The appearance of reënforcements put pluck into Max Bender. He began to hurl snowballs with more precision and with more force. He became very active. Hi Letterblair's crew of big boys charged only half heartedly.
The boys behind the ramparts almost smothered them before the attacking party got upon the island. They had chosen the easiest ascent, but only one of the attackers reached the snow-wall.
Instantly half a dozen hands reached for this plucky enemy, and it was Max who hauled him over into the fort and sat on him.
"Hurrah! we've got a prisoner!" yelled Howell Purdy, dancing up and down.
"What'll we do with him, Bobby?" demanded Fred.
"Huh! I captured him," grumbled Max. "I guess I'll do what I please with him."
"While we're fooling with that fellow, the others will get up here," declared Shiner.
"Come on! here they come!" shouted Bobby, who was ever on the watch.
The second charge of Hi and his cohorts was resultless to either party. And then, almost immediately, Captain Gray and the rest of the Rockledge boys came upon the Beldens.
Hi Letterblair ordered his party to face about, and brought up the smaller boys from the other side of the island. At once the garrison of the fort leaped upon the ramparts and drove down a withering fire upon the enemy.