"Does Pat Kinney know we're coming?" asked Dick.
"Yes; and he's going to bring Dom Pedro to back us up," answered "Fatty," straining away on the rope.
"Lucky for us," said Billy, his spirits rising.
Just as they reached the end of the field where the cannon always stood, a shout from the fence made them grasp their arms and fall quickly in line with bayonets fixed.
"Steady!" cried the Sergeant, his knees beginning to shake—"steady, fellows; don't run."
On the big boys came. Six or seven of them, headed by Davis, bearing down on the trembling squad with yells like wild Indians.
"Steady," said the Sergeant again, and immovable as the Inchcape Rock the line received the charge.
"Get out of here or we'll break your necks!" cried White, as the squad closed in round the cannon.
"Throw a pack of big crackers at them," said a rough-looking boy; "that will break their ranks," and a shower of fire-crackers followed these words.
Still the squad stood firm.