y the guard in some way; but how? Suddenly he sat
up in bed and looked out of the window. It was moonlight, and he could
see some distance through the trees into a large field at the end of the
garden.

"Yes, that will work," he murmured. "I don't want to do it, but it's the
only thing I can think of, and we've _got_ to get that field-gun
somehow."

So, having at last made up his mind, he turned over and fell asleep.

* * * * *

"Fire! fire! fire!" clanged the great iron bell, putting all the toy
cannons to shame.

"Fire! fire!" shouted the men and boys as they dropped their pipes and
their fire-crackers, and started in the direction from which a volume of
smoke rose black and dense against the clear sky. There were not many
fires in Raleigh, and this looked like a promising one. From all parts
of the little town the people swarmed, eager for any excitement that
would help to celebrate the holiday.

"Now's our chance," whispered Tommy to the "Reds," as, ensconced behind
a hedge, they watched the crowd assemble. "We've got to hustle, for the
fire won't last long."

"The fellows are all there, except Jim White," returned Dick, "and there
he comes, puffing like a steam-engine."

"Then we're safe. Have you got the rope all ready, Billy?"

"Yes, slip-knot and all."

"Then come on, fellows."

And the boys cast one lingering glance at the crackling flames, the
fire-engine, and the crowd, then turned round and started heroically in
the opposite direction. They knew well where the cannon was, for had not
the victorious party jeered at them from the top of the shed, when they
went to reconnoitre early in the morning? They looked cautiously over
the gate of Davis's barn-yard. All was quiet. They opened the gate, and
walked softly in. Yes, there stood the bone of contention, alone,
unguarded, its mouth pointed towards the barn.

"Hurry up, Bert; you understand about putting on the rope," said the
nervous Sergeant, as he watched the smoke against the sky growing
perceptibly less.

"They'll suspect us, sure," replied Joe, "when they find we're not
there."

"Think of missing a fire!" groaned Bert; "and such a beauty too!"

By the time the boys were ready to start the smoke had almost died away,
and the shouts had entirely subsided.

"We must fight to-day, fellows, or break up the company," said Tommy, as
they toiled up the field dragging the gun after them over the rough
ground.