"Then he died?"
"Um-m! Yes and no. Remind me to tell you the story sometime—Here comes Dan, in a great hurry."
Young Appleton came panting up the hill.
"Good-by, Sis," he said. "I'm off for the front in ten minutes."
"Anybody hurt?" Slater asked quickly.
"Not yet, but somebody's liable to be. Gordon is trying to steal the canon, and Murray has ordered me out with a car of dynamite to hold it."
"Dynamite! Why, Dan!" his sister exclaimed in consternation.
"We have poling-boats at the lower crossing and we'll be at the canon in two days. I'm going to load the hillside with shots, and if they try to come through I'll set 'em off. They'll never dare tackle it." Dan's eyes were dancing; his face was alive with excitement.
"But suppose they should?" Eliza insisted, quietly.
"Then send Doc Gray with some stretchers. I owe one to Gordon, and this is my chance." Drawing her aside, he said in an undertone. "You've got to hold my ground with Natalie while I'm gone. Don't let her see too much of Murray."