I am doing it for the best." The corps were quietly mustered, and marched out through the gate of the intrenchments, on the side of the lake.

No questions were asked, for the corps had several times gone out on its own account, and driven back the Indians and French pickets.

The men had, from their first arrival at the fort, laid aside their heavy boots, and taken to moccasins as being better fitted for silent movement in the forest.
Therefore not a sound was heard as, under Nat's guidance, they made their way down the slope into the swamp.
Here they were halted, for the moment, and told to move with the greatest care and silence, and to avoid snapping a bough or twig.

This, however, was the less important, as the cannon on both sides were still firing, and a constant rattle of musketry was going on round the fort.
Presently, they reached the point where the canoes were hauled up, and were told off, three to a canoe.
"Follow my canoe in single file," James said.

"Not a word is to be spoken, and remember that a single splash of a paddle will bring the redskins down upon us.