essed such sharpshooting,
and Manitou was certainly turning his face away from them. They began to
use the sweeps frantically, and the boat with its cannon sheered away to
escape the deadly bullets.

Henry and Seth were reloading with quickness and dispatch.

"These are good rifles of ours that carry far, and they're still within
range," said Henry.

"I'm thinkin' that we kin reach 'em," said Seth.

"I'll take the warrior near the head of the boat."

"I'll take the one a leetle further down."

"Ready, Seth?"

"I'm thinkin' I am."

The two pulled trigger at the same time, and both warriors fell. The
boat, rocking heavily under the efforts of many hands at the sweeps, was
driven furiously out of range, and Henry and Seth laughed low, but with
pleased content. This was war, and they were fighting for the lives of
women and children.

"I'm thinkin' that we've put 'em to guessin' for a while," said Seth.

"We surely have," said Henry, "and as those cannon won't come into
action again for some time we'd better get back into the fort."

"Yes, we had," said Seth, "but I'm thinkin' I'm mighty glad you brought
me along. Don't know when I've enjoyed myself so much. Curious, though,
they didn't spot us there."

"Too much of their own cannon smoke floating about. Anyway, we've beat
cannon balls with rifle bullets--that is, for the present. See, all the
canoes, too, are going back to the other side of the river."

"Yes, an' the firin' on the fur side o' the fort's dyin' down. They must
have seen what's happened, and are changin' tactics."

The ascent of the cliff was more difficult, but they managed to make it,
still keeping under cover, and scaled the palisade. Major Braithwaite
greeted them with joy and gratitude.

"I was afraid that neither of you would ever come back," he said, "but
here you are and you've driven off the cannon with rifles. It was great
work, in the name of Neptune, it was!"

"No work at all," said Seth Cole, "jest play. Enjoyed myself
tremenjeously."

The attack from the woods now ceased, as Henry reckoned it would when
the cannon were driven off. He believed that there was concerted action
on land and water, and that Timmendiquas had arrived. All the movements
of the besieging force showed the mind of a general.

When the last shot was fired the Major and Henry made a tour about the
fort. Three more lives had been lost and there were wounds, some
serious, but they were upborne by a second