diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:47 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:47 -0700 |
| commit | 6e212d0befa13dfce9b94618c72c09d35109aa2a (patch) | |
| tree | 18761dab6b33c15466603b3a9f77a9a77b008b25 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12827-0.txt | 7315 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12827.txt | 7693 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12827.zip | bin | 0 -> 134743 bytes |
6 files changed, 15024 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12827-0.txt b/12827-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b6059df --- /dev/null +++ b/12827-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7315 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12827 *** + +This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan. + + + + + + +THE RISING OF THE RED MAN +A Romance of the Louis Riel Rebellion + +by JOHN MACKIE + + +Author of "The Heart of the Prairie," "Tales of the Trenches," +"The Cannibal Island," "Daring Deeds in Far Off Lands," +"The Prodigal's Brother," "The Man Who Forgot," etc. + + +TO E.M. DAVY. + + + + +CONTENTS + +PROLOGUE +I. IN THE GREAT LONE LAND +II. TIDINGS OF ILL +III. THE STORM BREAKS +IV. HARD PRESSED +V. TO BATTLEFORD +VI. THE GRIM BLOCKADE +VII. DETECTED +VIII. IN THE JUDGMENT HALL +IX. THE DWARF AND THE BEAR +X. THE UNEXPECTED +XI. THE RETREAT +XII. A MYSTERIOUS STAMPEDE +XIII. ROOFED +XIV. A THREE-CORNERED GAME +XV. CHECKMATED +XVI. THE FATE OF SERGEANT PASMORE +XVII. A CLOSE CALL +XVIII. ACROSS THE ICE +XIX. CAPTURED BY POUNDMAKER +XX. THE BATTLE OF CUT-KNIFE +XXI. BACK TO CAPTIVITY +XXII. ANTOINE IN TROUBLE +XXIII. THE DEPARTURE OF PEPIN +xxiv. THE INDIANS' AWAKENING +XXV. A PROPOSAL FROM PEPIN +XXVI. A BOLD BID FOR LIBERTY +XXVII. AN ONLY WAY +XXVIII. THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW + + + + +PROLOGUE + +The 16th of March, 1885, was a charming day, and Louis +David Riel, fanatic and rebellion-maker, was addressing +a great general meeting of the half-breeds and Indians +near Batoche on the Saskatchewan river in British North +America. There were representatives from nearly every +tribe; Poundmaker and his Stonies, who were always spoiling +for trouble, being particularly well represented. Round +the arch malcontent were a score of other harpies almost +as wicked if less dangerous than himself. Among them were +Gabriel Dumont, Jackson, Maxime, Garnot and Lepine. Riel's +emissaries had been at work for months, and as the time +was now ripe for a rising he had called them together to +decide upon some definite course of action. + +The weather was comparatively mild, and the Indians sat +around on the snow that before many days was to disappear +before the sudden spring thaw. Their red, white, and grey +blankets against the dull-hued tepees [Footnote: Wigwams.] +and the white wintry landscape, gave colour and relief +to the scene. Two o'clock in the afternoon and the sun +shone brightly down as he always does in these latitudes. +Riel knew exactly how long it would continue to shine, +for had not the almanac told him and all the world--with +the exception of the ignorant half-breeds and Indians +whom he was addressing--that there was to be an eclipse +that day. The arch rebel knew how strongly dramatic effect +appealed to his audience, so he was prepared to indulge +them to the full in this respect, and turn the matter to +account. Being an educated man there was a good deal of +method in his madness. + +The red-bearded, self-constituted prophet of the _metis_ +[Footnote: Half-breeds.] stood on a Red River cart and +spun out his pleasant prognostications concerning that +happy coming era in which unlimited food, tobacco and +fire-water would make merry the hearts of all from the +Missouri in the south, to the Kissaskatchewan in the +north, if only they would do as he told them. As for Pere +Andre and his fulminations against him, what did they +want with the Church of Rome!--he, Louis David Riel, was +going to start a church of his own! Yes, St. Peter had +appeared to him in a vision, and told him that the Popes +had been on the wrong tack long enough, and that +he--Riel--was to be the new head of all things spiritual +and temporal. He promised them a good all-round time when +this came about, as it certainly would before long. + +He wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and looked +anxiously at the sun. What if, after all, the compilers +of the almanac, or he himself, had made a mistake, and +he had called this his most vital meeting on the wrong +day? The bare idea was too terrible. But, no, his keen +eyes detected a dark line on the outer edge of the great +orb, and he knew that the modern astrologers had not +erred. His grand opportunity had come, and he must seize +it. He stretched out his hands and dramatically asked-- + +"But O, my people, tell me, how can I make manifest to +you that these things shall be as I say? Shall I beg of +the Manitou, the Great Spirit, to give to you a sign that +He approves of the words his servant speaketh, and that +these things shall come to pass?" + +From the great crowd of half-breeds and Indians there +went up a hoarse, guttural cry for confirmation. + +Yes, if the Manitou would give a sign then no one in the +land would doubt, and those who were feeble of heart +would take courage. + +Riel bowed his head, lifted off his beaver-skin cap, +rolled his eyes about, and by his melodramatic movements +claimed the attention of all. He, however, found, time +to shoot a quick glance at the sun. Those almanac people +were wonderfully accurate, but he must hurry up, for in +another minute the eclipse would begin. In a loud voice +he cried-- + +"You have asked for a sign, and it shall be given unto +you; but woe unto those to whom a sign is given and who +shall pay no heed to the same. Their days shall be cut +short in the land, and their bodies shall burn for ever +in the pit of everlasting fire. The Great Spirit will +darken the face of the sun for a token, and a shadow, +that of the finger of the Manitou Himself, shall sweep +the land." + +The knavish fanatic closed his eyes and raised his face +heavenwards. There was a rapturous look on it, and his +lips moved. He was calling upon the Almighty to give them +the sign which he obligingly indicated. The new head of +the church was already distinguishing himself. As for +the half-breeds and Indians, they sat around with +incredulity and awe alternately showing upon their faces. +It was something new in their experiences for the Manitou +to interest himself personally in their affairs. A great +silence fell upon them; the prophet mumbled inarticulately +and proceeded with his hanky-panky. + +Then a great murmur and chorus of "Ough! Ough's!" and +"me-was-sins!" [Footnote: Meaning good or approval.] +arose from the Indians, while many of the half-breeds +crossed themselves. Incredulity changed to belief and +fear, and the simple ones raised their voices in wondering +accents to testify to the potency of the "big medicine" +that was being wrought before their eyes. The hand of +the Manitou was slowly but surely passing over the face +of the sun and darkening it. The shadow of that same hand +was already creeping up from the east. The rapt prophet +never once opened his eyes, but he knew from the great +hoarse roar of voices around him that the almanac had +not erred. And then the clamour subsided, as the face of +the sun was darkened, and the ominous shadow fell like +a chill over them ere passing westward. The Indians +shivered in their blankets and were thrilled by this +gratuitous and wonderful proof of their new leader's +intimacy with the Great Spirit. But what if the Great +Spirit should take it into His head to darken the face +of the light-giver for ever! It was a most alarming +prospect truly. Louis David Riel opened his eyes, glanced +at the sun, and said-- + +"The Manitou is pleased to remove His hand and to give +us light again." + +Then, as it seemed more quickly than it had been darkened, +the blackness was removed from the sun's face, and the +shadow passed. + +The murmur and the shout that went up from the wondering +throng must have been as music in the ears of the arrant +fraud. He looked down upon the deluded ones with triumph +and a new sense of power. + +"The Great Spirit has spoken!" he said with commendable +dramatic brevity. + +"Big is the Medicine of Riel!" cried the people. "We +are ready to do his bidding when the time comes." + +"The time has come," said Riel. + +Never perhaps in the history of impostors from Mahomet +to the Mahdi had an almanac proved so useful. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +IN THE GREAT LONE LAND + +It was the finest old log house on the banks of the mighty +Saskatchewan river, and the kitchen with its old-fashioned +furniture and ample space was the best room in it. On +the long winter nights when the ice cracked on the river, +when the stars twinkled coldly in the blue, and Nature +slept under the snows, it was the general meeting-place +of the Douglas household. + +Henry Douglas, widower and rancher, was perhaps, one of +the best-to-do men between Battleford and Prince Albert. +The number of his cattle and horses ran into four figures, +and no one who knew him begrudged his success. He was an +upright, cheery man, who only aired his opinions round +his own fireside, and these were always charitable. But +to-night he did not speak much; he was gazing thoughtfully +into the flames that sprang in gusty jets from the logs, +dancing fantastically and making strange noises. At length +he lifted his head and looked at that great good-natured +French Canadian giant, Jacques St Arnaud, who sat opposite +him, and said-- + +"I tell you, Jacques, I don't like it. There's trouble +brewing oh the Saskatchewan, and if the half-breeds get +the Indians to rise, there'll be--" he glanced sideways +at his daughter, and hesitated--"well, considerable +unpleasantness." + +"That's so," said Jacques, also looking at the fair girl +with the strangely dark eyes. "It is all so queer. You +warned the Government two, three months ago, did you not, +that there was likely to be trouble, but still they did +not heed? Is not that so?" + +"I did, but I've heard no more about it. And now the +Police are beginning to get uneasy. They're a mighty fine +body of men, but if the half-breeds and Indians get on +the war-path, they'll swamp the lot, and--" + +"Shoo!" interrupted the giant, again looking at the girl, +but this time with unmistakable alarm on his face. "Them +Injuns ain't going to eat us. You've been a good friend +to them and to the metis. So!" + +Jacques St. Arnaud had been in the rancher's service +since before the latter's child had been born down in +Ontario, some eighteen years ago, and followed him into +the great North-West to help conquer the wilderness and +establish his new home. He had a big heart in a large +body, and his great ambition was to be considered a rather +terrible and knowing fellow, while, as a matter of fact, +he was the most inoffensive of mortals, and as simple in +some ways as a child. + +"Bah!" he continued after a pause, "the metis are +ungrateful dogs, and the Indians, they are mad also. I +would like to take them one by one and wring their +necks--so!" + +The rancher tried to conceal the concern he felt. His +fifty odd years sat lightly upon him, although his hair +was grey. His daughter had only been back from Ontario +for two years, but in that time she had bulked so largely +in his life that he wondered now how he could ever have +got along without her. She reminded him of that helpmate +and wife who had gone hence a few years after her daughter +was born, and whose name was now a sacred memory. He had +sent the girl down East to those whom he knew would look +after her properly, and there, amid congenial surroundings, +she grew and quickened into a new life. But the spell of +the vast, broad prairie lands was upon her, and the love +for her father was stronger still, so she went, back to +both, and there her mind broadened, and her spirit grew +in harmony with the lessons that an unconventional life +was for ever working out for itself in those great, +unfettered spaces where Nature was in the rough and the +world was still young. She grew and blossomed into a +beautiful womanhood, as blossoms the vigorous wild-flower +of the prairies. When she smiled there was the light and +the glamour of the morning star in her dark hazel eyes, +and when her soul communed with itself, it was as if one +gazed into the shadow of the stream. There was a gleam +of gold in her hair that was in keeping with the freshness +of her nature, and the hue of perfect health was upon +her cheeks. Her eighteen years had brought with them all +the promise of the May. That she had inherited the +adventure-loving spirit of the old pioneers, as well as +the keen appreciation of the humorous side of things, +was obvious from the amount of entertainment she seemed +to find in the company of Old Rory. He was an old-timer +of Irish descent, who had been everywhere from the Red +River in the east to the Fraser in the west, and from +Pah-ogh-kee Lake in the south to the Great Slave Lake in +the north. He had been _voyageur_, trapper, cowboy, +farm-hand in the Great North-West for years, and nothing +came amiss to him. Now he was the hired servant of her +father, doing what was required of him, and that well. +He was spare and wrinkled as an old Indian, and there +was hardly an unscarred inch in his body, having been +charged by buffaloes, clawed by bears and otherwise +resented by wild animals. + +"Rory," said the girl after a pause, and the softness of +her voice was something to conjure with, "what do you +think? Are the half-breeds and Indians going to interfere +with us if they do rise?" + +"Thar be good Injuns and bad Injuns," said Rory doggedly," +but more bad nor good. The Injun's a queer animile when +he's on the war-path; he's like Pepin Quesnelle's tame +b'ar at Medicine Hat that one day chawed up Pepin, who +had been like a father to 'im, 'cos he wouldn't go stares +wid a dose of castor-oil he was a-swallerin' for the good +of his health. You see, the b'ar an' Pepin used allus +to go whacks like." + +The girl laughed, but still she was uneasy in her mind. +She mechanically watched the tidy half-breed woman and +the elderly Scotchwoman who had been her mother's servant +in the old Ontario days, as the two silently went on, at +the far end of the long room, with the folding and putting +away of linen. Her eyes wandered with an unwonted +wistfulness over the picturesque brown slabs of pine that +constituted the walls, the heavy, rudely-dressed tie-beams +of the roof over which were stacked various trim bundles +of dried herbs, roots and furs, and from which hung +substantial hams of bacon and bear's meat. As she looked +over the heads of the little group on the broad benches +round the fire, she saw the firelight and lamplight glint +cheerfully on the old-fashioned muskets and flintlock +pistols that decorated the walls--relics of the old +romantic days when the two companies of French and English +adventurers traded into Hudson's Bay. + +She had an idea. She would ask the sergeant of Mounted +Police in charge of the detachment of four men, whose +little post was within half-a-mile of the homestead, what +he thought of the situation, and he would have to tell +her. Sergeant Pasmore was one of those men of few words +who somehow seemed to know everything. A man of rare +courage she knew him to be, for had he not gained his +promotion by capturing the dangerous renegade Indian, +Thunder-child, single-handed? She knew that Thunderchild +had lately broken prison, and was somewhere in the +neighbourhood waiting to have his revenge upon the +sergeant. Sergeant Pasmore was a man both feared and +respected by all with whom he came in contact. He was +the embodiment of the law; he carried it, in fact, on +the horn of his saddle in the shape of his Winchester +rifle; a man who was supposed to be utterly devoid of +sentiment, but who had been known to perform more than +one kindly action. Her father liked him, and many a time +he had spent a long evening by the rancher's great +fireside. + +As she thought of these things, she was suddenly startled +by three firm knocks at the door. Jacques rose from his +seat, and opening it a few inches, looked out into the +clear moonlight. He paused a moment, then asked-- + +"Who are you, and what you want?" + +"How!" [Footnote: Form of salutation in common use among +the Indians and half-breeds.] responded a strange-voice. + +"Aha! Child-of-Light!" exclaimed Jacques. + +And into the room strode a splendid specimen of a red +man in all the glory of war paint and feathers. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TIDINGS OF ILL + + "Mislike me not for my complexion, + The shadow'd livery of the burnished sun." + _Merchant of Venice._ + +"How! How!" said the rancher, looking up at the tall +Indian. "You are welcome to my fireside, Child-of-Light. +Sit down." + +He rose and gave him his hand. With a simple dignity the +fine-looking savage returned his salutation. + +"The master is good," he said. "Child-of-Light still +remembers how in that bad winter so many years ago, when +the cotton-tails and rabbits had died from the disease +that takes them in the throat, and the wild animals that +live upon them died also because there was nought to eat, +and how when disease and famine tapped at the buffalo +robe that screens the doorways of the tepees, he who is +the brother of the white man and the red man had compassion +and filled the hungry mouths." + +"Ah, well, that's all right, Child-of-Light," lightly +said Douglas, wondering what the chief had come to say. +He understood the red man's ways, and knew he would learn +all in good time. + +But the chief would not eat or drink. He would, however, +smoke, and helped himself from the pouch that Douglas +offered. He let his blanket fall from his shoulders, and +underneath there showed a richly-wrought shirt of true +barbaric grandeur. On a groundwork of crimson flannel +was wrought a rare and striking mosaic in beads of blue +and yellow and red. The sun glowed from his breast, +countless showy ermine tails dangled from his shoulders, +his arms and his sides like a gorgeous fringe, and numerous +tiny bells tinkled all over him as he moved. His features +were large and marked, his forehead, high, and his nose +aquiline. His Mongolian set eyes were dark and full of +intellect, his expression a strange mixture of alertness, +conscious power, and dignity. He was a splendid specimen +of humanity. + +He filled his pipe leisurely, then spoke as if he hardly +expected that what he had to say would interest his +hearers. + +The half-breeds, led by Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont, +had risen, he said, and large numbers of the Indians had +joined them. Before twenty-four hours there would hardly +be a farmstead or ranche in Saskatchewan that would not +be pillaged and burnt to the ground. He, Child-of-Light, +had managed to keep his band in check, but there were +thousands of Indians in the country, Crees, Salteaus, +Chippeywans, Blackfoot, Bloods, Piegans, Sarcees, renegade +Siouxs, and Crows who would join the rebels. Colonel +Irvine, of the North-West Mounted Police at Fort Carlton, +had already destroyed all the stores, and, having set +fire to the buildings, was retreating on the main body. + +Douglas the rancher had "sat quietly while the chief told +his alarming news. He hardly dared look at his daughter. + +"I have been a fool!" he said bitterly. "I have tried to +hide the truth from myself, and now it may be too late. +Of course it's not the stock and place I'm thinking about, +Dorothy, but it's you--I had no right---" + +"Oh, hush, dad!" cried the girl, who seemed the least +concerned of