right."

"Yes, everything is working well so far. Have you found out anything
new?"

"Nothing except that some of the rebels have gathered at Pine Lake, and
others are expected to-morrow. Pete and I were trailing them to-day,
and it was rare sport."

"I hope you were careful, Dane."

"We are always careful, though it wasn't necessary to-day. The Indians
were quite cautious, but some of the white men lumbered along like
oxen, cursing and complaining at a great rate. Flazeet and Rauchad had
quite a time with them, and kept encouraging them with promises of rum
and the fun they would have with the Loyalists."

"They'll get a different kind of fun from what they expect," Davidson
replied. "And the more rum they swig, the better it will be for us.
How far is it from here to the lake?"

"About five miles in a straight course. We can do it easily in an hour
and a half."

"Oh, you could do it all right in that time, and less, for that matter.
But all here are not so well accustomed to the woods at night. Isn't
that so, Colonel?"

"It certainly is," was the emphatic reply. "I shall need two or three
hours, for I find the walking very difficult. And, besides, one has to
be careful not to make any noise."

"Whatever noise we make will not trouble the rebels," and Davidson
laughed. "They'll be sleeping as sound as babies by daylight."

In a short time Pete arrived with the recruits from Kingston, and they
were given a hearty welcome. It was a glad meeting for the Loyalists,
and they spent several hours in earnest conversation about their
various affairs, and exchanging bits of information concerning the old
homes they had left. The men from Kingston described the progress they
were making in clearing their lands, and building their houses.

Several small fires had been started, and around these the men
gathered. The night was cool, and a stiff wind from the northwest
swayed the tops of the great trees. Had it not been for the serious
business upon which they were bent, the Loyalists would have enjoyed
the outing immensely. But the thought of what lay ahead was ever with
them. There was something uncanny about this camping-spot in the
forest, and they often glanced apprehensively toward the walls of
blackness which surrounded them. They were not cowards, for their
courage had been fully proved in many a hard fight. Even the Colonel
felt somewhat depressed as the night wore on. It seemed weird and
u