gh. The flag, waving gently in the soft summer breeze,
looked so beautiful, and it did seem such a pity that it was to be
taken down in so ignominious a manner.

She advanced into the open, thinking, as she did so, how, if there had
been any one to defend the fort, they would have been obliged to skulk
from bush to bush, taking advantage of every scrap of cover.

She looked round and smiled to see that, from the mere force of habit,
the others were darting cautiously from bush to bush, exposing
themselves as little as possible to the imaginary fire from the fort.

It would have been well for her had she taken the same precaution, for
the next moment a shriek, that was half of pain and half of delight,
broke from her.

She had received a stinging blow--one that was evidently aimed from a
catapult--on her hand.

"Jim," she cried, "Hal _is_ in the fort. Hurrah, hurrah! We are going
to have a fight after all!"

Here another bullet, not so well aimed as the last, whizzed past her,
and drove her to seek shelter in the nearest bush.

"Are you better, Hal?" she called. "And do you really want to fight?"

There was no answer to the first question, but a shot that struck her
just above the ankle was a sufficient reply to her second; and, quite
regardless of the pain, she gave another loud whoop of joy, in which
the other three joined.

"We must get back to the camp," Jim cried, "and arm ourselves. This is
altogether too one-sided an affair."

Bitterly now did they regret the rashness which had led them to
approach in such a confident, careless manner. Yet, at the same time,
they could not help admiring the wiliness which the enemy had shown in
thus reserving his fire.

His aim was deadly; but, with a generosity that was truly noble, he did
not take advantage of the fact that they were without their armour, and
refrained from hitting their faces.

Almost every shot found its mark on them, and at last, despairing of
being able to wriggle away in good order, they rose to their feet and
made a dash into the thicket.

Rushing pell-mell to the camp, they tied their dish-covers over their
faces, and, arming themselves with as much ammunition as they could
carry, returned to the clearing.

But now they were more prudent. Silently they stole through the
Wilderness, advancing with such caution that hardly the creaking of a
twig betrayed their advance; and, keeping themselves carefully
concealed, they suddenly hurle