The Kings Arrow | Page 4

they
see, although the strange sound was becoming more audible. Reaching
at length the brow of the hill, they stopped dead in their tracks at a
wonderful sight. Below lay the harbour, where vessels large and small
were riding calmly at anchor. Where had they come from? and what
were they doing there? Such were the questions which leaped to Dane's
mind. Small boats were coming from the ships, loaded with people,
while on the shore and some distance from the water throngs of men,
women, and children were either huddled in groups, or hurrying to and
fro in the most excited manner. Tents and rude brush shacks dotted the
hillside, before which people were standing, while bundles and
household effects were scattered about on every side.
Never had Dane been so greatly puzzled. Why had the Fort guns roared?
What were those ships doing there in the harbour? That they did not
belong to the pirates he felt certain, for they bore the English flag, and
he could see red-coated soldiers mingling with the people on the shore.

In his intense interest he forgot for the moment his important mission,
and he was upon the point of hastening down the hill to find out for
himself the meaning of the strange scene when Pete touched his arm.
"What all dat beeg fuss, eh?" he asked.
The Indian's question startled him, and brought him to himself.
"Blamed if I know, Pete," he replied. "It's beyond me, for I never saw
anything like it before. Anyway, I'm going to find out. You take my
pack and gun and go back to the lake. Get a duck for supper, a good big
fat fellow. I'll be there as soon as I can, and tell you what I can learn at
the Fort. We've run across something to-day, Pete, more than we
expected."
CHAPTER II
"COME AND TAKE IT"
Fort Howe occupied an important position at the mouth of the St. John
River when the present Province of New Brunswick was a part of Nova
Scotia. It was well situated, and from the summit of a high hill
commanded the harbour, a large stretch of the river, and the entire
surrounding country for miles in extent. It looked down upon the ruins
of Fort Frederick, which it replaced, and across to the site of another
old Fort where the brave and noble Lady LaTour and her little band of
men made their gallant resistance to a treacherous foe.
Fort Howe proved a great comfort to the trading post at Portland Point,
and to the thirty or more families settled in the vicinity. Scarcely had it
been erected, and its guns mounted, when the rapacious pirate from
Machias, A. Greene Crabtree by name, appeared upon the scene, as he
had done before with disastrous results. But this time he received the
surprise of his life. He viewed with astonishment the new Fort upon the
hill, and the flag of England floating from the ramparts. So great was
his astonishment that he beat a hasty retreat, and troubled no more the
little settlement at Portland Point.

Fort Howe was not a large place, containing in all two blockhouses and
barracks, with twelve rooms for the officers, and accommodation for
one hundred men. The armament consisted of two five and a half inch
brass mortars, and eight iron guns, the latter including two
eighteen-pounders, four six-pounders, and two four-pounders.
Although Fort Howe was small, yet it meant a great deal to the people
scattered along the St. John River and its various tributaries. It was the
seat of authority where all knew that true British justice would be
meted out by the brave, sturdy commander in charge, Major Gilfred
Studholme. It had a restraining influence upon restless, warlike Indians,
and rebels dwelling along the river. At the same time it filled the hearts
of all loyal, peaceful people with a feeling of security. To them it was a
symbol of England's power, and they often discussed it around their
camp fires, and in their lonely forest homes.
As Dane Norwood paused for a minute upon the brow of the opposite
hill, after he had left the Indian, a feeling of pride and awe welled up in
his heart as he looked across at the Fort. He had heard much about it,
but never until this day had he set eyes upon the place. He saw the big
flag fluttering in the breeze, and the black muzzels of the cannon
frowning seaward. He longed to hear them roar again, and he wondered
how far they would shoot, much farther, he had been told, than the
largest flint-lock ever made.
Leaving the brow of the hill, he moved swiftly down a narrow trail
which led to a large pond of