any. "I don't believe the rebels will +interfere with us. Besides, have we not our friend, +Child-of-Light?" + +"The daughter of my brother Douglas is as my own child," +said the chief simply, "and her life I will put before +mine. But Indians on the war-path are as the We'h-ti-koo, +[Footnote: Indians of unsound mind who become cannibals.] +who are possessed of devils, whose onward rush is as the +waters of the mighty Saskatchewan river when it has forced +the ice jam." + +"And so, Child-of-Light, what would you have us do?" +asked Douglas. "Do you think if possible for my daughter +and the women to reach the Fort at Battleford?" + +But a sharp tapping at the door stopped the answer of +the chief. + +Rory shot back the bolt and threw open the door. A +fur-clad figure entered; the white frost glistened on +his buffalo-coat and bear-skin cap as if they were tipped +with ermine. He walked without a word into the light and +looked around--an admirable man, truly, about six feet +in height, broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped, and without +a spare ounce of flesh--a typical Rider of the Plains, +and a soldier, every inch of him. In the thousands upon +thousands of square miles in which these dauntless military +police have to enforce law and order, the inhabitants +know that never yet has the arm of justice not proved +long enough to bring an offender to book. On one occasion +a policeman disappeared into the wilderness after some +one who was wanted. As in three months he neither came +back, nor was heard of, he was struck off the strength +of the force. But one day, as the men stood on parade in +the barrack square, he came back in rags and on foot, +more like a starved tramp than a soldier. But with him +he brought his prisoner. That was the man, Sergeant +Pasmore, who stood before them. + +He inclined his head to Dorothy, and nodded to the men +around the fire, but when he saw Child-of-Light he extended +his left hand. + +The Indian looked straight into the sergeant's eyes. + +"What has happened?" he asked. "Ough! Ough! I see; you +have met Thunderchild?" + +The sergeant nodded. + +"Yes," he said, with apparent unconcern, "Thunderchild +managed to put a bullet through my arm. You may give me +a hand off with my coat, Jacques. Luckily, the wound's +not bad enough to prevent my firing a gun." + +When they removed his overcoat they found that the sleeve +of the tunic had been cut away, and that his arm had been +roughly bandaged. The girl was gazing at it in a peculiarly +concentrated fashion. + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Douglas," he said, hastily +turning away from her. "I had forgotten it looked like +that, but fortunately the look is the worst part of it. +It's only a flesh wound." + +The girl had stepped forward to help him, as if resenting +the imputation that the sight of blood frightened her, +but Jacques had anticipated what was required. She wanted +to bring him something to eat and drink, but he thanked +her and declined. He had weightier matters on hand. + +"Mr. Douglas," he said, quietly, "I've told my men to +move over here. You may require their services in the +course of the next twenty-four hours. What I apprehended +and told you about some time ago has occurred." + +"Pasmore," said the rancher, earnestly, "is there any +immediate danger? If there is, my daughter and the women +had better go into Battleford right now." + +"You cannot go now--you must wait till to-morrow morning," +was the reply. "It's no use taking your household goods +into the Fort--there's no room there. Your best plan is +to leave things just as they are, and trust to the rebels +being engaged elsewhere. I believe your warriors, +Child-of-Light, are in the wood in the deep coulee just +above where the two creeks meet?" + +"That is right, brother," said the Indian, "but what +about Thunderchild, the turncoat?" + +And then Pasmore told them how he had gone to Thunderchild's +camp that day to arrest the outlaw, and warn his braves +against joining the rebels, and how he had been shot +through the arm, and only escaped with his life. He had +come straight on to warn them. In the meantime he would +advise the women to make preparations for an early start +on the morrow. Food and clothing would have to be taken, +as they might be away for weeks. + +Then, while Dorothy Douglas and her two women-servants +were already making preparations for a move, a brief +council of war was held. Child-of-Light, when asked, +advised that the Mounted Police and those present should +next day escort the women into Fort Battleford, while he +and his braves ran off the rancher's fine herd of horses, +so as to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. + +Pasmore said that this was exactly the right thing to +do. He also intimated that there was a party of half-breeds, +the Racettes and the St. Croixs, coming by trail at that +very moment from Battleford to plunder and pillage; they +would probably arrive before many hours. He had, however, +taken the precaution of stationing men on the look-out +on the neighbouring ridges. + +"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Jacques, springing to his feet. +"It is the neck of that St. Croix I will want to wring. +It is two, three years ago now he say he will wring mine; +but very good care he will take to keep away. Ah, well, +we shall see, my friend, we shall see!" + +Child-of-Light stole out to his men in the coulee, and +Jacques and Rory went to the stables and out-houses to +make certain preparations so that they might be able to +start at any moment. The windows were boarded up, so that +if the half-breeds came no signs of life might be observed +in the house. Douglas saw that certain loopholes in the +walls commanding the lines of approach, which he himself +had made by way of precaution when danger from the Indians +had threatened in the old days, were reopened and plugged +in case of emergency. + +As for the sergeant, he had not slept for three days, +and was too utterly tired out to be of any assistance. +He had done what he could, and had now to await +developments. The fire was good, and he had dropped, at +the rancher's request, into a comfortable high-backed +chair in a corner, where he fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE STORM BREAKS + +Midnight, and the rancher had left the house to assist +Rory and Jacques with the sleighs, which had to be packed +with certain necessaries such as tea, coffee, sugar, +bread and flour, frozen meat, pemmican, culinary articles, +snow-shoes, and ammunition. + +Dorothy, having made all the preparations she could, had +re-entered the kitchen. The first thing that drew her +attention was the sleeping figure of the sergeant in the +chair. She was filled with self-reproach. Why had she +forgotten all about this wounded, tired-out man? Why did +she always seem to be holding him at arm's-length when +there was, surely, no earthly reason why she should do +so? His manner had always been perfectly courteous to +her, and even deferential. He had done her father many +acts of kindness, without as much as referring to them, +and still, with a spice of perversity, she had always +shrunk from appearing to notice him. She shrewdly suspected +that his present life was not the sort of one he had been +accustomed to, that, in fact, he belonged by birth and +upbringing to a state of things very different from hers. +He looked wretchedly uncomfortable and, doubtless, as +his limbs seemed cramped, they were cold. She would find +a rug to throw over him. + +She picked up one, and, with a strange shyness that she +had never experienced before, placed it carefully over +him. If he awoke she would die with terror--now that he +was asleep and did not know that she was looking after +his comfort, she experienced a strange, undefinable +pleasure in so doing. It was quite a new feeling--something +that filled her with a vague wonder. + +And then he suddenly opened his eyes, and looked at her +for a few moments without stirring. + +"Thank you," he said simply, and closed his eyes again. + +She could have cried with vexation. If he had been profuse +in his thanks she would have had an opportunity of cutting +him short with some commonplace comment. + +"Hadn't you better lie on the couch, Mr. Pasmore?" she +said. "You don't look as if you fitted that chair, and +it makes you snore so." + +She had hardly thought herself capable of such perfidy, +but she did not want him to think that she could be +altogether blind to his faults. He sat bolt upright in +an instant, and stammered out an apology. + +But she cut it short. She resented the idea that he should +imagine she took sufficient interest in him to be put +out by a trifle. + +At that very moment there rang out a rifle shot from the +ridge just above the wood hard by. It was followed by +another at a greater distance. + +"There!" said the girl, with a finger pressed against +her lower lip, and a look as if of relief on her face. +"Now you will have some work to do. They have come sooner +than you expected." + +He scanned her face for a moment as if to note how this +quick call to grim tragedy affected her. A man of courage +himself, he instantly read there possibilities of a very +high order and exceptional nerve. There was nothing +neurotic about her. Whatever the wayward imaginings of +her heart might be, she was a fresh, wholesome and healthy +daughter of the prairie, one whose nerves were in accord +with her mind and body, one for whom there were no physical +or imaginary bogeys. + +"It won't frighten you, will it, if we have to turn this +kitchen into a sort of shooting gallery?" he asked. + +She smiled at the very familiarity with which he handled +his subject. + +"It will be unpleasant," she replied simply, "but you +know I'm accustomed to rifles." + +"You don't seem to realise what a rising means amongst +savages," he continued. "You must never lose your head, +whatever happens, and you must never trust any one outside +your own family circle. You must never let yourself fall +into their hands; you understand me?" + +"I understand," she said, facing him unflinchingly, "and +I have my rifle in case of emergencies." + +"You are stronger than I thought," he said thankfully, +looking at her for the first time with unmistakable +admiration. + +The rancher entered the room. He had always been noted +for his coolness in time of danger. He looked quickly at +his daughter, and was wonderfully relieved to see her +take the situation so quietly. He kissed her, and said-- + +"Now, my dear, you'd better get into the other room till +this affair is over. There's no need to be alarmed." + +How he wished he could have believed what he said!' + +"I'm not frightened, dad, a little bit, and I'm going to +stay right with" you and load the guns." + +"Lower the lamp," cried Pasmore, suddenly. + +In another minute each man was glancing along the barrel +of his rifle out into the clear moonlight. They faced +the entrance to the valley up which came the enemy. It +was a dimly-defined half-circle, with a deep-blue, +star-studded background. A fringe of trees ran up it, +bordering the frozen creek alongside the trail. Stealthily +stealing up, they could see a number of dark figures. +Every now and again, from the heights above on either +hand, they could see a little jet of fire spurt, and hear +the crack of a Winchester as the Mounted Police on the +look-out tried to pick off members of the attacking body +from their inaccessible point of vantage. But the +half-breeds and Indians contented themselves with firing +an odd shot in order to warn them off. They would deal +with them later. In the meantime they came nearer. + +"Ah, St. Croix, old friend! It is my neck you will want +to wring, is it? Eh, bien!" And Jacques chuckled audibly. + +"Now, hold hard, and wait until I give you the word," +said Pasmore, quietly. + +The rebels, of whom there might be some thirty or forty, +now came out into the open and approached the house until +they were abreast of the out-buildings. In the clear +moonlight they could be seen distinctly, clad in their +great buffalo coats, with collars up over their ears, +and bearskin and beaver-caps pulled well down. + +At a signal from their leader they raised their rifles +to send a preparatory volley through the windows. + +"_Now then!_" thundered Pasmore. + +Four rifles cracked like one, and three rebels dropped +where they stood, while a fourth, clapping his hands to +the lower part of his body, spun round and round, stamping +his feet, reviling the comrades who had brought him there, +and blaspheming wildly, while the blood spurted out +between his fingers. At the same moment, several bullets +embedded themselves in the thick window shutters and in +the walls. One only found its way through the dried mud +between the logs, and this smashed a bowl that stood on +the dresser within two feet of Dorothy's head. She merely +glanced at it casually, and picking up the basket of +cartridges, prepared to hand them round. With fingers +keen and warming to their work, the defenders emptied +the contents of their magazines into the astonished +half-breeds and Indians. It was more than the latter had +bargained for. They made for an open shed that stood hard +by, leaving their dead and wounded in the snow. + +"What ho! Johnnie Crapaud, you pig!" cried Rory, withdrawing +his rifle from the loophole, and applying his mouth to +it instead. "It's the Red River jig I've bin dyin' to +tache ye for many a long day." + +At the same moment Jacques caught sight of his old _bete +noire_, Leopold St. Croix the elder, and, not to be +outdone by his friend Rory in the exchange of seasonable +civilities with the enemy--although, when he came to +think of it afterwards, he might as well have shot his +man--he was applying his mouth to, his loophole to shout +something in the same vein when the quick-eyed Leopold +fired a shot at the spot from which the gun-barrel had +just been withdrawn. So lucky or good was his aim that +he struck the mud in the immediate neighbourhood of the +hole, and sent the _debris_ flying into the +French-Canadian's mouth. Jacques spent the rest of his +time when in the house watching for a long-haired half-breed +with a red sash round his waist, who answered to the name +of St. Croix the elder. + +_Ping, ping, ping, zip--phut--cr-runck!_ and the bullets +played a very devil's tattoo upon the walls and windows. +The enemy were still five to one, and if they could only +succeed in rushing in and breaking down the doors, victory +would be in their hands. But to do that meant death to +so many. + +Another half-hour, and the firing still continued, though +in a more desultory fashion. It was a strange waiting +game, and a grim one, that was being played. The defenders +had shifted their positions to guard against surprise. +Douglas had in vain begged his daughter to leave the room +and join the women in an inner apartment, but she had +pleaded so hard with him that he allowed her to remain. + +As for the sergeant, he was outwardly, at least, his old +self. He was silent and watchful, showing neither concern +nor elation. He moved from one position to another, and +never pulled the trigger of his Winchester without making +sure of something. With the help of Douglas he had pulled +on his fur coat again, as the fire was going out, and he +was beginning to feel the cold in his wound. + +"I can't make out why Child-of-Light hasn't come up with +his men," he said at length, "but, anyhow, he is sure to +turn up--" + +He paused, listening. Then all in the room heard the +_chip-chop_ of an axe as it steadily cut its way through +a post of considerable size. The rebels were evidently +busy. Suddenly the sound stopped. + +"They're preparing for a rush," observed Rory. "What +I'm surprisit at is ther riskin' their ugly carcases as +they do." + +"Sargain Pasmore--Sargean?" cried some-one from the shed. + +"Aha! he has recognised your voice," said Jacques. "He +is as the fox, that St. Croix." + +"Well, what is it?" shouted the sergeant. + +What the half-breed had to say rather took the sergeant +aback. It was to the effect that unless they surrendered +within a few minutes, they would all most assuredly be +killed. + +Then for the first time that night Sergeant Pasmore +betrayed in his voice any feeling that may have animated +him. + +"Go home, Leopold St. Croix," he cried, "go home, and +those with you before it is too late! Go on to the Fort +and ask pardon from those in authority, and it may yet +be well with you; For as soon as the red-coated soldiers +of the Great Queen come--and, take my word for it, they +are in number more than the fishes in the Great Lake--you +will be shot like a coyote on the prairie, or hanged by +the neck, like a bad Indian, on the gallows-tree. That +is our answer, Leopold St Croix; you know me of old, and +you also know how I have always kept my word." + +There was a dead silence for a minute or two, and whilst +it lasted one could hear the embers of the dying fire +fall into ashes. On a shelf, an eight-day clock ticked +ominously; the girl stood with one hand upon her father's +shoulder, motionless and impassive, like some beautiful +statue. There was no trace of fear of any impending +tragedy to mar the proud serenity of her face. At length +the sound of voices came to them from outside. It grew +in volume and rose like the angry murmur of the sea. +Pasmore was looking through a crack when the noise of +the chopping began again. In another minute there was a +crash of falling timber. + +The sergeant turned to the girl. + +"Miss Douglas," he said, "will you kindly go into the +other room for a minute! They have cut down one of the +large posts in the shed and are going to make a +battering-ram of it so as to smash in the door. Come +this way, all of you. Two on either side. That is right. +Fire into them as they charge!