with two bales of fur in
his hands.

The free-traders, by this time, had almost completed their circle,
and could fire upon the besieged from every side except that which
led down to the lake. Consequently, Donald was forced to cover
every direction at once, and could not concentrate more than two
rifles upon any one point. Presently, the firing from the woods
became hotter, and the Hudson Bay leader, recognizing the symptoms,
crawled back and forth in the narrow trench, speaking to his men.

"They're probably going to try and carry our position with a charge.
Shoot to kill, but don't shoot one man--Charley Seguis."

"But, Captain, he's the ringleader," cried Timmins, annoyed. "If
you finish him, the rest of 'em will go to the four winds."

"I know it," replied McTavish, "but I must still ask you to spare
him. You remember, he saved my life once, although he didn't mean
to, and, besides, I have other and better reasons for asking this:
reasons that I can't tell you now. In time, you'll all know--if we
can get out of this thing alive."

"Oh, pshaw! We'll get out of it alive all right," drawled Buxton.

The man had Yankee blood in him somewhere, for now he was chewing
tobacco industriously, and staining the snow in front of the
barricade, where a loophole between the logs offered him opportunity
for marksmanship of varying sorts.

"Here's hoping, boys," was Donald's rejoinder. "Now, their plan
will probably be this: A stiff fire will suddenly be poured in from
one quarter to draw our attention there. At the same time, a charge
will start from the opposite side, and be upon us before we know
it. Watch for it!"

He had hardly got the words out of his mouth, when there was a
sudden, fierce volley from the point just back of the black spot
where once the warehouse had stood. The men in the trench crouched
low.

"Watch that firing, Timmins and Cameron," was the order. "The rest
face the other way."

The seven fighting men left, swung around, and, in a minute, saw
thirty trees suddenly give birth to thirty gray, swift-moving men,
who, with guns swinging loosely in their hands swooped down the
declivity at alarming speed. Seguis, tall and lithe, led them.

"Fire!" Five of the charging trappers sprawled forward, their arms
outstretched, guns flying, and snowshoes plowing the loose snow
that covered the surface.

"Fire!" One rifle only responded now: the hammers of the others
clicked sharply in unison, but there w