army.
Steer a little out of the course; we must pass close by 'em. They
won't suspect nothing wrong and will suppose we are merely carrying a
message."

In half an hour they were abreast of the flotilla, consisting of
flatboats laden with troops. With them were two or three Indian
canoes. Peter steered so as to pass at a distance of a hundred and
fifty yards. They rowed less strongly now, but still vigorously.
There was a shout from the boat.

"All well on the island?"

"All well," Peter shouted back, waving his hand, and without further
word the canoe passed on. "There! do you hear that?" Peter exclaimed.
"They're firing shots from the canoes to call their attention. The
chances are they won't hear them, for the rattle of their oars and
the talking and the row they're making are enough to drown the sound
of a cannon. Now put it on again as hard as you can. Another hour
will take us to the landing place."

They could see, when the flotilla came up to the pursuing boats, that
the canoes which accompanied it turned their heads and joined in the
pursuit, but they were now near three miles ahead and there was no