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HARD PRESSED + +The half-breeds and Indians, keen and determined as they +were to effect an entrance to the house at any costs, +were not without considerable foresight and strategy. +But their feint failed, and when they did make a rush +with their ram two or three of them were picked off. The +survivors dropped the ram, and made a dash across the +open for the stable. + +Pasmore telling the others to remain at their loopholes, +went to a room at the end of the long passage, Dorothy +following him. + +The rebels must have applied a match to some of the +inflammable matter, for in another instant the growing, +hissing roar of fire was audible. + +"It will spread to the house in a few minutes more," +remarked the sergeant, quietly, "and I'm afraid that will +be the end of it." + +But he had already seized an axe and was opening the +door. + +"Shut the door after me and go to your father," he +exclaimed. "I'll cut down the slabs that connect it with +the house. Child-of-Light may come up yet. Good-bye--in +case of accidents." + +She caught him by the arm and looked into his face. + +"You can't do that--you must _not_ do that! You are sure +to be shot down." + +"And I may be shot if I don't." Forcibly, but with what +gentleness the action permitted, he disengaged her firm +white hand. + +"You can't use an axe with that arm," she pleaded, all +her old reserve vanishing. + +"I can at a pinch," he replied. "It is good of you to +trouble about me." + +He slipped out and pulled the door behind him. The look +he had seen in her eyes had come as a revelation and +given him courage. + +She stood for a moment speechless and motionless, with +a strained, set expression on her face. It was old Rory +who aroused her to the gravity of the situation. He came +running along the passage. + +"Come hyar, honey, and into the cellar wid ye," he cried. +"There's more of the inimy comin' along the trail, but +there's still a chanct. Nivir say die, sez I." + +As if roused from some horrible dream her feverish energy +and readiness of resource returned to her. + +"Come into the next room," she cried to Rory; "we can +see the oil-house from the window. He is out there pulling +down the stockade and we can keep them back from him. +Quick, Rory!" + +Like one possessed she made for the first door on the +left of the passage. + +Along the trail came the new lot of half-breeds and +Indians to the assistance of their fellows, or, perhaps +it would be more correct to say, to see to it that they +did not miss their full share of the plunder. Roused to +fresh efforts by the sight of the others, those on the +spot fairly riddled the doors and windows of the house. +The bullets were whizzing into the kitchen in every +direction, splintering the furniture and sending the +plaster flying from the walls until the room was filled +with a fine, blinding, choking dust. It was impossible +to hold out much longer. The final rush was sure to come +in a very few minutes--and all would be over. + +Pasmore had cut off the house from the burning shed by +hewing down the connecting wall, while Dorothy Douglas +and Rory, by firing from a side window, had kept the +enemy from approaching; After what seemed an age, Pasmore +rejoined them. + +There was a pause in the firing, then a hoarse murmur of +excited voices came from the sheds. It rose like a sudden +storm on the Lake of the Winds. There was a wild volley +and a rush of feet. A dark body smashed in the casement +and tried to follow it, but Rory's long knife gleamed in +the air, and the intruder fell back in his death agony. +Rory seldom wasted powder and shot at close quarters. +The sergeant looked at the girl strangely. + +"Come with me to your father," he said hoarsely. + +"Is it the end?" she asked. + +"I fear it is," he replied; "but we'll fight to the +finish." + +He opened the door and led the way out. + +"I must go to the others," he continued. "Rory can guard +this end of the house. Will you come with me?" + +"Yes, and remember your promise--I am not afraid." + +"I am," he admitted, "but not of them." + +They reached the kitchen, but he would not let her enter. + +"Stay where you are for a moment," he commanded firmly. + +He found Douglas and Jacques still holding the doorway, +though the door itself, and the table which had been +placed against it, were badly wrecked. A breed had actually +forced his body through a great rent when they had rushed, +but Jacques had tapped him over the head with the stock +of his rifle and cracked it as he would have done an +egg-shell. The lifeless body still filled the gap. + +"Bravo, gentlemen," cried the sergeant, "we shall exact +our price. If we can only stand them off a little longer--" + +The words died on his lips as a rattle of musketry awoke +somewhere in the neighbourhood of the surrounding ridges. +It grew in volume until it seemed all around them. Several +bullets struck the house that did not come from those +immediately attacking. A series of wild whoops could be +heard from among the pines on the hillside, and they came +nearer and nearer. + +"It's Child-of-Light and his Crees!" cried Pasmore. "He +saw the new lot approaching and waited until they fell +into the trap. Now he has surrounded them." + +"Thank God!" cried the rancher, and never had he breathed +a more sincere thanksgiving. + +The breeds and Indians made back for the out-buildings; +then, realising that sooner or later these must prove +untenable, they scurried for the pine wood on the hillside. +But now Child-of-Light and his braves were on the ridges +and a desperate running fight ensued. Not more than a +dozen of the enemy managed to get safely away. For hours +afterwards they held their own from the vantage of the +rocks and pines. + +When those in the house realised that all immediate danger +was over, they took the change of situations +characteristically. The rancher went quietly to find his +daughter. She showed no signs of any reaction, although +perhaps she had a hard struggle to conquer her feelings. +Jacques wanted to sally out and seek for Leopold St. +Croix, so that they might settle once and for all their +little differences, but Sergeant Pasmore vetoed this. +There was other work to do, he said. It was no use +remaining at the ranche; the women must go into the fort +at Battleford--if, indeed, it were possible to get +through to it. As for Rory, he had gone to the stables +and seen to the horses and the dogs that were to pull +the sleighs; these latter, by the way, were a remarkable +lot, and comprised as many varieties as there are different +breeds of pigeons. There were Chocolats, Muskymotes, +Cariboos, Brandies, Whiskies, Corbeaus, and a few others. +During the fight they had kept wonderfully quiet, but +now they seemed to know that it was over, and began, +after the playful manner of their kind, to indulge in a +spirited battle on their own account. Rory snatched up +a whip with the object of seeing fair play. + +An hour later and a strange scene that kitchen presented, +with its wounded, smoke-stained men, Its shattered doors +and windows, and splintered tables and dresser. The four +Mounted Policemen had come down from the ridges where +they had so harassed the enemy and were now receiving +steaming pannikins of coffee. + +Child-of-Light had just come in, and told how to the +north Big Bear and his Stonies were lurking somewhere, +not to speak of Thunderchild and one or two others, so +it would be as well to try Battleford first. His braves +at that moment were pursuing the fleeing breeds and +Indians, but he had ordered them to return soon in order +that they might remove the dead and wounded from the +ranche, and then see after the stock belonging to their +brother Douglas. It had been as Sergeant Pasmore had +said--they had seen the fresh enemy coming up and delayed +their attack until they could surround them. + +But grey-eyed morn had come at last; the sleighs were +packed and brought round to the door. It was time to make +a start. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TO BATTLEFORD + +It was quite a little procession of jumpers and sledges +that set out from the rancher's that morning after the +fight. First went the police, each man on his little +box-like jumper with its steel-shod runners drawn by a +hardy half-bred broncho. Next came Rory in a dog-sled +cariole, with his several pugnacious canine friends made +fast by moose-skin collars. They would have tried the +patience of Job. They fought with each other on the +slightest pretext from sheer love of fighting, and knew +not the rules of Queensberry. If one of them happened to +get down in one of their periodical little outbreaks, +the others promptly abandoned their more equal contests +to pile on to that unfortunate one. + +The rancher and Dorothy came next in a comfortable sleigh, +with large buffalo robes all around them to keep out the +cold. Then came the two women servants in a light wagon-box +set on runners, and driven by Jacques. A Mounted Policeman +in a jumper formed the rear-guard at a distance of about +half-a-mile. The wagons were well stocked with all +necessaries for camping out. + +It was a typical North-West morning, cold, bracing and +clear. The dry air stimulated one, and the winter sun +shone cheerfully down upon the great white land of virgin +snow. + +There was a sense of utter solitude, of an immensity of +space. There was no sound save the soft, even swish of +the runners over the snow, and the regular muffled pounding +of the horses' hoofs. + +Within the next hour so buoyant were Dorothy's spirits, +and so light-hearted and genuine her outlook on things +in general, that Douglas began to wonder if the events +of the previous evening were not, after all, the imaginings +of some horrible nightmare. + +On, on, over the plains of frozen snow. The sun was so +strong now that Douglas was obliged to put great goggles +over his eyes, and Dorothy pulled a dark veil down over +hers, for fear of snow-blindness. They had left the flat +prairie behind, and were now in the bluff country which +was simply heights and hollows lightly timbered with +birch, poplar and saskatoon bushes, with beautiful meadows +and small lakes or "sloughs" scattered about everywhere. +They passed many pretty homesteads nestling cosily in +sheltered nooks; but no smoke rose from their chimneys; +they all seemed to have been deserted in a hurry. Their +occupants had doubtless fled into Battleford. What if +they had been too late to reach that haven of refuge! + +At noon the travellers stopped in a little wooded valley +for dinner. It was more like a picnic party than that of +refugees fleeing for their lives. The Scotswoman actually +made a dish of pancakes for the troopers, because she +said there was one of them who reminded her of her own +son, whom she had not seen for many a long day. The +sincere thanks of the hungry ones were more than recompense +for the worthy dame. + +They all sat down on buffalo robes spread on the snow, +and Dorothy was immensely taken with the gentlemanly, +unobtrusive way in which the troopers waited upon the +women of the party. But they were all mostly younger sons +of younger sons, and public school men, so after all it +was not to be wondered at. The high standard of honour +and duty, and the courage that was a religion animating +the force--the North-West Mounted Police--was easily +accounted for. She began to understand how it was that +some men preferred such a life to that of the mere quest +for gold. + +Every one seemed in the best of spirits. Wounds were not +mentioned, so it went without saying that these, owing +to the healthy bodies of their owners, were giving no +trouble. The only interruption of a non-harmonic nature +was when a burly Muskymote dog of Rory's team took it +into its head that a little _tete-noire_ dog had received +a portion of frozen fish from its master out of all +proportion to its inconsiderable size, so, as soon as +Rory's back was turned, showed its disapproval of such +favouritism by knocking the favoured one down, and trying +to bite off the tips of its ears. As the other dogs, with +their peculiar new Queensberry instincts, at once piled +on to the one that was getting the worst of it, Rory had +to put down the chicken leg he was enjoying to arbitrate +with his whip in the usual way. He gave the jealous +Muskymote an extra smack or two for its ill-timed behaviour +as he thought of that chicken leg. + +To Dorothy's no little surprise she found Pasmore unusually +communicative. Despite his seeming austerity, he possessed +a keen vein of humour of a dry, pungent order that was +eminently entertaining. To-day he gave vent to it, and +she found herself laughing and talking to him in a way +that, twenty-four hours before she would not have deemed +possible. + +Dinner over, the horses were watered--they had now cooled +down--the culinary articles were stowed away, pipes lit, +and preparations made for a fresh start. It would be +necessary to move with extreme caution, as they were not +more than twelve miles from Battleford, and the enemy +were pretty sure to have their scouts out. + +On again through the still air, and between the winding +avenues of birch, poplar and saskatoon bushes. Nothing +to be heard save the occasional call of the grouse in +the bracken, and the monotonous chafing of the harness. +At dusk they arrived within a mile or two of the little +town, and halted. + +A fire was lit in a deserted farmhouse, and a good drink +of hot tea put fresh life into them. There was trying +and dangerous work to be done that night; they would +require to be well prepared. + +An hour later, when the moon began to show over the +tree-tops, the entire party moved out silently by a +little-used by-path towards Battleford. A couple of +troopers went on some considerable distance in front, +and one on either flank, with strict instructions to +create no alarm if possible in meeting with an enemy, +but to at once warn the main body. + +And now on the still air came a weird, monotonous sound, +rising and falling, as does that of the far-off rapids, +borne on the fitful breath of the Chinook winds. _Tap, +tap, tap_, it went, _tum, tum, tum_, in ever-recurring +monotones. As they stopped to listen to it, the girl +realised its nature only too well. It was the tuck of +the Indian drum, and the Indian was on the war-path. As +they walked on they could hear it more plainly, and soon +the sound of whooping, yelling human voices, and the +occasional discharge of fire-arms, fell upon their +apprehensive ears. + +"They've bruk into the stores, an' are paintin' the town +red," explained Rory. "Guess they're hevin' a high ole +time." + +And now they could see a red glare tingeing the heavens +above the tree-tops. They ascended a hill to the right, +and looking down on the valley of the Saskatchewan, a +truly magnificent but terrifying sight met their gaze. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE GRIM BLOCKADE + +The great chief Poundmaker and his Stonies had broken +loose, and, after looting the Hudson Bay and other stores +in Battleford, were indulging in a wild orgie. Some of +the buildings were already burning, and the Indians, mad +with blood and fire-water, were dancing wildly around +the spouting flames that lit up that pine and snow-clad +winter scene for miles? + +Some of the warriors, more particularly round the burning +buildings, had donned uncanny masks that took the shape +of buffalo and moose heads, with shaggy manes, horns and +antlers, and, horror of horrors, some of them, silhouetted +blackly against the fierce glare, showed themselves to +be possessed of tails that made them look like capering +demons. + +_Pom, pom, pom_, went the hollow-sounding drums. Round +and round danced the wildly-gesticulating imp-like crowds. +They yelped and howled like dogs. They brandished +tomahawks and spears, all the time working themselves +into a frenzy. It more resembled an orgie of fiends than +of human beings. + +"It is horrible," exclaimed Dorothy, shivering, despite +her resolve to face bravely whatever might come. + +Within half-a-mile of the burning township, looming up +dimly over there among the trees, was the new village of +Battleford, and further back still, hardly discernible, +lay the Fort. Within several hundred yards of the latter, +under cover of hastily-improvised trenches of bluff and +scrub, was a cordon of half-breeds and Indians, by no +means too strong and not too well posted, for one of the +Police had already managed to elude the careless and +relaxed watch, and join the besieged ones. Under the +circumstances it was impossible for the defenders to make +a sortie, as this would leave the bulk of the refugees +unprotected. All they could do was to hold their position +and wait patiently until help came from Prince Albert +and the south. + +What the rancher's party had to do was plain, _i.e._ +separate, and endeavour, in ones and twos, to pass the +rebel lines and enter the Fort. Fortunately they could +all speak the curious patois of English, French, and Cree +that the enemy used, and therefore they had no need to +be at a loss. Moreover, with beaver-skin caps, and long +fur coats down to their heels, with the addition of a +sash round their waists, they were in no way different +from hundreds of others. Dorothy noticed that even the +Police had adopted means to conceal their identities so +far as appearances went. + +Sergeant Pasmore did not take long to make his plans. He +did not ask for any advice now, but gave his orders +promptly and explicitly. It would be better that they +should all endeavour to pass through the enemy at the +same time, so that in the event of an alarm being given, +some of them at least might be able to push on into the +Fort. + +Mrs. Macgregor and the half-breed woman were sent away +round by the right flank under the charge of Jacques, +who was to go ahead and try to pilot them into the Fort +in safety. The Police were to move round on the left +flank. + +As for Douglas and his daughter, they were to go down +separately to the foot of the ridge, walk leisurely +through the scattered houses, evading as much as possible +the straggling groups of rebels, and make towards a +certain point where a series of old buffalo-wallows would +to a great extent prevent their being seen. He warned +Douglas against keeping too near his daughter. He, being +so well-known, would be easily recognised, and their +being close together might lead to the capture of both. + +Douglas at first demurred, but presently saw the force +of this advice. It was a hard thing to be separated from +Dorothy, but he realised that otherwise he might only +compromise her safety, so he kissed her and went in the +direction the sergeant pointed out. Pasmore and his +charge were now left quite alone. There was a dead +silence for some moments. + +"I think we'd better go," he said, at length. "Now, do +you feel as if you could keep your nerve? So much depends +on that." + +"I'm going to rise to the occasion," she answered smilingly, +and with a look of determination on her face. "Let us +start." + +"One moment--you mustn't show quite so much of your +face--it isn't exactly an everyday one. Let me fix you +up a little bit first." + +She looked at him laughingly as he pressed her beaver-cap +well down over her smooth white forehead until it hid +her dark, arched eyebrows. He turned up her deep fur +collar, and buttoned it in front until only her pretty +hazel eyes and straight white nose were to be seen. Then +he regarded her with critical gravity. + +"I wish I could hide those eyes of yours," he said, with +whimsical seriousness. "You mustn't let any young Johnny +Crapaud or Indian see them any more than you can help." + +They descended the bluff and walked silently together +for some little distance through the thicket of birch +and saskatoon bushes. They were now close to the garden +of the first straggling house, and they could see dark +figures moving about everywhere. He pointed out to her +the way she would have to take. + +"Now, au revoir," he said, "and good luck to you." + +They shook hands, and she wished him an equal luck. "You +have been very good to us," she added, "and I hope you +will believe that we are grateful." + +He took off his cap to her, and they went on their separate +ways. + +Now that the girl had gone so far that there was no +turning back, she rose to the occasion as she said she +would. She faced the ghastly sights with much of her +father's old spirit. + +She put her hands in her large side pockets and lounged +leisurely past the gable end of a house. A half-breed +woman, carrying a large armful of loot, met her on the +side-walk. In the moonlight the girl caught the glint of +the bold, black, almond-shaped eyes and the flushed face. +The woman was breathing hard, and her two arms encircled +the great bundle. She shot a quick glance at Dorothy. +She was more Indian than white. + +Only that the rebels that night did not see with their +normal eyesight, the girl realised that she would have +been detected and undone. + +Two drunken Indians came walking unsteadily towards her, +talking excitedly. Though quaking inwardly, she kept +straight on her way, imitating a man's gait as much as +she could, for with those long buffalo coats that reach +to the ground, it was impossible to tell a man from a +woman save by the walk. The moccasins made the difference +even less. But the Indians passed her, and she breathed +more freely. Several people crossed and recrossed her +path, but beyond a half-curious look of inquiry, they +did not trouble about her. She passed a store in flames, +and saw a number of breeds and Indians yelling and whooping +and encouraging an intoxicated metis to dash into it at +the imminent risk of his life to fetch out some article +of inconsiderable value as a proof of his prowess. As +she passed on she heard a dull