e towards
the river. It would have answered no purpose to stop and ascertain
this, though, should such be the case, it was more necessary than ever
to gain the fort without delay.

Descending the hill, they pushed forward as before; but Norman cast many
an uneasy glance to the left, fearing that the savages might, having
swam their horses across the river, pounce suddenly out upon them.

They had got about half-way, when the sound of distant firing reached
their ears.

"Where can that come from?" asked Hector, who was riding with his
brother.

"From the fort, I am afraid," answered Norman. "The Blackfeet must have
attacked it, hoping to get in while some of the garrison are away; but
my father will, I trust, have been prepared for them, though I am afraid
that some traders, who arrived just before we set off, must have come
with treacherous designs, and will try to help their friends outside."

"I thought before this that a fine fellow who came with us--Allan Keith,
one of your clerks--would have arrived with a party of half-breeds, whom
he expected to enlist," said Hector. "We calculated that he would have
been here, as we were greatly delayed on our journey," and he briefly
related the adventures Loraine and he had met with.

"Hurrah! Here's a level place. We can push on," cried Norman; and the
party, putting their horses into a gallop, dashed forward. As they did
so, rapid firing, echoing among the hills, was again and again heard,
evidently coming from the direction of the fort.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

The glowing sun was touching the line where the blue sky and prairie
met, his rays casting a ruddy hue over the calm surface of the river,
when the party, conducted by Norman, reached the northern bank opposite
the fort, they having been delayed by attending to the wounded man, who
could with difficulty be brought along. As they descended the slope to
the river they caught sight of a body of horsemen galloping away across
the prairie. Norman, as he watched them, was certain that they were the
savages who had pursued his party.

"Thank Heaven, the Redskins have been defeated!" exclaimed Hector; "but
had it not been for the warning you sent my father, friend Sass, the
case might have been very different."

Norman now hailed at the top of his voice for a boat.

In a short time two men were seen launching one from a shed close to the
water. They quickly brought her across. As she would not carry the
w