, all the rest following, some to aid him in
recovering the lost standard, the others to help Max to keep out of his
reach.

Herbert was agile and fleet of foot, but so was Max. Back and forth, up
and down he ran, now dodging his pursuers behind trees and shrubs, now
taking a flying leap over some low obstacle, and speeding on, waving the
flag above his head and shouting back derisively at those who were
trying to catch him.

It was a long and exciting race, but at last he was caught; Herbert
overtook him, seized him with one hand, the flag with the other.

Max wrenched himself free, but Herbert's superior strength compelled him
to yield the flag after a desperate struggle to retain his hold upon it.

Then with a wild hue and cry Chester's party chased Herbert till after
doubling and turning several times, he at length regained the fort and
restored the flag to its place.

The next instant Harold and the rest of his command regained and
reoccupied the fort, the attacking party following close at their heels,
and the battle with the snowballs recommenced with redoubled fury.

All this was witnessed with intense interest by the spectators at the
windows and on the veranda; at the beginning of the chase the band
forgot to play and dropping their instruments employed themselves in
encouraging pursuers or pursued with clapping of hands and shouts of
exultation over their exploits.

The contest was kept up for a long time, the flag taken and retaken
again and again till the fort was quite demolished by the repeated
assaults, and the snow well trodden down all about the spot where it had
stood.

The lads, too, found themselves ready to enjoy rest within doors after
their continued violent exertion.

Some quiet games filled up the remainder of the morning and the
afternoon. In the evening they were ready for another romp in which the
girls might have a share; so Stage Coach, Blind-man's Buff, and similar
games were in vogue.

They had been very merry and entirely harmonious, but at length a slight
dispute arose, and Capt. Raymond, sitting in an adjoining room
conversing with the older guests and members of the family, yet not
inattentive to what was going on among the young folks--heard Lulu's
voice raised to a higher than its ordinary key.

He rose, stepped to the communicating door, and called in a low tone,
grave but kindly, "Lulu!"

"Sir," she answered, turning her face in his direction.

"Come here, daught