thud; and, looking back, +realised by the vast shaft of sparks which rose into the +air that the roof had fallen in. Jean Ba'tiste had played +with Death once too often. + +Sick with horror, the girl hurried on. A few hundred +yards more, and she would be clear of that awesome Bedlam. +She had to pass between some, huts, one of which she +could see was in flames. Hard by she could hear the +sound of a fiddle, and the excited whoops of dancers. +The Red River jig was evidently in full blast. She turned +the corner of a corral and came full on it. Several people +were standing apart round a bare spot of ground. A +capering half-breed, with great red stockings reaching +above his knees, with blanket suit, long crimson sash, +and red tuque on his head, was capering about like a +madman. His partner had just retired exhausted. He caught +sight of Dorothy, and peered into her face. + +"My faith!" he exclaimed; "but we shall dance like +that--so? Bien!" + +He made a grotesque bow, and seizing her by the arm, +pulled her into the clear space facing him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DETECTED + +For the moment a horrible sickening fear took possession +of Dorothy when she found herself thrust into such a very +prominent position. It was quite bad enough to have to +pass through that scene of pillage and riot, but to pose +as the partner of an excitable half-breed in the execution +of the Red River jig was more than the girl had bargained +for. The fantastic shuffling and capering of the long-legged +metis were wonderful to behold. The tassel of his long +red tuque dangled and bobbed behind him like the pigtail +of a Chinaman trying to imitate a dancing Dervish. His +flushed face, long snaky black locks, and flashing eyes +all spoke of the wild fever in his blood and his Gallic +origin. Still, the girl noted he was not what might be +termed an ill-looking fellow; he did not look bad-natured, +nor was he in drink. He was merely an excited +irresponsible. + +The barbaric, musical rhyme on the cat-gut took a fresh +lease of life; the delighted spectators clapped their +hands in time, and supplemented the music with the +regulation dog-like yelps. The Red River jig consists of +two persons of opposite sex standing facing each other, +each possessed with the laudable ambition of dancing his +or her partner down. As may readily be imagined, it is +a dance necessitating considerable powers of endurance. +When one of the dancers sinks exhausted and vanquished, +another steps into the breach. When Dorothy had made her +appearance, a slim and by no means bad-looking half-breed +girl had been unwillingly obliged to drop out of the +dance. The bright eyes of the new arrival had caught +Pierre La Chene's fancy, and, after the manner of his +kind, he had made haste to secure her as a partner. Pierre +was a philanderer and an inconstant swain. The dark eyes +of Katie the Belle flushed with anger as she saw this +strange girl take her place. She noticed with jealous +eyes the elegant fur coat which the other wore, the dainty +silk-sewn moccasins, the natty beaver cap, and felt that +she, herself a leader of fashion among her people, had +yet much to learn. + +Dorothy stood stock still for a moment while her partner +and the spectators shouted to her to begin. A wrinkled +old dame remarked, in the flowery language of her people, +that, as the figure of the girl was slender as the willow, +and her feet small and light as those of the wood spirits +that return to the land in the spring, surely she could +out-dance Pierre La Chene, who had already out-worn the +light-footed Jeanette and the beautiful Katie. Pierre +shouted to his partner to make a start. Surely now she +must be discovered and undone! + +Then something that, when one comes to think of it, was +not strange, happened--Dorothy rose to the occasion. She +had danced the very same fantasia many a time out of +sheer exuberance of spirits, and the love of dancing +itself. She must dance and gain the sympathy of that +rough crowd, in the event of her identity being discovered. +There was nothing so terrible about this particular group +after all. They were merely dancing while the others were +going in for riot and pillage. There was something so +incongruous and ludicrous in the whole affair that the +odd, wayward, fun-loving spirit of the girl, of late held +in abeyance, asserted itself, and she forgot all else +save the fact that she must do her best to dance her +partner down. + +Her feet caught the rhythm of the "Arkansaw Traveller" +--that stirring, foot-catching melody without beginning +or ending--and in another minute Dorothy was dancing +opposite the delighted and capering half-breed, and almost +enjoying it. With hands on hips, with head thrown back, +and with feet tremulous with motion, she kept time to +the music. She was a good dancer, and realised what is +meant by the poetry of motion. The fiddler played fairly +well, and Pierre La Chene, if somewhat pronounced in his +movements, was at least a picturesque figure, whose soul +was in the dance. So amusing, were his antics that the +girl laughed heartily, despite the danger of her position. + +It was evident that Pierre was vastly taken with his +partner. He rolled his eyes about in a languishing and +alarming fashion; he twisted and wriggled like a +contortionist, and occasionally varied the lightning-like +shuffle of his own feet by kicking a good deal higher +than his own head. He called upon his partner to "stay +with it" in almost inarticulate gasps. "Whoop her up!" +he yelled. "Git thar, Jean! Bravo, ma belle! Whoo-sh!" + +It was a very nightmare of grotesqueness to Dorothy. The +moonlight night, the black houses and pines looming up +against the snowy landscape, the red glare in the immediate +foreground caused by the burning buildings, the +gesticulating figure of her half-breed partner, the +excited, picturesque onlookers, the vagaries of the +fiddler and the never-ceasing sound of the Indian drum, +all tinged with an air of unreality and a sense of the +danger that menaced, made up a situation that could not +easily be eclipsed. And she was dancing and trying to +make herself believe she was enjoying it, opposite a +crazy half-breed rebel! She recognised him now as the +dandy Pierre, the admiration of the fair sex in his own +particular world on the Saskatchewan. If only any of her +people could see her now, what would they think of her? + +But was this wild dance to go on for ever? Already she +was becoming warm in her fur coat, despite the lowness +of the temperature. There was a limit to her powers of +endurance, albeit she was stronger than the average girl. +The onlookers, charmed with the grace of this unknown +dancer, were noisy in their applause. She must feign +fatigue and drop out, letting some one else take her +place. + +With an inclination of her head to her partner she did +so, but he, doubtless captivated by the dark, laughing +eyes he saw gazing at him above the deep fur collar, did +not care to continue the dance with some one whose eyes +might not be so bewitching, and dropped out also. The +half-breed girl, his former partner, who up till now had +contented herself by gazing sulkily from lowering brows +upon this strange rival, was at last stirred by still +deeper feeling. She came close up to Dorothy, and gazed +searchingly into her face. At the same moment they +recognised each other, for often had Dorothy admired the +full, wildflower beauty, the delicate olive skin, and +the dark, soulful eyes of this part descendant of a noble +Gallic race and a barbaric people, and spoken kindly to +her. The half-savage Katie had looked upon her white +sister as a superior being from another world, and had +almost made up her mind that she loved her, but she loved +Pierre La Chene in a different way, and when that sort +of love comes into one's life, all else has to give place +to it With a quick movement she drew down Dorothy's fur +collar, exposing her face. + +"_Voila!_" she cried; "_one of the enemy--the daughter +of Douglas!_" + +It was as if the rebels had suddenly detected an embodied +spirit that had worked evil in their midst, for the music +stopped, and the excited crew rushed upon her. But Pierre +La Chene kept them back. Those proud, defiant eyes had +exercised a singular charm over him, and when he saw her +face he almost felt ready to fight the whole crowd--almost +ready, for, like a good many other lady-killers, Pierre +had a very tender regard for his own personal safety. +Still, he cried-- + +"_Prenez garde_--tek caar! _Ma foi_, but she can dance +it! Let us tek her to Louis Riel. He is at the chapel. +We may learn much." + +With her keen instincts, Katie saw the ruse. + +"She has the evil eye, and has bewitched Pierre!" she +cried, and made as if to lead her old lover away. + +But Pierre's response was to thrust her violently from +him. Katie would have fallen but that Dorothy caught her. + +"Oh, Katie, poor Katie!" was all she said. + +And then the half-breed girl realised the evil she had +wrought, and shrunk from the kindly arms of the sister +she had betrayed. + +"To Riel with her!--to Riel with her!" was the cry of +the fickle malcontents, and, with a yelling following at +her heels, Dorothy was led away. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +IN THE JUDGMENT HALL + +Now that Dorothy knew the worst was about to happen, she, +strangely enough, felt more self-possessed than she had +done before. These rebels might kill her, or not, just +as the mood swayed them, but she would let them see that +the daughter of a white man was not afraid. + +In that short walk to the chapel she reviewed her position. +She hoped that by this time the others had managed to +reach the Fort. If they had, then she could face with +comparative equanimity what might happen to herself. Her +only fear was what her father, in his distress on hearing +of her capture, might do. + +Fortunately it was not far to the chapel which Riel had +converted into his headquarters. Indeed, he was only +paying a hurried visit there to exhort the faithful and +long-suffering metis and Indians to prompt and decisive +action. He intended to go off again in a few hours to +Prince Albert to direct the siege against that town. Only +those who had witnessed the wantonness and the capture +of the "white witch" followed. Most of the rebels were +too busy improving the shining hour of unlimited loot. +A half-breed on one side and an Indian on the other, each +with a dirty mitt on Dorothy's shoulder, led her to the +Judgment Hall of the dusky prophet, Louis David Riel, +"stickit priest," and now malcontent and political agitator +by profession. This worthy gentleman had already cost +the Government a rebellion, but why he should have been +allowed to run to a second is one of those seeming +mysteries that can only be accounted for by the too +clement policy of a British Government. + +Dorothy and her captors entered the small porch of the +chapel and passed into the sacred edifice. For one like +Riel, who had been educated for the priesthood in Lower +Canada, it was a strange use to put such a place to. The +scene when they entered almost defies description. It +was crowded with breeds and Indians armed to the teeth +with all manner of antiquated weapons. Most of them wore +blue copotes and kept on their unplucked beaver caps or +long red tuques. Haranguing them close to the altar was +the great Riel himself, the terror of the Saskatchewan. + +He did not look the dangerous, religious fanatic that he +was in reality. He was about five feet seven in height, +with red hair and beard. His face was pale and flabby, +and his dark grey eyes, set close together, glowed when +he spoke and were very restless. His nose was slightly +aquiline, his neck long, and his lips thick. His voice, +though low and gentle in ordinary conversation, was loud +and abrupt now that he was excited. + +He was so carried away by the exuberance of his own +eloquence when Dorothy and her captors entered, that he +still kept on in a state of rapt ecstasy. His semi-mystical +oration was a weird jumble of religion and lawlessness, +devout exhortation, riot, plunder, prayer, and pillage. +He extolled the virtues of the murderous Poundmaker and +Big Bear. He said that Mistawasis and Chicastafasin, the +chiefs, and some others, were feeble of heart and +backsliders, for they had left their reserves to escape +being drawn into the trouble. Crowfoot, head chief of +the Blackfoot nation, was protesting his loyalty to the +Lieutenant-Governor, and his squaws would one day stone +him to death as a judgment. Fort Pitt, Battleford and +Prince Albert must shortly capitulate to them, and then +the squaws would receive the white women of those places +as their private prisoners to do with as their sweet +wills suggested. Already many of the accursed whites had +been slaughtered, as at Duck Lake, for instance, but many +more had yet to die. They must be utterly exterminated, +so that the elect might possess the land undisturbed. + +At this point he caught sight of the newcomers. At a +sign from him they approached. + +"Ha!" he said, with an unctuous accent in his voice, and +rubbing his hands like a miserable old Fagin, "Truly the +Lord is delivering them into our hands. What are you, +woman?" + +But beyond her name Dorothy would at first tell him +nothing. Her captors briefly stated the little they knew +concerning her presence in the town. The self-constituted +dictator tried bombast, threats and flattery to gain +information from her, but they were of no avail. His +authority being thus disputed by a woman, and his absurd +self-esteem ruffled, he gave way to a torrent of abuse, +but Dorothy was as if she heard it not. It was only when +Riel was about to give instructions to his "General," +Gabriel Dumont, and more of the members of his staff and +"government" to instantly cause a search to be made in +the camp for those who might have been with the girl, +that she said he might do so if he chose, but it would +be useless, as her friends must have entered the Fort an +hour ago. + +"Hear to her, hear to this shameless woman!" cried the +fanatical and self-constituted saviour of the metis, +gesticulating and trying, as he always did, to work upon +the easily-roused feelings of his semi-savage following. +"She convicts herself out of her own mouth; she must +suffer. She is young and fair to look upon, but she is +the daughter of Douglas, the great friend of the English, +and therefore evil of heart. Moreover, she defies me, +even me, to whom St Peter himself appeared in the Church +of St. James at Washington, Columbia! Take her hence and +keep her as a prisoner until we decide what fate shall +be hers. In the days of the old prophets the dogs licked +the blood of a woman from the stones--of a woman who +deserved better than she." + +With a wave of his hand the arch rebel, who was yet to +pay the penalty of his inordinate vanity and scheming +with his life, dismissed the prisoner and her captors. +He instructed an Irish renegade and member of his cabinet, +called Nolin, to see to it that the prisoner was kept +under close arrest until her fate was decided upon--which +would probably be before morning. Nolin told some of +Katie's relatives to take charge of Dorothy. He himself, +to tell the truth, did not particularly care what became +of her one way or the other. Already this gentleman was +trying to hunt with the hounds and run with the hare. + +Dorothy looked around the improvised court-house in the +vague hope of finding some one whom she might have known +in the days of peace, and whose intervention would count +for something. But alas! the vision of dark, cruel and +uncompromising faces that met her gaze, gave her no hope. +They had all been wrought up to such a high pitch of +excitement that murder itself was but an item in their +programme. Her heart sank within her, but still her mind +was active. She was not one of the sort who submit tamely +to what appears to be the inevitable. She came of a +fighting stock--of a race that had struggled much, and +prevailed. + +Katie's male kinsman, the huge half-breed and the officious +redskin, again seized Dorothy and hurried her away, +followed by the curious, straggling mob. Arrived, at +length, at a long, low log-house on the outskirts of the +town, they hammered on the closed door for admittance. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE DWARF AND THE BEAR + +Dorothy noticed that there was a light in the windows of +this house, and wondered how it was that the occupants +seemed to be quietly staying at home while evidently all +the half-breed inhabitants of the town were making a +night of it. She also noticed that when her guides had +knocked they drew somewhat back from the doorway, and +that the motley crowd which had been pressing close behind +followed their example. They also ceased their noisy talk +and laughter while they waited for the door to be opened. +Only Katie, the flouted belle who had been following them +up, did not seem to possess the same diffidence as the +others, but stood with one hand on the door, listening. +Dorothy became strangely curious as to the inmates of +this isolated house. + +A strange shuffling and peculiar deep breathing were +heard in the passage; a bolt was withdrawn, Katie drew +quickly back, and next moment the door was thrown open. +A flood of light streamed out, and two weird and startling +figures were outlined sharply against it. Instinctively +Dorothy shrank backwards with a sense of wonder and fear. +Standing on its hind legs in the doorway was a bear, and +by its side a dwarf with an immense head covered with a +great crop of hair, and with long arms and a broad chest +which indicated great strength. + +"Whur-r! What you want here and at this hour of night, +you cut-throats, you?" asked the outspoken manikin in a +voice of sufficient volume to have equipped half-a-dozen +men. + +"A sweetheart for you, Pepin. A sweetheart, _mon ami_" +answered the big breed, in a conciliatory voice. + +Dorothy nearly sank to the ground in horror when she +heard this rude jest. + +"Bah!" cried the manikin, "it is another female you will +want to foist off upon me, is it? Eh? What? But no, +_coquin_, Pepin has not been the catch of the Saskatchewan +all these years without learning wisdom. Who is she--a +prisoner? Eh? Is not that so?" + +"That is so, Pepin, she is preesonar, and Riel has ordered +her to be detained here. Your house is the only quiet +one in the town this night, and that is why we came. Tell +Antoine to be so good as to stand back." + +Antoine was the bear, which still stood swaying gently +from one side to the other with a comical expression of +inquiry and gravity on its old-fashioned face. + +Pepin surveyed the mob with no friendly scrutiny. + +"What you want here, you _canaille, sans-culottes?