his comrades knew very well that they had merely been
propelled by swift paddles toward the shore.

"It's the signal," exclaimed Henry. "We are not to pass without a
fight."

The five stopped their boat, the _Independence_ also stopped, and the
whole fleet stopped with them. The sound of a rifle shot from the right
bank rose above the sweep of the wind and the rain, and then from the
left bank came a similar report. The five knew at once that these were
signals, although they could not yet surmise what they portended. But
the fact was soon disclosed.

A sudden blaze of light appeared on the high south bank, and then, as if
in answer to it, another blaze sprang up on the equally high north bank.
Both leaped high, and the roar of the flames could be heard mingling
with that of the wind and rain.

The effect of this sudden emergence of light from dark was startling.
The hills clothed in forest, dripping with water, leaped out, the water
turned from black to gray, and the fleet in its two stationary lines
could now be seen distinctly.

"What a transformation!" exclaimed Paul. The faces of his comrades were
lurid in the light from the two great bonfires, taking on an almost
unearthly tinge.

But Henry Ware said:

"It is Timmendiquas! It is his master-stroke! He has built these great
bonfires which rain cannot put out in order to place us in the light!
On, boys, the faster we go now the better!"

Adam Colfax also understood, and, as he gave the signal, the huge sweeps
made the _Independence_ leap forward. Behind her the whole fleet
advanced rapidly. It was well that they had protected the sides of their
boats as much as they could with planks and bales of goods, as a great
rifle fire was immediately opened upon them from either bank. Hundreds
of bullets splashed the water, buried themselves in the bales or wood,
and some struck the rowers.

But the fleet did not stop. It went straight on as fast as the men could
send it, and few shots were fired in reply. Yet they could see the forms
of warriors outlined in black tracery against the fires. Two other
fires, equally large, and opposite each other, leaped up further on.
Henry had not underrated the greatness of Timmendiquas as a forest
general. Even with all the elements against him, he would devise plans
for keeping his enemy from forcing the watery pass.

Paul was appalled. He had been through scenes of terror, but never such
another as this. The Indians had begu