We shall go across to them, and by Saint Anne, I shall tell their commander what I think of his arrangements." Du Lhut advanced from the bushes as he spoke, and the four men crossed the open ground in the direction of the line of men who waited silently for them in the dim twilight.

They were within fifty paces, and yet none of them had raised hand or voice to challenge their approach.
There was something uncanny in the silence, and a change came over Du Lhut's face as he peered in front of him.

He craned his head round and looked up the river.
"My God!" he screamed.

"Look at the fort!" They had cleared the clump of trees, and the outline of the blockhouse should have shown up in front of them.

There was no sign of it.