had saved him from being cut
off, as he certainly would have been had not his hunting been
interrupted. So he led Donald to his own quarters, showed him where to
find food and drink, and then left him to recover his strength.

The so-called fort of Presque Isle was but a collection of a dozen low
wooden buildings ranged about a parade ground, in which was the single
well of the place. It was unprotected by palisades or walls of any
kind; but was provided with a citadel in shape of a stout blockhouse
that stood at one angle of the fort and was separated by a few yards of
open space from the quarters of the commanding officer.

The location of the post was unfortunate, from a military point of
view, in that it occupied a small, open flat, commanded on one side by
the beach ridge of the lake, and on another by the equally high bank of
a stream that entered the lake at a right angle.

The first fire of the enemy, who had fully expected to surprise the
place and effect its capture as a mere incident in their pursuit of
Cuyler, was delivered from the beach ridge and was harmless. A few
minutes later, however, there came a scathing cross-fire from the high
creek-bank on the other side. By this, one man who was crossing the
parade was killed and several were wounded. A little later tongues of
flame appeared on the bark-covered roof of a building, and it was
evident that no place of safety existed outside the blockhouse. To
this, then, Christie ordered the immediate retreat of his entire force.

Already were the rifles of several picked marksmen blazing from the
upper story of this stronghold, and the rest of the garrison, by
running close along the sheltering walls of the other buildings, gained
in safety the protection of its stout logs.

"Sorry not to give you a little longer breathing spell, old man," said
Ensign Christie to Donald, as he entered his own quarters for the last
time; "but those chaps out there are so inconsiderate in their shooting
that it has become necessary for us to move. So if you will just step
over to the castle, we will try to entertain you there, and can at
least promise you plenty of occupation."

"All right," replied Donald, "I'm ready, and nearly as fit as ever; but
have you any hope of beating them off eventually, Christie? If not, I
want to make a break for the woods as soon as it comes dark. I must
get back up the lake, for I am not yet prepared to give up the search
for my sister