Part 38 (1/2)

When they reached Sh.o.r.eham, Colonel Knox had collected forty-two sledges in all. These were at once hauled across the frozen lake to the fort and the officer in charge made acquainted with the nature of the expedition.

No time was lost by the energetic Knox. The very next day he set to work selecting what cannon he thought would be required, both at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. His band of hardy adventurers, ably a.s.sisted by the little garrison of the forts, loaded these securely upon the sledges. In all there were thirteen bra.s.s and twenty-six iron cannon; eight bra.s.s and six iron mortars. Also there were twenty-three hundred pounds of lead for bullets, and a barrel of flints.

All was ready one night and as Colonel Knox desired to have nothing delay him, he gave the order to move at once.

”To-night,” he said, ”the ice upon the lake will bear us. To-morrow morning it may be so that we could not venture across.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: NO TIME WAS LOST BY KNOX]

The oxen were being yoked and the horses harnessed to the sledges when Ezra approached his commander with a salute.

”Colonel,” said he, anxiously, ”would it not be well to send out an advance? The ice, even now, may not be as safe as you think.”

There was something in his tone that attracted Knox's attention.

”What has made you think that?” asked he.

Ezra flushed in the light of the pine torches.

”Since the night of which I told you,” said he, ”I have been so anxious that my nerves and senses often play me false. It may be so now, but a while ago,” and his eyes went out across the frozen stretch of water, striving to pierce the darkness that overhung it, ”I thought I saw a glimmer of light out there.”

”It was probably the ice throwing back the flas.h.i.+ng of the torches,”

said Colonel Knox. ”But,” kindly, ”if you have any doubts in the matter it would be as well to settle them at once. Suppose you take a few men and look about before we start with the guns.”

”Thank you, colonel,” said the lad, gratefully, ”I shall do so.”

He at once called together Nat, Ben Cooper, Scarlett and his brother George.

”See to your arms,” he said, quietly. And as they examined the priming of rifle and pistol, he continued: ”We are going to cross the lake in the most direct route. Let no one speak unless compelled to; and even then, not above a whisper.”

All five left the circle of light and advanced across the ice. They had pulled heavy moccasins over their boots upon approaching the lake in the first place, in order to secure their footing upon the smooth surface; these now deadened their footfalls as they carefully made their way along.

Almost two-thirds of the distance had been traversed when Ezra suddenly paused. His outstretched hands brought the others to a halt also.

”Hark!” said Ezra, softly.

All stood motionless for a time. At length Nat Brewster whispered:

”I fancied that I heard something, but I could not make out what it was.”

Here Nat felt Ezra's hand close over his arm in a powerful grip. At once he became silent and all stood bending forward, listening once more.

From some distance across the ice came a faint, rasping noise. Now and then a quicker and heavier sound reached them. It was as though blows were being struck.

”Do you understand?” breathed Ezra. ”Some one is cutting through the ice! It's a trap! The sledges are to cross this way.”

The sharp hissing of indrawn breaths told him that they appreciated the situation.