_" he +demanded. And then in no complimentary terms he bade them +begone. + +The crowd, however, still lingered, with that spirit of +curiosity peculiar to most crowds; so the dwarf brought +them to their senses. Suddenly poking Antoine in the +ribs, he brought him down on all fours, and then, brushing +past Dorothy and her captors, and still leading the bear, +he charged the mob with surprising agility, scattering +it right and left. It was evident that they stood in +wholesome dread of Pepin and his methods. Then, coming +back with the bear, he put one hand on his heart, and +with a bow of grotesque gallantry, bade Dorothy enter +the house. The Indian he promptly sent about his business +with a sudden blow over the chest that would probably +have injured a white man's bones. The red man looked +for a moment as if he meditated reprisals, but Pepin +merely blinked at the cudgel, and Man-of-might, with a +disgusted "Ough! ough!" changed his mind and incontinently +fled. Dorothy's captor, Pierre La Chene, and Katie, alone +entered the dwarf's abode. + +It suddenly occurred to Dorothy that this was the Pepin +Quesnelle of whom and of whose tame bear Rory was wont +to tell tales. Dorothy noticed that Katie had a brief +whispered conference with the truculent Pepin before +entering. The result of it was somewhat unexpected; the +half-breed girl took Dorothy by the arm and led her into +a low room, which was scrupulously clean, at the end of +the passage. There was no one in it. Katie seemed strangely +nervous as she shut the door, and the girl wondered what +was about to happen. Then the half-breed turned suddenly +and looked into her eyes, at the same time placing one +hand upon her wrist. + +"Listen," she said, "I thought I loved you, but you have +made me mad--so mad this night! Now tell me true--_verite +sans peur_--you shall--you must tell me--do you love +Pierre?" + +If it had not been for the tragic light in the poor girl's +eyes, Dorothy would have laughed in her face at the bare +idea. As it was, she answered in such an emphatic way +that Katie had no more doubts on that point. Then Dorothy +asked the latter to send Pierre to her and to be herself +present at the interview. + +Katie at first demurred. She was afraid that the interview +might prove too much for the susceptible frail one. But +she brought him in, and when Dorothy had spoken a few +words to him, the fickle swain was only too anxious to +make it up with his real love. This satisfactory part +of the programme completed, Katie packed him off into +the next room, and then, with the emotional and +demonstrative nature of her people, literally grovelled +in the dust before Dorothy. She stooped and kissed her +moccasined feet, and called on the girl to forgive her +for her treacherous conduct But Dorothy raised her from +the ground and comforted her as best she could. To her +she was as a child, although perhaps her passion was a +revelation that as yet she but imperfectly comprehended. +But Katie was to prove the sincerity of her regret in a +practical fashion. + +"Where are your friends?" she asked. "Tell me +everything--yes, you can trust me. By the Blessed Virgin, +I swear I will serve you faithfully!" She raised her +great dark tear-stained eyes to Dorothy's. + +The girl instinctively felt that Katie was to be trusted. +The only question was, could she count upon her discretion? +She felt that she could do that also; she knew that in +a matter of intrigue the dusky metis have no equals. The +chances were that the others had reached the Fort; if +so, no more harm could be done. Briefly she told Katie +about those who had started out with her to steal through +the rebel lines to the English garrison. + +"If Jacques and the women went in the direction you say," +said Katie, "the chances are they have got to the Fort. +It matters not about the Police and Rory--they can look +after themselves. I doubt, however, if your father and +the sergeant have got through. You will stay in this +house while I go and see. I have many friends among our +people; the hearts of some of them not being entirely +with Riel, they will help me. I shall take Pierre. Pepin +and his mother you need not fear--they are not of the +rebels; they have lived too long at Medicine Hat with +the whites." + +And then she went on briefly to explain how Pepin was a +man renowned for his great wisdom and his cunning, as +well as for the bodily strength which had once enabled +him to strangle a bear. Still, his one great weakness +was conceit of his personal appearance, and his belief +that every woman was making a dead set at him. He also +prided himself upon his manners, which were either absurdly +elaborate or rough to a startling degree, as the mood +seized him, and as Dorothy had seen for herself. His +mother, whom she would see in the next room, was rather +an amiable old soul, whose one providentially overpowering +delusion was that Pepin was all that he considered himself +to be. She regarded most young unengaged women with +suspicion, as she fancied they looked upon her son with +matrimonial designs. Katie knew that the old lady was +at heart a match-maker, but, with the exception of herself, +who, however, was engaged, she had found no one good or +beautiful enough to aspire to an alliance with the +Quesnelle family. + +Dorothy felt vastly relieved at hearing all this. Then +Katie took her by the hand, and, telling her to be of +good courage, as she had nothing to fear led her into +the next room. + +"A good daughter for you, mother," she said smilingly to +the dame who sat by the fire. + +The old white-haired woman, who was refreshingly clean +and tidy, turned her dark eyes sharply upon the new +arrival. Whether it was that Dorothy was prepossessed in +her favour and showed it, and that the old lady took it +as a personal compliment, or that the physical beauty of +the girl appealed to her, is immaterial; but the fact +remained that she in her turn was favourably impressed. +She motioned to a seat beside herself. + +"Sit hyar, honey," she said. "I will put the kettle on +the fire and give you to eat and drink." + +But the girl smilingly thanked her, and said that she +had not long since finished supper. In no way loth to do +so, she then went and sat down next the old dame, who +regarded her with considerable curiosity and undisguised +favour. Katie, seeing that she could safely leave her +charge there, spoke a few words in a strange patois of +Cree and French to Pepin, and, calling Pierre, left the +house. + +Dorothy glanced in wonder round the common sitting-room +of this singular family. It was a picturesque interior, +decorated with all kinds of odds and ends. There were +curios in the way of Indian war weapons, scalping knives, +gorgeously beaded moccasins and tobacco pouches, barbaric +plumed head-dresses, stuffed birds and rattlesnakes, +butterflies, strings of birds' eggs, and grinning and +truly hideous Indian masks for use in devil and give-away +dances. At the far end of the room was a rude cobbler's +bench and all the paraphernalia of one who works in boots, +moccasins, and harness. Thus was betrayed the calling +of Pepin Quesnelle. + +But it was the man himself, with his extraordinary +personality, who fascinated Dorothy. He was standing with +his hands behind his back and his legs apart, talking to +the sulky, uncompromising half-breed who had brought her +there. He was not more than three feet in height, and he +seemed all head and body. His arms were abnormally long +and muscular. He had a dark shock head of hair, and his +little black moustache was carefully waxed. His forehead +was low and broad, and his aquiline nose, like his +jet-black, almond-shaped eyes, betrayed an Indian ancestor. +His face betokened intelligence, conceit, and a keen +sense of sardonic humour; still, there was nothing in it +positively forbidding. To those whom he took a fancy to, +he was doubtless loyal and kind, albeit his temperament +was of a fiery and volatile nature. In this he showed +the Gallic side of his origin. It was very evident that, +despite his inconsiderable size, his hulking and sulky +neighbour stood in considerable awe of him. + +"Pshaw! Idiot! Pudding-head!" he was saying. "But it is +like to as many Muskymote dogs you are--let one get down +and all the others attack him. What, I ask, did your +Riel do for you in '70? Did he not show the soles of the +moccasins he had not paid for as soon as he heard that +the red-coats were close to Fort Garry, and make for the +States? Bah, you fools, and he will do so again--if he +gets the chance! But he will not, mark my words, Bastien +Lagrange; this time the red-coats will catch him, and he +and you--yes, you, you chuckle-head--will hang all in a +row at the end of long ropes in the square at Regina +until you are dead, dead, dead! Think of it, Lagrange, +what a great big ugly bloated corpse you'll make hanging +by the neck after your toes have stopped twitching, +twitching, and your face is a beautiful blue. Eh? _Bien!_ +is not that so, blockhead?" + +And the dwarf grinned and chuckled in such a bloodthirsty +and anticipating fashion that the girl shuddered. + +Bastien Lagrange did not seem to relish the prospect, +and his shifty eyes roamed round the walls. + +"But the red-coats, how can they come?" he weakly asked. +"Where are they, the soldiers of the Great Mother? Riel +has said that those stories of the cities over seas and +the many red-coats are all lies, and that the Lord will +smite the Police and those that are in the country with +the anthrax that kills the cattle in the spring. Riel +swears to that, for St. Peter appeared to him and told +him so. He said so himself!" + +"Bah, idiot!" retorted Pepin, "if it is that Riel is on +such friendly terms with St. Peter, and the Lord is going +to do such wonderful things for him, why does not the +Saint give his messengers enough in advance for them to +pay the poor men who make for them the moccasins they +wear? Why does he suffer them to steal from their own +people? Pshaw, it is the same old tale, the same old game +from all time, from Mahomet to the present down-at-heel! +But courage, _mon cher_ Bastien! I will come and see you +ch-chk, ch-chk!"--he elongated and twisted his neck, at +the same time turning his eyes upwards in a horrible +fashion--"while your feet go so ... so,"--he described +a species of _pas-seul_ with his toes. "Is that not so, +Antoine? Eh?--you beauty, you?" and here he gave the +great bear, that had been gravely sitting on its haunches +watching him like an attendant spirit, a sudden and +affectionate kick. + +To Dorothy's horror the great brute made a quick snap at +him, which, however, only served to intensely amuse Pepin, +for he skilfully evaded it, and, seizing his stick, at +once began to dance up and down. The cunning little black +eyes of the beast watched him apprehensively and +resentfully. + +"Aha, Antoine!" he cried. "Git up, you lazy one, and +dance! Houp-la!"--the huge brute stood up on its hind +legs--"Now, then, Bastien, pick up that fiddle and play. +That's it, piff-poum--piff-poum! Houp-la! piff-poum!" +and in another minute the man and the bear were dancing +opposite each other. It was a weird and uncanny sight, +the grotesque dwarf, with his face flushed and his hair +on end, capering about and kicking with his pigmy legs, +and the bear with uncouth waddles waltzing round and +round, its movements every now and again being accelerated +by a judicious dig in the ribs from Pepin's stick. +Bastien Lagrange fiddled away as if for dear life, and +the old dame, her face beaming with pride and admiration, +clapped her hands in time to the music. Every minute or +two she would glance from her son to Dorothy's face to +note what impression such a gallant sight had made. + +"Is it not _magnifique?_ Is he not splendid?" she asked +the girl. + +"He is indeed wonderful," replied Dorothy, truthfully +enough. + +Despite the suggestion of weirdness the goblin-like scene +created in her mind, the grimaces and antics of the +manikin, and the sulkily responsive movements of the +bear, were too absurd for anything. She thought of Rory's +story of how the "b'ar" resented being left out of its +share in Pepin's castor-oil; and was so tickled by the +contrast of their present occupation that, despite herself, +she broke out into a fit of laughter. Fearful of betraying +the reason of it, she began to clap her hands like the +old lady, which action, being attributed by the others +to her undisguised admiration, at once found favour in +their eyes. Dorothy began to imagine she was getting on +famously. + +"Honey," cried the old lady, raising her voice and stooping +towards the girl, "I like yer face. Barrin' Katie, you're +the only gal I'd like for Pepin. I reckon we'll just stow +you away quietly like, and then afterwards you kin be +his wife." + +But the prospect so alarmed Dorothy that her heart seemed +to stop beating again. At the same moment Pepin showed +signs of fatigue, and the music stopped abruptly. Antoine, +however, in a fit of absent-mindedness, kept on waltzing +around on his own account, until Pepin gave him a crack +over the head and brought him to his senses. + +"Come hyar, Pepin," cried the old dame. "Mam'selle is +took wid you. I think she'd make you a good wife, my +sweet one." + +Dorothy grew hot and cold at the very thought of it. She +really did not know what these people were capable of. + +Pepin approached her with what he evidently intended to +be dignified strides. For the first time he honoured her +with a searching scrutiny. Poor Dorothy felt as if the +black eyes of this self-important dwarf were reading her +inmost thoughts. She became sick with apprehension, and +her eyes fell before his, In another minute the oracle +spoke. + +"No, _ma mere_, <no," he said. "She is a nice girl upon +the whole; her hair, her figure, and her skin are good, +but her nose stops short too soon, and is inclined to be +saucy. Though her ways are sleek like a cotton-tail's, +I see devilry lurking away back in her eyes. Moreover, +her ways are those of a _grande dame_, and not our +ways--she would expect too much of us. She is a good girl +enough, but she will not do. _Voila tout!_" And with a +not unkindly bow the _petit maitre_ turned his attention +to Antoine, who, during the examination, had taken the +opportunity of seizing its master's cudgel and breaking +it into innumerable little bits. + +Dorothy breathed again, but, true to the nature of her +sex, she resented the disparaging allusions to her nose +and eyes--even from Pepin. What a conceited little freak +he was, to be sure! And to tell her that she _would not +do!_ At the same time she felt vastly relieved to think +that the dwarf had resolved not to annex her. The only +danger was that he might change his mind. His mother had +taken his decision with praiseworthy resignation, and +tried in a kindly fashion to lighten what she considered +must be the girl's disappointment. Meanwhile Lagrange, +judging by his lugubrious countenance, was evidently +pondering over the pleasant prospect Pepin had predicted +for him. The dwarf himself was engaged in trying to +force the fragments of the stick down Antoine's throat, +and the latter was angrily resenting the liberty. + +Dorothy was becoming sleepy, what with the fatigue she +had undergone during the day and the heat of the fire, +when suddenly there came three distinct taps at one of +the windows. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE UNEXPECTED + +It was fortunate for Antoine the bear that the taps at +the window came when they did, for Pepin with his great +arms had got it into such an extraordinary position +--doubtless the result of many experiments--that it would +most assuredly have had its digestion ruined by the sticks +which its irate master was administering in small sections. +To facilitate matters, he had drawn its tongue to one +side as a veterinary-surgeon does when he is administering +medicine to an animal. On hearing the taps the dwarf +relinquished his efforts and went to the door. The bear +sat up on its haunches, coughing and making wry faces, +at the same time looking around for moccasins or boots +or something that would enable it to pay its master out +with interest, and not be so difficult to swallow when +it came to the reckoning. + +The dwarf went to the door, and, putting one hand on it, +and his head to one side, cried-- + +"Hello, there! _Qui vive?_ Who are you, and what do you +want?" + +"All right, Pepin, it's me--Katie." + +The door was thrown open, and the half-breed woman entered. +At her heels came a man who was so muffled up as to be +almost unrecognisable. But Dorothy knew him, and the next +moment was in her father's arms. The dwarf hastened to +close the door, but before doing so he gazed out +apprehensively. + +"You are quite sure no one followed you?" he asked Katie, +on re-entering the room. + +"No one suspected," she replied shortly. "Jean Lagrange +has gone to look out for the others. I fear it will go +hard with the shermoganish unless you can do something, +Pepin." + +Dorothy had been talking to her father, but heard the +Indian word referring to the Police. + +"I wonder if Mr. Pasmore has got through to the Fort, +dad!" she said suddenly. + +"I was just about to tell you, my dear, what happened," +he replied. "I was going quietly along, trying to find +some trace of you, when a couple of breeds came up behind +and took me prisoner. I thought they were going to shoot +me at first, but they concluded to keep me until to-morrow, +when they would bring me before their government. So they +shut me up in a dug-out on the face of a bank, keeping +my capture as quiet as possible for fear of the mob taking +the law into its own hands and spoiling their projected +entertainment. I hadn't been there long before the door +was unbarred and Pasmore came in with Katie here. He told +me to go with her, and, when I had found you, to return +to where we had left the sleighs, and make back for the +ranche by the old trail as quickly as possible. He said +he'd come on later, but that we weren't to trouble about +him. Katie had made it right, it seems, with my jailers, +whom I am inclined to think are old friends of hers." + +"But why couldn't he come on, dad, with you?" + +There was something about the affair that she could not +understand. + +"I suppose he thought it would attract less attention to +go separately. I think the others must have got safely +into the Fort. It seems that since they have discovered +that some of the English are trying to get through their +lines they have strengthened the cordon round the Fort, +so that now it is impossible to reach it." + +"It's not pleasant, dad, to go back again and leave the +others, is it?" + +"It can't be helped, dear. I wish Pasmore would hurry up +and come. He said, however, we were not to wait for him. +That half-breed doesn't look too friendly, does he?" + +"Pepin Quesnelle is, so I fancy it doesn't matter about +the other," replied Dorothy. + +The rancher turned to the others, who had evidently just +finished a serious argument. + +"Pepin," he observed, "I'm glad to find you're not one +of those who forget their old friends." + +"Did you ever think I would? Eh? What?" asked the manikin +cynically, with his head on one side. + +"I don't suppose I ever thought about the matter in that +way," said Douglas, "but if I'd done so, I'm bound to +say that I should have had some measure of faith in you, +Pepin Quesnelle. You have known me for many years now, +and you know I never say what I do not mean." + +"So!... that is so. _Bien!