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
the wild, and the fire of a new adventure thrilled their souls. The
great guns had roared, and what else did it mean but a fight with a
desperate foe in the narrow harbour? And if they could see the
struggle, what a tale they would have to tell their comrades around the
camp fires in the heart of the great forest.

As they gained the summit of the hill, the trail led them through
clearings where the trees had been cut for fuel. Piles of brush were
on all sides, and in places cords of wood lined the way which here
widened into a rough road. They were coming into the limits of
civilisation now, and the view of the Fort was much more distinct. The
great guns gave no further voice, but as they neared the crest of the
hill which slopes down to the harbour, a new and peculiar sound fell
upon their ears. They paused and listened intently, but could not
understand its meaning.

Cautiously they advanced, alert, and ready to flee to the shelter of
the forest should occasion require. For a time nothing unusual could
they see, although the strange sound was becoming more audible.
Reaching at length the brow of the hill, they stopped dead in their
tracks at a wonderful sight. Below lay the harbour, where vessels
large and small were riding calmly at anchor. Where had they come
from? and what were they doing there? Such were the questions which
leaped to Dane's mind. Small boats were coming from the ships, loaded
with people, while on the shore and some distance from the water
throngs of men, women, and children were either huddled in groups, or
hurrying to and fro in the most exci