d to leave this pretty much in the hands of
Francois, whose practical experience was worth much more than any theory
that could be studied out of scout books.

The French Canadian voyageur quickly understood what was expected of
him, after he had received the signal. Although the boys had been in his
company for weeks now, they had never seen him so alert and active. He
seemed to be watching every angle of the compass at the same moment, and
twice raised his gun and fired backward, as though he had discovered
some lurking foe.

That this was far from imagination they saw when the second shot came;
for hardly had it echoed through the hills than a form was seen to rush
into view, and a man in rough clothes flashed across an open space,
holding to his left arm, as though he might have received the guide's
lead in that shoulder.

"You pinked him, Francois, sure you did that time!" cried Jimmy
excitedly; "don't I just wish I had your quick eyes, though? I didn't
see a single thing moving up there; but you did, Francois. Old Eagle Eye
I'm going to call you after this. Oh! why don't one of 'em step out, and
let me take a snapshot at him?"

It seemed as though the others were not that obliging, for while several
shots were fired, without doing the explorers any damage, Jimmy could
see nothing of the men who used their guns. He, finally, being unable to
stand it any longer, sent a couple of shots at the spot where he saw
smoke rising, after another fusilade had come.

"Guess I'm on the blink when it comes to sharpshooting," bemoaned Jimmy;
"why, at this rate, I'll never get the stock of my trusty rifle covered
with notches, to show the number of ferocious pirates I've bowled over.
It's a measly shame, that's all."

At any rate, they seemed to be making a successful "getaway," as Jack
called it; because they were gradually leaving these hidden marksmen
further and further behind. The next shot showed that the handler of the
gun was quite some distance away. He must have taken more pains to aim,
however, than up to now had been the case, for immediately the "ping" of
the bullet was plainly heard as it winged its flight only a short
distance above their heads, flattening out against the face of the rock
beyond.

This thing of being under fire was no new experience with these scouts.
They had on several occasions heard lead sing past their ears; but, all
the same, none of them enjoyed the sensation very much. It was apt to