Indeed, the shouting had been going on at intervals since the first alarm, but owing to the noise and excitement the man had not been able to make himself heard. The sounds came from the rear of the block-house, and thither the whole party ran in haste, to find Private Mickley prancing up and down on one of the lookout platforms. "Where've you been?" he yelled, hoarsely. "Why didn't you come sooner? I've been keeping watch on the ruffian, but now he's gone--escaped in that big canoe." "Escaped!" cried Barnabas. "Why didn't you stop him?" "Man, explain yourself," roared the sergeant. "Quick! find your tongue!" "Ain't I telling you?" sputtered the angry soldier. "Give me a chance. When I heard the first yell I run round to the front just as a little man dashed out the door. He was making for the gate, but when he seen me he changed his mind and cut for the rear. I fired at him and missed, and just then out pops the spy. Before I could lift my empty gun he was past me and out the gate. So I let him go, and went for the other. I got round here in time to see him scramble over the stockade. I reckon he didn't know the drop that was below him, for when I looked over the platform he was lying stunned in the bushes down yonder. I kept watching him and singing out for help, and all at once up he gets, staggers like a drunken man to the canoe, and goes a-paddling down stream with all his might. I'm thinking his one leg was broke." "How long ago was this," thundered the sergeant. "Not two minutes, sir." "Then he ain't far off," cried Barnabas. "Have you another boat handy?" "There's a little canoe in the creek above the bluff, with two paddles in it," replied Sergeant Murdock. That quickly Barnabas was off, calling to the lads to follow him. Nathan and Godfrey were at his heels as he scaled the stockade at the upper end and plunged down the sloping bank to the creek. They found the canoe at once and jumped in, and a moment later the light craft had swung from the creek's mouth to the river. The lads were paddling, and Barnabas crouched amidships just in front of them. "Murdock, we're goin' to get the assassin," he shouted. "Good luck to you!" the sergeant called back. "I wish I was as sure of overhauling the spy." The canoe was quickly past the fort, gliding like a duck on the swift current, and now the other craft was dimly sighted about a hundred yards down stream. "I knew he couldn't be far," muttered Barnabas. "Paddle hard, lads. He can't do much with that heavy boat. This is going to be the last of Simon Glass, or else the last of me." "We have no weapons," exclaimed Nathan. "Neither has he, lad, or he would a-fired at the sentry who tried to stop him." "I hope he won't take the shore when he sees we're after him," said Godfrey.