arnest, sought to dissuade him from it; but at last, realizing the seriousness of the young fellow's purpose, and coming to think that,
and a knapsack, containing four days' provisions, strapped on his back, a
e had become very wearisome, and the outing they had now started
d over the glistening ice. "Their Canadians must be good skaters even if they're not themselves, and you'd think
ly don't want to get into any such trap as our fellows did at first in th
ly. "They mustn't catch us like that, a
was not the slightest chance of any of the enemy being below the N
te, for it would not have been wise to light a fire; but they munched their me
tered nook several deer came out of the forest near
under his breath as his hand went out to
te ears of the deer, and they bounded away out of danger. "When we do fire, it mu
kated pretty steadily through the afternoon, reachin
hout a fire; but they were both so tired that they soon fel
be discovered by hostile scouts venturing southward. Accordingly the following day they closely skirted the eastern border, holding themselves ready to
glimpse of figures moving through the trees; but it always proved to be a false ala
they been out for that purpose, and Reuben quite grudged hav
be, and it was a positive relief to both when the shadows of n
d down to spend another fireless night wrapped up in their blankets. "There don't seem to be any of their scouts movin
rk for everybody. I'll be very glad when the winter's over, and things
ve there," Seth answered, and then after a little pause he added: "If it be that the French have left only a h
gled surprise and admiration
ust how many there are in the fo
's exactly what we must do our be
s been made clear, they talked together a
es, but make their way overland with utmost caution, lest at any moment
scout by instinct, and Reuben followed him with admiration and implicit obedience as he skilfully made his way throu
their purpose without their presence being discovered or suspected by the enemy, s
arated only by a narrow stretch of water, and, while keeping themselves perfectly conce
his gaze upon the enemy's stronghold. "What would they think if they knew that w
shiver, for he was not really in any fear, "and they'
ot their way, but they're not going
t the fort, and carefully studying its position, so as to be able to gi
of them came to the conclusion that it would be folly to attempt an atta
ugh force, would it, Reuben?" said Seth after he had thoroughly sun-eyed the fort and its surrou
y to it all, and, when he
th? We've about seen all there is to se
ity of successfully attacking the fort had caused him to be oblivious
ey saw a party set out from the for
off to do a little scouting on their own account? In that case w
movements, and it was with a keener sense of danger than they had
to the ice, which they must do as soon as possible, for their provisions were running low, and would
be lost, so they urged their way through the
ning surface before them. Not a living thing was in view, but at any
ntenance showing his state of mind. "The farther away we can keep from them the bet
side I should think," responded Reube
gh, so they put on all spee
y of the enemy, they flew along over the smooth ice for mile after mile without encountering any cause for alarm unti
ssed, and it consisted of six Canadians on skates, who were just starting
and with fierce cries, which sent a shive
n range they would of course, have fired at them, but now they had to depend upo
ir pursuers a couple of hundred yards in the
onfidence in their ability to more than hold their own while on the ice, and if they were compelled to take to the land, they did not doubt but that
trip and fall, injuring himself or his skates, or that there might be another party of the
ted themselves to Seth; but they did not daunt his brave spirit, n
out the pursuers making any gain. By dint of frequent spurting the New Englanders might have
o reserve their strength and wind, for at any moment the appearance of
up to fight to the last gasp, as he would rather die fighting his foe
ce which had lasted for some time. "If we can keep on as we are no
y, for the tremendous strain was beginning to tell upon him. "I'm t
ectionate pat on the shoulder. "They're farther behind than th
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