_" remarked Pepin obviously +pleased. "But the question we have had to settle is this. +If we let your daughter go now, how is Bastien here to +account for his prisoner in the morning? He knows that +one day he will have to stand on the little trap-door in +the scaffold floor at Regina, and that he will twirl +round and round so--like to that so"--picking up a hobble +chain and spinning it round with his hand--"while his +eyes will stick out of his head like the eyes of a +flat-fish; but at the same time he does not want to be +shot by order of Riel or Gabriel Dumont to-morrow for +losing a prisoner." + +"Yees, they will shoot--shoot me mooch dead!" observed +Bastien feelingly. + +"So we have think," continued the dwarf, "that he should +disappear also; that he go with you. I will tell them +to-morrow that the girl here she was sit by the fire and +she go up the chimney like as smoke or a speerit, so, +and that Bastien he follow, and when I have go out I see +them both going up to the sky. They will believe, and +Bastien perhaps, if he keep away with you, or go hide +somewhere else, he may live yet to get drown, or get +shot, or be keel by a bear, and not die by the rope. You +follow?" + +"Where ees ze sleighs?" asked the breed, taking time by +the forelock. + +They told him and he rose with alacrity. + +"Zen come on quick, right now," he said. + +Douglas was pressing some gold into the old dame's hand, +but Pepin saw it. + +"Ah, non!" he said. "There are bad Engleesh and there +are good Engleesh, and there are bad French, but there +are also good French. The girl is a good girl, but if +Pepin cannot marry her he will at least not take her +gold." + +The old dame as usual, seconded him. + +"That is right, Pepin," she said, "I cannot take the +monies. Go, my child; you cannot help that my son will +not have you for a wife. Some day, perhaps, you may find +a hoosband who will console you. Adieu!" + +Dorothy had again put on her fur coat, and, bidding the +good old lady an affectionate farewell, and also thanking +Pepin, they prepared to set out again for the deserted +homestead in the bluffs. + +"You will send the sergeant on at once if he comes here, +won't you, Pepin?" said Douglas to the dwarf. "Perhaps +it is as well to take his advice and get back as quickly +as possible." + +"Come now," remarked Pepin, "you must go. If you wait +you may be caught Bastien will lead you safely there. +Adieu!" + +He opened the door and looked out Antoine moved to the +door with a moccasin in his mouth. Dorothy said good-bye +to Katie, who would have gone with her, only Pepin would +not allow it. As Dorothy passed the latter he was evidently +apprehensive lest she might be anxious to bid him a +demonstrative farewell, for he merely bowed with exaggerated +dignity and would not meet her eyes. + +"There are lots of other men nearly as good as myself, +my dear," he whispered by way of consolation. + +By this time the last of the frenzied mob was looking +for somewhere to lay its sore and weary head, so the open +spaces were comparatively clear of rebels. In a couple +of hours another dawn would break over that vast land of +frozen rivers and virgin snows to witness scenes of +bloodshed and pillage, the news of which would flash +throughout the civilised world, causing surprise and +horror, but which it would be powerless to prevent. By +this time the stores which had burned so brilliantly on +the previous night were dully glowing heaps of ashes. +The tom-toms had ceased their hollow-sounding monotones +so suggestive of disorder and rapine, and the wild yelpings +of the fiend-like crew had given place to the desultory +howling of some coyotes and timber-wolves that had ventured +right up to the outskirts of the village, attracted by +the late congenial uproar. They were now keeping it up +on their own account. Farther away to the east, in the +mysterious greyness of the dreary scene, lay the Fort, +while in the ribbed, sandy wastes around, and in the +clumps of timber, the cordon of rebels watched and waited. + +As the fugitives looked back at the edge of the bluffs +to catch one last glimpse of a scene that was to leave +its mark on Canadian history, a rocket shot high into +the heavens, leaving behind it a trail of glowing sparks +and exploding with a hollow boom, shedding blood-red +balls of fire all around, which speedily changed to a +dazzling whiteness as they fell. It was a signal of +distress from the beleaguered Fort to any relieving column +which might be on its way. Then away to the north, as if +to remind man of his littleness, the Aurora borealis +sprang into life. A great arc or fan-like glory radiated +from the throne of the great Ice-king, its living shafts +of pearly, silvery and rosy light flashing with bewildering +effect over one half of the great dome of the heavens, +flooding that vast snow-clad land with a vision of +colouring and beauty that brought home to one the +words--"How marvellous are Thy works." No wonder that +even the Indians should look beyond the narrow explanation +of natural phenomena and call such a soul-stirring sight +_the dance of the Spirits!_ + +But there was no time to lose, for should they be taken +now their lives would surely pay for their rashness. They +threaded their way among the wooded bluffs, avoiding the +homesteads, and once they nearly ran into a rebel outpost +standing under the trees near which two trails met. They +made a detour, and at last, on crossing over a low ridge, +they came upon the deserted homestead where they had left +the sleighs, horses and dogs. + +Everything seemed quiet as they silently approached, and +Bastien seemed considerably astonished when he caught +sight of the signs of occupation by the enemy. He, +however, felt considerably relieved, for Pepin's pleasant +prognostications were weighing somewhat heavily upon his +mind. As for Dorothy, she felt strangely disappointed +when she found that Sergeant Pasmore had not put in an +appearance, for somehow she realised that there was +something mysterious in his having stayed behind. They +were passing an open shed when suddenly a not unfamiliar +voice hailed them. + +"The top av the mornin' t'ye," it said, "an' shure an' +I thought I'd be here as soon as you." + +It was Rory, who, after many adventures in dodging about +the village, and seeing Jacques and the two women servants +safely past the lax cordon of rebels, without taking +advantage of the situation to take refuge in the Fort +himself, had come back to his beloved dogs with a +presentiment that something had gone wrong with the +others, and that his services might be required. He was +singularly right. + +Bastien nearly jumped out of his blanket suit with terror +when he heard this strange voice. He had seized poor +Dorothy with reckless temerity on the previous night when +he was surrounded by his own people, but now that he had +to deal with a white man he was not quite so brave. But +Douglas speedily reassured him, and he busied himself in +hitching up a team. + +The rancher and Rory speedily compared notes. + +"It will be light in another hour," said Douglas, not a +little impatiently, "and I can't make out why Pasmore +doesn't come on, unless he's got into trouble. As you +tell me, and as he would know himself, it would be useless +trying to get to the Fort. I don't like the idea of going +on ahead, as he told me to be sure and do, while he may +be in need of help." + +"It's mortal queer," observed Rory, "that he didn't come +on wid you." He turned and addressed Bastien, who, having +hitched up two teams, seemed in a great hurry to be off. +"Eh, mister, an' what may you be sayin' to it?" + +"I tink eet ees time to be what you call depart," was +the reply. "Eet ees mooch dead ze metis will shoot us if +zey come now." + +He glanced apprehensively around. + +"It's the other man who came with Katie to the place +where they had me prisoner, and who remained behind," +explained Douglas. "He told me he'd come on." + +The half-breed looked surprisedly and incredulously at +the rancher. Dorothy had now joined the group, and was +listening to what was being said. + +"_Mon Dieu!_" exclaimed Bastien, "but ees eet possible +that you not know! Katie she haf told all to me. Ze man +you declare of he will no more come back. Ze man who made +of you a preesonar, have to show one on ze morrow, but +eet matter not vich, and dey arrange to show _ze ozer +man!_ He take your place; he mooch good fellow, and zey +shoot him mooch dead to-morrow!" + +And all at once the truth--the self-sacrifice that Pasmore +had so quietly carried out--flashed upon them. It was a +revelation. + +Douglas understood now why it was the sergeant had told +him to hurry on, and not wait. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE RETREAT + +There was a dead silence for about thirty seconds after +the half-breed had revealed the truth regarding Pasmore's +non-appearance. Douglas wondered why he had not suspected +the real state of affairs before. Of course, Pasmore +knew that his guards had only consented to the exchange +on condition that he was handed over to the bloodthirsty +crew on the morrow! + +As for Dorothy, she realised at last how she had been +trying to keep the truth from herself. She thought of +how she had almost resented the fact of Pasmore having +more than once faced death in order to secure the safety +of her father and herself, although the man was modesty +itself and made it appear as if it were only a matter of +duty. True, she had thanked him in words, but her heart +upbraided her when she thought of how commonplace and +conventional those words must have sounded, no matter +what she might have felt She knew now that Katie must +have found and spoken to him, and that her father's +liberty probably meant his--Pasmore's--death. How noble +was the man! How true the words--"Greater love hath-no +man than this, that a man lay down his life for his +friend." + +It was Douglas who first broke the silence; he spoke like +a man who was determined on a certain line of action, +and whose resolve nothing should shake. + +"I feel that what this fellow tells us is true, Dorothy," +he said; "but it is utterly impossible that I can have +it so. Pasmore is a young man with all his life before +him, and I have no right to expect a sacrifice like this. +I am going back--back this very moment, and you must go +on with Rory. Pasmore can follow up. You must go on to +Child-of-Light, who will take you safely to some of the +settlers near Fort Pitt. As soon as the soldiers get here +they will crush this rebellion at once. After all, I +don't believe they will harm me. As for Pasmore, if they +discover that he is one of the Police, he is a dead man. +Good-bye!" + +The girl caught him by both hands, and kissed him. + +"You are right, father, you are only doing what is right," +she said, "but I am coming with you. I could not possibly +think of going on alone. We will return together. You +will go on and take Pasmore's place--it will be all one +to his guards so long as they produce a prisoner--and he +can make good his escape. Lagrange here, who had charge +of me before, can imprison me along with you, and the +chances are they will be content to keep us as prisoners. +It will also save Lagrange from getting into trouble +later on." + +"Ah! that ees mooch good," broke in the breed, who had +caught the drift of the last proposal. "_Oui_, that ees +good, and then they will not shoot me mooch dead." + +Old Rory gave a grunt and eyed the hulking fellow +disgustedly. "It's nary a fut ye'll be goin' back now, +an' I'm tellin' yees, so it's makin' what moind ye have +aisy, sez Oi." + +He turned to the rancher and there was grim determination +in his eyes. + +"An' as for you goin' back now, shure an' it's a gossoon +ye'll be takin' me for if ye think I'll be lettin' yees. +It's ten chances to wan them jokers'll have changed their +sentymints by the time ye git thar, and will hould on to +the sarjint as well as to you. It's mesilf as is goin' +back if ye juist tell me where the show is, for I knows +the whole caboodle, an' if I can't git him out o' that +before another hour, then Rory's not the name av me. You +juist--" + +But he never finished the sentence, for at that very +moment two or three shots rang out on the still night. +They came from the neighbourhood of the town. + +"Summat's up," exclaimed Rory. "Let's investigate." + +The three men seized their rifles and ran up the ridge +that overlooked the bend of the trail They peered into +the grey moonlit night in the direction of the township. + +At first they could see nothing, but a desultory shot or +two rang out, and it seemed to them that they were nearer +than before. At last, round a bend in the trail, they +caught sight of a dark figure running towards them. + +"It must be one of the Police or Pasmore," said the +rancher. + +At last they saw this man's pursuers. There were only +three of them, and one stopped at the turn, the other +two keeping on. Now and again one of them would stop, +kneel on the snow, and take aim at the flying figure. +But moonlight is terribly deceptive, and invariably makes +one fire high; moreover, when one's nerves are on the +jump, shooting is largely chance work. + +"'Pears to me," remarked Rory, "thet this 'ere ain't what +you'd 'xactly call a square game. Thet joker in the lead +is gettin' well nigh played out, an' them two coves +a-follerin' are gettin' the bulge on 'im. Shure an' I'm +thinkin' they're friends av yourn, Lagrange, but they +wants stoppin'. What d'ye say?" + +"_Oui, oui_--oh, yiss, stob 'em! If they see me ze--what +you call it--ze game is oop. Yiss, they friends--shoot +'em mooch dead." + +The tender-hearted Lagrange was a very Napoleon in the +advocating of extreme measures when the inviolability of +his own skin was concerned. + +"It's a bloodthirsty baste ye are wid yer own kith an' +kin," exclaimed Rory, disgustedly; "but I'm thinkin' the +less shootin' the better unless we wants to hev the whole +pack after us. No, we'll juist let thet joker in the lead +git past, an' then well pounce on thim two Johnnies before +they can draw a bead, an' take 'em prisoners." + +No sooner said than done. They ran down the shoulder of +the ridge, and, just where the trail rounded it, hid +themselves in the shadow of a great pine. In a few minutes +more a huge figure came puffing and blowing round the +bend. They could see he had no rifle. The moonlight was +shining full on his face, and they recognised Jacques. +He did not see them, so they allowed him to pass on. In +another minute his two pursuers also rounded the bend. +One of them was just in the act of stopping to fire when +Douglas and Rory rushed out. + +"Hands up!" they shouted. + +One of them let his rifle drop, and jerked his hands into +the air at the first sound of the strange voices. But +the other hesitated and wheeled, at the same moment +bringing his rifle to his shoulder. + +But Douglas and Rory had sprung on him simultaneously. +His rifle was struck to one side, and he received a rap +on the head that caused him to sit down on the snow +feeling sick and dizzy, and wondering vaguely what had +happened. + +On hearing the commotion behind him, Jacques also stopped, +and turned. He came up just in time to secure the better +of the two rifles. The gentleman who had sat down against +his own inclination on the snow, was hauled on one side, +and while Douglas, Jacques and Lagrange stood over the +prisoners, Rory again ascended the ridge to find out +whether or not any more of the enemy were following. + +In a few words Jacques told Douglas his adventures since +he had left them on the previous night He and the women +had reached the British lines in safety, and shortly +afterwards the Police also arrived. The Fort, however, +was most uncomfortable. There were about six hundred men, +women, and children all huddled together in the insufficient +barrack buildings. After waiting for a few hours, Jacques +began to wonder what was delaying the others, and to +think that something must have gone wrong. He was not +the sort to remain inactive if he knew his services might +be required, so he evaded the sentries and stole out of +the Fort again to find his missing friends. Luck had so +far favoured him, and he had wished many of the rebels +good-night without arousing any suspicion as to his +identity, when unexpectedly he stumbled against a picquet. +It had doubtless got about that there were spies and +strangers in the town, for when they challenged him his +response was not considered satisfactory, and they ordered +him to lay down his rifle and put up his hands. He made +off instead, and, by dodging and ducking, managed to +escape the bullets they sent after him. He had lost his +rifle by stumbling in the snow, but he was fleet of foot, +and soon managed to get ahead of his pursuers. He knew +where there was a rifle if only he could reach the sleighs. +He had hardly expected such good fortune as to fall in +with his party again, having feared that they had been +captured by the rebels. He advised Douglas to get back +to the ranche by a little-used circuitous trail, as now +it was pretty certain that the whole township was aroused, +and the rebels would be out scouring the countryside for +them in another hour or less. The only consolation that +lay in the situation to Jacques was that he would now +have an opportunity of seeking out and finally settling +his little difference with his _bete noire_, Leopold St. +Croix. + +Rory came down from the ridge and reported that it would +now be madness to attempt to carry out their programme +of going back, as the entire settlement was aroused, and +there was evidently some little fight going on amongst +the rebels themselves. Douglas, he said, could not return +to Pasmore's guards and offer to exchange himself, trusting +to their friendship for Katie, for every one now would +see them; they might only precipitate Pasmore's fate, +and probably get shot themselves. They must get back to +Child-of-Light. + +It was certainly a distressing thing to have to do after +all they had gone through, but the worst part of the +whole affair was the thought of having to return leaving +the man who had risked his life for them at the mercy of +the rebels. + +But it was folly on the face of it to go back to Battleford. +Still Douglas hesitated. + +"It's too much to expect one to do to leave him," he +said, "but I'm afraid we're too late to do anything else." + +As for Dorothy, she looked sick of it all, to say the +least of it. + +"It's too terrible, dad; too terrible for words, and I +hardly thanked him for what he had done!" + +"Nonsense, Dorothy! He knew we were people who didn't go +about wearing our hearts upon our sleeves. Besides, the +chances are that Pepin or Katie will stand him in good +stead yet. Besides, they may take it into their heads to +hold him as a hostage." + +"Pardon, _mon ami_," said Jacques. "I think it is this +of two ways. Either we go as Rory here says, or we stop +and go back. As for myself, it matters not which--see"--he +showed some ominous scars on his wrists--"that was +Big-bear's lot long time ago when they had me at the +stake, and I was not afraid then. But I think it is well +to go, for if Pasmore is not dead, then we live again to +fight, and we kill that idiot St. Croix and one or two +more. _Bien!_ Is not that so?" + +"Thet's the whole affair in a nutshell," said Rory. "Now +the question is, what we're going to do wid them beauties? +It would hardly do to leave 'em here, an' as for Lagrange, +he knows that them in Battleford won't be too friendly +disposed to him now, so 'e'd better come, too." + +"That's it," said the rancher, "we'll make these two +breeds drive in front of us with the spare sleighs--they +can't leave the trail the way the snow is--and anyhow +we've got arms and they haven't, so I fancy they'll keep +quiet. When we get some distance away we may send them +back as hostages for Pasmore. Let us get ready." + +The horses were speedily got into the sleighs, and in a +few minutes the procession was formed. As for Rory, he +had some little trouble in starting, for his dogs, in +their joy at seeing him, gave expression to it in their +own peculiar way. A big Muskymote knocked down a little +Corbeau and straightway began to worry it, while a Chocolat +did the same with a diminutive _tete-noire._ + +The order was given to pull out, and away they went again +in the early dawn. Rory had not gone far in his light +dog-sleigh before he pulled alongside the rancher. + +"I say, boss," he said, "I ain't juist agoin' wid you +yet awhile. I know iviry hole an' corner of them bluffs, +an' I'm juist makin' for a quiet place I knows of, close +by, where I'll be able to find out about Pasmore, and +p'rhaps help him. As for you, keep right on to +Child-o'-Light. I'll foller in a day or so if I kin, but +don't you trouble about Rory. I'se know my way about, +an' I'll be all right, you bet." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A MYSTERIOUS STAMPEDE + +Before Douglas could make any demur, Rory had switched +off on to another trail and was driving quickly away. + +"Rory is as wide awake as a fox," said Douglas to his +daughter. "He's off at full speed now, and I don't suppose +he'd turn for me anyhow, if I did overtake him." + +"Let him go, father," said the girl. "Rory would have +been dead long ago if there had been any killing him. +Besides, he may really be of some use to Mr. Pasmore--one +never can tell. Do you know, dad, I've got an idea that +somehow Mr. Pasmore is going to come out of this all +right I can't tell you why I think so, but somehow I feel +as if he were." + +The rancher's gaze seemed concentrated on the tiny +iridescent and diamond-like crystals floating in the air. +There was a very sober expression on his face. He only +wished he could have been honestly of the same opinion. + +The sun came out strong, and it was quite evident that +Jack Frost had not many more days to reign. Already he +was losing that iron-like grip he had so long maintained +over the face of Nature. The horses were actually steaming, +and the steel runners glided smoothly over the snow, much +more easily, indeed, than they would have done if the +frost had been more intense, as those accustomed to +sleighing very well know. + +There was a great silence all round them, and when on +the open prairie, where the dim horizon line and the cold +grey sky became one, they could almost have imagined that +they were passing over the face of some dead planet +whirling in space. Only occasionally, where the country +was broken and a few stunted bushes were to be met with, +a flock of twittering snow-birds were taking time by the +forelock, and rejoicing that the period of dried fruits +and short commons was drawing to a close. + +And now Dorothy saw that her father was struggling with +sleep. It was not to be wondered at, for it was the third +day since he had closed an eye. Without a word she took +the reins from his hands, and in a few minutes more had +the satisfaction of seeing him slumbering peacefully with +his head upon his breast. The high sides of the sleigh +kept him in position. When he awoke he found it was about +eleven o'clock, and that once more they were in the wooded +bluff country. + +"You have let me sleep too long, Dorothy," he said. "It's +time we called a halt for breakfast Besides, we must send +those breeds back." + +He whistled to Jacques, who called to Bastien, and in +another minute or two the sleighs were pulled up. The +prisoners were then provided with food, and told that +they were at liberty to depart By making a certain cut +across country they could easily reach the township before +nightfall. + +One would have naturally expected that the two moccasined +gentry would have been only too glad to do as they were +told; but they were truculent, surly fellows, both, and +had been fretting all morning over the simple way in +which they had been trapped, and so were inclined to make +themselves disagreeable. Bastien Lagrange, who had always +known them as two particularly tricky, unreliable customers, +had preserved a discreet silence during the long drive, +despite their endeavours to drag some information out of +him. From what they knew of Douglas they felt in no way +apprehensive of their personal safety, so, after the +manner of mean men, they determined to take advantage of +his magnanimity to work out their revenge. Of Jacques, +however, they stood in awe. They knew that if it were +not for the presence of the rancher and his daughter that +gentleman would very soon make short work of them. The +cunning wretches knew exactly how far they could go with +the British. + +They began by grumbling at having been forced to accompany +their captors so far, and asked for the fire-arms that +had been taken from them. One of them even supplemented +this modest request by pointing out that they were +destitute of ammunition. Jacques could stand their +impudence no longer, so, taking the speaker by the +shoulders, he gave him an unexpected and gratuitous start +along the trail. The two stayed no longer to argue, but +kept on their way, muttering ugly threats against their +late captors. In a few minutes more they had disappeared +round a turn of the trail. + +The party proceeded on its way again. After going a few +hundred yards they branched on to a side trail, which +led into hilly and wooded country. Passing through a +dense avenue of pines in a deep, narrow valley, they came +to a few log huts nestling in the shadow of a high cliff. +There was a corral [Footnote: Corral = yard.] hard by +with a stack of hay at one end. They approached it +cautiously. Having satisfied themselves that the huts +concealed no lurking foes, it was resolved that they +should unhitch, give the horses a rest, and continue +their journey a couple of hours later. + +Jacques put one of his great shoulders to the door of +the most habitable-looking log hut and burst it open. +Dorothy entered with him. The place had evidently belonged +to half-breeds. It was scrupulously clean, and in the +fairly commodious kitchen, with its open fire-place at +one end, they found a supply of fuel ready to their hand. + +Whilst Jacques assisted the rancher and Lagrange in +foddering the horses, Dorothy busied herself with +preparations for a meal. + +It was pleasant to be engaged with familiar objects and +duties after passing through all sorts of horrors, and +Dorothy entered cheerfully on her self-imposed tasks. +She quickly lit a fire, and then went out with a large +pitcher to the inevitable well found on all Canadian +homesteads. She had to draw the water up in the bucket +some forty or fifty feet, but she was no weakling, and +soon accomplished that. To fill and swing the camp-kettle +across the cheery fire was the work of a minute or two. +She then got the provisions out of the sleighs, and before +the three men returned from looking after the horses she +had laid out a meal on the well-kept deal table, which +she had Covered with an oilcloth. The tea had been made +by this time, and the four steaming pannikins filled with +the dark, amber-hued nectar looked truly tempting. The +rude benches were drawn close to the table, and the room +assumed anything but a deserted appearance. + +It would have been quite a festive repast only that the +thought of Sergeant Pasmore's probable fate would obtrude +itself. Certainly they could not count upon the security +of their own lives for one single moment. It was just as +likely as not that a party of rebels might drive up as +they sat there and either shoot them down or call upon +them to surrender. Dorothy, despite her endeavours to +banish all thoughts of the situation from her mind, could +not free herself from the atmosphere of tragedy and +mystery that shrouded the fate of the captured one. Her +reason told her it was ten chances to one that the rebels +would promptly shoot him as a dangerous enemy. Still, an +uncanny something that she could not define would not +allow her to believe that he was dead: rather was she +inclined to think that he was that very moment alive, +but in imminent peril of his life and thinking of her. +So strongly at times did this strange fancy move her that +once she fully believed she heard him call her by name. +She put down the pannikin of tea from her lips untasted, +and with difficulty suppressed an almost irresistible +impulse to cry out. But there was no sound to be heard +outside save the dull thud of some snow falling from the +eaves. + +They had just finished their meal when suddenly a terrible +din was heard outside. It seemed to come from the horse +corral. There was a thundering of hoofs, a few equine +snorts of fear, a straining and creaking of timber, a +loud crash, and then the drumming of a wild stampede. + +The men sprang to their feet and grasped their rifles. + +"The horses!" cried Douglas; "some one has stampeded +them! We must get them back at any cost." + +"Don't go out that way," remonstrated Dorothy, as they +made for the door. "You don't know who may be waiting +for you there. There is a back door leading out from the +next room, but you'd better look out carefully through +the window first." + +The wisdom of the girl's advice was so obvious that they +at once proceeded to put it into execution. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ROOFED! + +The back windows commanded a view of the horse corral, +and they could see that one side of it had been borne +down by the rush of horses. But what had frightened them +was a mystery. There was nothing whatever of a hostile +mature to be seen. They could detect no lurking foe +among the pines, and when they passed outside, and went +round the scattered huts, there was nothing to account +for the disastrous panic. + +"_Parbleu!_" exclaimed Jacques, looking around perplexedly. +"I think it must have been their own shadows of which +they were afraid. Do you not think that is so, m'sieur?" + +"It looks like it," said Douglas; but we must get those +horses or the rebels will get _us_ to-morrow; they can +hardly overtake us before then. If I remember rightly, +there's a snake-fence across the trail, about half-a-mile +or so up the valley, which may stop them. Now, if you, +Jacques, go to the right, and you, Lagrange, to the left, +while I take the trail--I'm not quite so young and nimble +as you two--I dare say we'll not be long before we have +them back. But I'd nearly forgotten about you, Dorothy. +It won't do to--" + +"Nonsense, dad! I'll be perfectly safe here. The sooner +you get the horses back, the sooner we will be able to +consider ourselves safe." + +This view of the case seemed to commend itself to Bastien, +for without further ado he strode away to the left among +the pines. + +"I'm afraid there's nothing else for it," said Douglas. +"I think you'd better go inside again, Dorothy, and wait +till we return." + +"And in the meantime I'll pack the sleighs," observed +the girl. "Leave me a gun, and I'll be all right" + +The rancher leant his gun against the window sill, and +then departed hastily. + +The deserted huts seemed very lonely indeed when they +had gone, but Dorothy was a healthy, prairie-bred girl, +and not given to torturing herself with vain imaginings. + +She went indoors, and, for the next few minutes busied +herself in cleaning up and stowing away the dinner things. +This done, she resolved to go outside, for a wonderful +change had come about in the weather. It was only too +obvious that a new Spring had been born, and already its +mild, quickening breath was weakening the grip of King +Frost. + +Dorothy walked over towards the pines. She could detect +a resinous, aromatic odour in the air. Here and there +a pile of snow on the flat boughs would lose its grip on +the roughened surface and slip to earth with a hollow +thud. She skirted the outhouses, and then made for the +long, low-roofed hut again. She was passing a large pile +of cord-wood which she noted was built in the form of a +square, when, happening to look into it, she saw something +that for the moment caused her heart to stop beating and +paralysed her with fear. It was a great gaunt cinnamon +bear, which, seated on its haunches, was watching her +with a look of comical surprise upon its preternaturally +shrewd, human-like face. + +Dorothy's heart was thumping like a steam-engine. Fear, +indeed, seemed to give her wings, for she gathered up +her skirts and ran towards the house as she had never +run in her life. + +But the bear had just an hour or so before risen from +his long winter's sleep, influenced, doubtless, by those +"blind motions of the earth that showed the year had +turned"; feeling uncommonly empty, and therefore uncommonly +hungry, he had left his cave in the hillside lower down +the valley to saunter upwards in search of a meal. The +horses had unfortunately scented him before he was aware +of their proximity, and, with that lively terror which +all animals evince in the neighbourhood of bears, had +broken madly away, to Bruin's great chagrin. If he had +not been half asleep, and therefore stupid, he would have +crawled upon them from the lee side, and been on the +back, or at the throat, of one before they could have +divined his presence. The noise of the men's voices had +startled him, and he had gone into the wood heap to +collect his thoughts and map out a new plan of campaign. +The voices had ceased, but there was a nice, fresh-looking +girl, who had walked right into his very arms, as it +were. It was not likely he was going to turn up his nose +at her. On the contrary, he would embrace the +opportunity--and the young lady. + +He must, indeed, have still been half asleep, for he had +given Dorothy time to make a start, and there was no +questioning the fact that she could run. Bruin gathered +himself together and made after her. Now, to look at a +bear running, one would not imagine he was going at any +great rate; his long, lumbering strides seem laboured, +to say the least of it, but in reality he covers the +ground so quickly that it takes a very fast horse indeed +to keep pace with him. + +Before Dorothy had got half-way to the hut, she knew she +was being closely pursued. She could hear the hungry +brute behind her breathing hard. At length she reached +the hut, but the door was shut. She threw herself against +it and wrenched at the handle, which must have been put +on upside down to suit some whim of the owners, for it +would not turn. The bear was close upon her, so with a +sob of despair she passed on round the house. Next moment +she found herself confronted with a log wall and in a +species of _cul-de-sac_. Oh! the horror of that moment! +But there was a barrel lying on its side against the wall +of the hut Afterwards she marvelled how she could have +done it, but she sprang on to it, and, gripping the bare +poles that constituted the eaves of the shanty, leapt +upwards. Her breast rested on the low sod roof; another +effort and she was on it. The barrel was pushed from her +on springing, and, rolling out of harm's way, she realised +that for her it had been a record jump. The vital question +now was, could the bear follow? + +She raised herself on hands and knees among the soft, +wet snow, and looked down apprehensively at the enemy. + +What she saw would at any other time have made her laugh +heartily, but the situation was still too serious to be +mirthful. There, a few paces from the hut, seated on his +haunches and looking up at her with a look of angry +remonstrance on his old-fashioned face, was Bruin. His +mouth was open, his under jaw was drooping with palpable +disappointment, and his small dark eyes were gleaming +with an evil purpose. That he had used up all his +superfluous fat in his long winter's sleep was obvious, +judging by his lanky, slab-like sides. His long hair +looked very bedraggled and dirty. He certainly seemed +remarkably hungry, even for a bear. There was no gainsaying +the fact that he was wide awake now. + +Dorothy rose to her feet and glanced quickly around. +Particularly she looked up the trail in the direction +taken by her father and the others, but the dark, close +pines, and a bluff prevented her from seeing any distance. +She could hear nothing save the twittering of some +snow-birds, and the deep breathing of Bruin, who seemed +sadly out of condition. The steep sides of the valley +and the dark woods close up all around and shut in that +desolate little homestead. There was no hiding the truth +from herself; she was very much alone, unless the bear +could be regarded as company. Bruin had her all to himself, +so much so, indeed, that he appeared to be taking matters +leisurely. He had the afternoon ahead of him, and, after +all, it was only a girl with whom he had to deal. As he +watched her there was even an apologetic expression upon +his face, as if he were half ashamed to be engaged in +such an ungentlemanly occupation and hoped it would be +understood that he was only acting thus in obedience to +the imperative demands of an empty stomach. + +Dorothy wondered why the bear did not at once begin to +clamber up after her. As a matter of fact, bears are not +much good at negotiating high jumps, particularly when +their joints have been stiffening during the greater part +of the winter. But they have a truly remarkable +intelligence, and this particular one was thinking the +matter over in quite a business-like way. + +Dorothy caught sight of a long sapling projecting from +the eaves. It was really a species of rafter on which +the sod roof rested. She cautiously lent over, and, +grasping it with her two bands, managed with some +considerable exercise of force to detach it. It was about +six feet long and nearly as thick as her arm, making a +formidable weapon. + +Bruin regarded her movements disapprovingly, and resolved +to begin operations. The barrel which had helped the girl +to gain the roof was naturally the first thing that +attracted him. With a mocking twinkle in his dark eyes, +he slouched towards it. He was in no hurry, for, being +an intelligent bear, he appreciated the pleasures of +anticipation. He placed his two fore feet on it, and +then, with a quick motion, jerked his cumbersome hind +quarters up after him. + +But the bear had never seen a circus, and his education, +so far as barrels were concerned, had been neglected. +The results were therefore disastrous. The barrel rolled +backwards while Bruin took a header forward. Never in +the days of his cubhood had he effected such a perfect +somersault In fact, if it had been an intentional +performance he could not have done it in better style. +It was such an unexpected and spontaneous feat that his +thoughts went wandering again, and he looked at the barrel +in a puzzled and aggrieved sort of way, as if he half +suspected it of having played him some sort of practical +joke. + +In spite of the peril of her situation Dorothy could not +restrain a peal of laughter. A town-bred girl would +doubtless have been still shaking with terror, but this +was a lass o' the prairie, accustomed to danger. Besides, +she saw now that to reach her would cost the bear more +skill and agility than he appeared to possess. + +The barrel, being in a species of hollow, rolled back +and rocked itself into its former position. + +The bear walked round it, sniffing and inspecting it in +quite a professional manner. Then, not without a certain +amount of side--also quite professional--he prepared to +have another try. + +He sprang more carefully this time, but he did it so as +to put the momentum the other way. The result was that +he rocked wildly backwards and forwards for about a +minute, and managed to stay on the barrel as a novice +might on a plunging horse, until the inevitable collapse +came. The barrel took a wilder lurch forward than it had +yet done, and Bruin dived backwards this time. He came +down with such a thud, and in such an awkward position, +that Dorothy made sure his neck was broken. To tell the +truth, Bruin thought so himself. He actually had not the +moral courage to move for a few moments, lest he should, +indeed, find this to be the case. Even when he did move, +he was not too sure of it, and looked the very sickest +bear imaginable. + +But a bear's head and neck are about the toughest things +going in anatomy, so after Bruin had carefully moved his +about for a little to make sure that nothing serious was +the matter, he again turned his attention to the girl. +His stock of patience was by this time nearly exhausted, +and he glared up at her in a peculiarly spiteful fashion. +Then, suddenly seized by a violent fit of energy, he +leapt upon the barrel again with the determination to +show this girl what he really could do when put to it +But, owing to the previous hard usage the barrel had +received, some of the staves had started, the result was +that it collapsed in a most thorough manner. + +In addition to the surprise and shock sustained by the +bear, his limbs got inextricably mixed up with the iron +hoops, and he looked for all the world as if he were +performing some juggling feat with them. One hoop had +somehow got round his neck and right fore leg at the same +time, while another had lodged on his hind quarters. He +fairly lost his temper and spun round and round, snapping +viciously at his encumbrances. The girl laughed as she +had not laughed for many a long day. To see the dignified +animal make such an exhibition of himself over a trifle +of this sort was too ludicrous. But at last he managed +to get rid of the hoops, stood erect on his hind legs, +and then waddled clumsily towards the hut. + +Dorothy was not a little alarmed now, for his huge forepaws +were on a level with the eaves, while his blunt, black +snout was quite several inches above the sod roof. What +if he could manage to spring on to it after all! He opened +his mouth, and she could see his cruel yellow jagged +teeth and the grey-ribbed roof of his mouth. He moved +his head about and seemed preparing for a spring. Dorothy +raised the stout pole high above her head with both hands, +and, with all the strength that was in her supple frame, +brought it down crash upon the brute's head. + +Bruin must assuredly have seen stars, and thought that +a small pine tree had fallen on him, for he dropped on +all-fours again with his ideas considerably mixed--so +mixed, indeed, that he had not even the sense to go round +to the other side of the house, where there was a huge +snowdrift by which he might possibly have reached the +roof. But, being a persevering bear, and having a tolerably +thick head, not to speak of a pressing appetite, he again +reared himself against the log wall with the intention +of scrambling up. On each occasion that he did this, +however, the girl brought the influence of the pole to +bear upon him, causing him to change his mind. Dorothy +began to wonder if it were possible that a blacksmith's +anvil could be as hard as a bear's skull. + +But at last Bruin grew as tired of the futile game as +Dorothy of whacking at him with the pole, and, disgusted +with his luck and with himself, withdrew to the +neighbourhood of the corral fence, either to wait until +the girl came down, or to think out a new plan of campaign. + +As for Dorothy, she seated herself as best she could on +an old tin that had once contained biscuits, and which, +with various other useless articles, littered the roof. +She was quite comfortable, and the sun was warm--in fact, +almost too much so. She was conscious, indeed, that her +moccasins were damp. In future she would wear leather +boots with goloshes over them during the day, and only +put on moccasins when it became cold in the evening. She +knew that in a few days the snow would have disappeared +as if by magic, and that a thousand green living things +would be rushing up from the brown, steaming earth, and +broidering with the promise of a still fuller beauty the +quickening boughs. + +But what was delaying her father and the others? Surely, +if the fence and slip-rails were across the trail where +they said they were, the rush of the horses must have +been checked, and they would be on their way back now. +But she could neither see nor hear anything of their +approach. It was stupid to be sitting up there on the +roof of a house with nothing save a bear--fortunately at +a respectable distance--for company, but perhaps under +the circumstances she ought to be very thankful for having +been able to reach such a haven at all. Besides, the day +was remarkably pleasant--almost summer-like--although +there was slush under-foot. Everywhere she could hear +the snow falling in great patches from the trees and the +rocks. The bare patches of earth were beginning to steam, +and lawn-like vapours were lazily sagging upwards among +the pines as the sun kissed the cold cheek of the snow +queen. + +Dorothy's head rested on her hands, and she began to feel +drowsy. The twittering of the snow-birds sounded like +the faint tinkling silver sleigh-bells far away; the bear +loomed up before her, assuming gigantic proportions, his +features at the same time taking a human semblance that +somehow reminded her of the face of Pepin Quesnelle, then +changing to that of some one whose identity she could +not exactly recall. Stranger still, the weird face was +making horrible grimaces and calling to her; her eyes +closed, her head dropped, and she lurched forward suddenly; +she had been indulging in a day dream and had nearly +fallen asleep. But surely there was some one calling, +for a voice was still ringing in her ears. + +She pulled herself together and tried to collect her +senses. The bear assumed his natural proportions, and +Dorothy realised that she was still seated on the roof +of the log hut And then a harsh voice--the voice of her +dream--broke in with unpleasant distinctness upon her +drowsily-tranquil state of mind. + +"Hi, you zere?" it said. "What for you not hear? Come +down quick, I zay." + +Dorothy turned, and, glancing down on the other side of +the hut, saw the two objectionable rebels whom her father +had released nearly a couple of hours before. There was +an ugly grin upon their faces, and the one who had +addressed her held in his hands the gun which Douglas +had placed against the wall so that it might be handy +for his daughter in any emergency. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A THREE-CORNERED GAME + +It was now a case of being between the devil and the deep +sea with a vengeance, and Dorothy, as she surveyed the +two vindictive rebels on one side and the hungry bear on +the other, was almost at a loss to determine which enemy +was the more to be dreaded. Upon the whole she thought +she would have the better chance of fair play with the +bear. If the latter succeeded in clambering on the roof, +at a pinch she could get down the wide chimney, a feat +which it was not likely the bear would care to emulate. +True, it would be a sooty and disagreeable experiment, +not to speak of the likelihood of being scorched on +reaching the fire-place, but then she could at once heap +more fuel on the fire, which would make it impossible +for Bruin to descend, and barricade herself in until the +others returned. + +It was fortunate that the girl's presence of mind did +not desert her. Her policy was to temporise and keep the +foe waiting until the others returned with the horses. +Moreover, she noticed that Bruin sat on his haunches, +listening, with his head to one side, as if this new +interruption were no affair of his. + +A brilliant idea occurred to her, and already she almost +began to look upon Bruin as an ally. As yet the half-breeds +were unaware of the bear's proximity. + +The girl, without rising, picked up the pole and placed +it across her knees. + +"What is the matter with you?" she asked the taller of +the two rebels. "Don't you want to return to Battleford?" + +"Eet is too late how, and we want you," explained the +first villain. "Come down queeck. Eet is no time we have +to waste. Eef we have to fetch you eet will be ver' bad +for you." + +"Dear me!" remarked Dorothy, outwardly keeping cool, but +not without serious misgivings. "I can't think what you +can want with me. But, as you're so anxious, I'll come +down--in a few minutes--when my father and the others +return." + +"Ze horses they in big snowdreeft stuck and ze man cannot +leaf. Come down now--we want you!" + +It was obvious to Dorothy that the two rebels, in taking +a circuitous route to the hut, had come upon the horses +stuck fast in a snowdrift, and that her father and Jacques +and Bastien were busily engaged in trying to extricate +them. Knowing that the girl must have been left alone +with the fire-arms, the two rebels had hurried back to +secure them, with wild, half-formed ideas of revenge +stirring their primitive natures. + +Dorothy's policy was to keep cool, in order not to +precipitate any action on their part. + +"Co-om," said the taller one, whose villainous appearance +was not lessened by a cast in his right eye, "we want +you to gif us to eat. Co-om down." + +"Goodness! have you eaten all we gave you already? You +must have wonderful appetites, to be sure. If you look +in the sleigh--" + +"Pshaw! co-om you down and get. What for you sit all +alone up there? Eet is not good to sit zere, and you will +catch cold." + +"Oh, don't trouble about me, thanks. I'm all right; I +don't catch cold easily--" + +What the cross-eyed one ejaculated at this point will +not bear repetition. He actually so far forgot himself +as to threaten Dorothy with bodily violence if she did +not at once obey him. But as the girl only remained +seated, with apparent unconcern, upon the biscuit tin, +and gazed mildly into his face, it became evident to the +big rebel that he was only wasting words in thus addressing +her. He prepared to ascend the snow bank, jump thence on +to the roof, and fetch her down by force. + +Dorothy, like Sister Ann of Bluebeard fame, gazed anxiously +around and listened with all the intensity born of her +desperate state; but there was nothing to be seen or +heard. Only Bruin had risen again and was coming slowly +towards the hut. A bright scheme suggested itself to the +girl; but she would wait until the cross-eyed one discovered +how utterly rotten and soft the snow-bank had become +before putting it into practice. She must gain all the +time she could. + +The rebel managed to reach the top of the drift, which +was nearly on a level with the roof of the hut, without +sinking more than an inch or two into the snow; but when +he braced himself preparatory to springing across the +intervening wind-cleared space, the crust gave and down +he went nearly up to the waist. The more he struggled, +the deeper he sank. His flow of language was so persistent +and abusive that even Bruin, on the other side of the +hut, stood still to listen and wonder. It was as much as +Dorothy could do to keep from laughing heartily at the +fellow's discomfiture, but she restrained herself, as +such a course might only drive him to some unpleasant +and desperate measure. She, however, thought it a pity +that only one of them should be struggling in the drift. +She must drive the other into it also. She therefore rose +and called to the second villain, on whose evil face +there was an unmistakable grin. Like Bastien, and most +of his kind, he had no objections to seeing his own +friends suffer so long as he himself came by no harm. + +"Ho, you there!" she cried in apparent indignation. "Don't +you see your friend in the drift? Why don't you give him +a hand out? Are you afraid?" + +But the second villain was too old a bird to be caught +with chaff, and replied by putting his mitted hand to +one side of his nose, at the same time closing his right +eye. He bore eloquent testimony to the universality of +the great sign language. + +"You are a coward!" she exclaimed, disgusted with the +man, and at the failure of her little scheme. + +"A nice comrade, you! I wonder you ever had the spirit +to rebel!" + +This was too much for the rogue's equanimity, and he +launched into such a torrent of abuse that the girl was +obliged to put her fingers in her ears. He, however, +went to the trouble of crawling over the snowdrift and +picking up the gun which his worthy mate had dropped when +he broke through the crust By this time the first villain +had managed to extricate himself, and had moved into the +clear space opposite the front door of the hut The eyes +of the two were now fairly glowing with rage, and they +prepared to storm the position. One of them was in the +act of giving a back to the other when. Dorothy appeared +on the scene with the sapling. + +"Don't be silly," she cried. "If you do anything of that +sort I shall use the pole. Go round to the back; there's +a barrel there, and if you can set it up on end against +the wall, I'll come down quietly." + +They looked up at her; they did not quite understand all +she said, but the girl's face seemed so innocent and +unconcerned that they strode round the hut, still keeping +their evil eyes upon Dorothy and her weapon of defence. +It must be confessed that Dorothy had some qualms of +conscience in thus introducing them to Bruin, but her +own life was perhaps at stake, and they had brought the +introduction on themselves. Still, they had a gun, and +there were two of them, so it would be a case of a fair +field and no favour. + +Bruin heard them coming and stood on his hind legs to +greet them. Next moment the three were face to face. It +would have been difficult to imagine a more undignified +encounter. The big breed's legs seemed to collapse under +him; the other, who carried the gun, and was therefore +the more self-possessed of the couple, brought it sharply +to his shoulder and fired. + +Bruin dropped on his knees, but speedily rose again, for +a bear, unless hit in a vital place, is one of the most +difficult animals to kill; and in this case the bullet +had merely glanced off one of his massive shoulder-blades. +Being ignorant of the resources of a magazine rifle, the +half-breed dropped it, and ran towards a deserted outhouse +close to the horse corral. + +Thoroughly infuriated now by the bullet-wound, the bear +made after him. As he could not annihilate the two men +at once, he confined his efforts with praiseworthy +singleness of purpose to the man who had fired the shot. +It was lucky for the fugitive that bullet had somewhat +lamed the great brute, otherwise it would not have needed +to run far before overtaking him. + +It was an exciting chase. The breed reached the hut, but, +as there was neither open door nor window, he was obliged +to scuttle round and round it, after the manner of a +small boy pursued by a big one. Sometimes the bear, with +almost human intelligence, would stop short and face the +other way, when the breed would all but run into him, +and then the route would be reversed. On the Countenance +of the hunted one was a look of mortal terror; his eyes +fairly started from his head, and his face streamed with +perspiration. It seemed like a judgment upon him for +breaking his word to the rancher and interfering with +the girl, when he might now have been well on his way to +Battleford. + +While this was going on, the cross-eyed ruffian endeavoured +to clamber on to the roof of the hut by jumping up and +catching the projecting sapling as Dorothy had done, but +the girl stopped him in this by tapping his knuckles with +the pole. + +"Pick up and hand me that gun," she said, pointing to +it. "When you have done so, I will allow you to come up." + +The cross-eyed one looked sadly astonished, but as he +did not know the moment when the bear might give up +chasing his worthy comrade to give him a turn, he did as +he was bid. The rifle would be of no use to the girl, +anyhow, and, besides, her father and the others must have +heard the shot and would be on their way back to see what +the matter was. It would therefore be as well to comply +with her request and try to explain that their seemingly +ungrateful conduct had only been the outcome of their +innate playfulness. If they had erred it was in carrying +a joke a trifle too far. + +As soon as Dorothy found herself in possession of the +rifle she knew that she was safe. She even laid the pole +flat on the roof, allowing one end of it to project a +foot or so beyond it so as to aid the cross-eyed one in +his unwonted gymnastic feat. In a few moments the +discomfited villain stood on the roof in front of her. + +Dorothy lowered the lever of the Winchester so that he +could see it and pumped another cartridge into the barrel. +The half-breed realised the extent of his folly, but saw +it was too late to do anything. + +"Now stand over in that far corner," said the girl to +him, "or I will shoot you." + +But the cross-eyed one was humility itself, and protested +that he could not for all the gold in the bed of the +Saskatchewan have lifted a finger to do the dear young +Mam'selle any harm. In his abject deference he was even +more nauseous than in his brazen brutality. He did as he +was bid all the same, and the two turned their attention +to the unlucky man who was having such a lively time with +Bruin. Dorothy, however, did not forget to keep a sharp +eye on the man near her. + +Had there not been such tragic possibilities in the temper +and strength of the bear, the situation might have been +eminently entertaining. The position of the two principals +in the absorbing game of life and death was not an uncommon +one. Bruin stood upright at one corner of the hut and +the half-breed stood at another: each was watching the +other intently as a cat and mouse might be expected to +do. The man's mitted hands rested against the angle of +the wall and his legs straddled out on either side so as +to be ready to start off in any direction at a moment's +notice. Whenever the bear made a move the half-breed +slightly lowered his body and dug his feet more securely +into the soft snow. They resembled two boys watching each +other in a game of French and English. After standing +still for a minute or two and regaining their wind, they +would start off to their positions at two other corners. +Sometimes the bear would be unseen by the man, and this +state of affairs was generally a very puzzling and +unsatisfactory one for the latter, as he never knew from +which direction Bruin might not come charging down upon +him. + +When the two spectators on the roof turned their attention +to the two actors, the latter were in the watching +attitude, but almost immediately the game of "tag" began +again. The pursued one was evidently in considerable +distress; his face matched the colour of his knitted +crimson tuque, at the end of which a long blue tassel +dangled in a fantastic fashion. His whole attitude was +that of one suffering from extreme physical and nervous +tension. Dorothy's first impulse was to try and shoot +the bear, but owing to the distance and its movements +she realised that this would be a matter of considerable +difficulty. Besides, unless the bear-hunted rogue were +fool enough to leave the friendly vantage of the hut, it +was obvious that he would be quite able to evade the +enemy until such time as her father and the others came. +This would serve the useful purpose of keeping him out +of mischief and rendering him a source of innocent +entertainment to his friend, for it must be admitted that +the latter, now that he was safe, or considered himself +so, adopted the undignified, not to say unchristian-like, +attitude of openly expressing a sporting interest in the +proceedings. + +But the fugitive had grown tired of the trying device of +dodging the bear round four corners, and, thinking that +if he could only get to the horse corral and squeeze +between the posts, he could, by keeping it between himself +and Bruin, gain the hut at the far end and mount on to +the roof. He determined to put his scheme to the test. +So, when for a moment he lost sight of Bruin behind the +other corner, he made a frantic bolt for the fence. But +his enemy happened to be making a dash round that side +of the house from which Leon reckoned he had no right to +make, one, and the result was that in another instant +the beast was close at his heels. It was an exciting +moment, and Dorothy, despite the fact that the hunted +one was a dangerous enemy, could not restrain a cry of +horror when she saw his imminent peril. She would have +shot at the bear if she could, but just at that moment +it happened to be going too fast for her. + +As for the cross-eyed one, it was indeed a treat to see +Leon, who had laughed at him when he sank into the +snowdrift, flying for his life with a look of ghastly +terror on his face. It was a case of retributive justice +with a vengeance. His sporting tendencies were again in +the ascendant, and he clapped his hands and yelled with +delight. + +The hunted half-breed managed to reach and squeeze through +the fence ahead of the bear, but the latter, to Leon's +dismay, succeeded in getting through after him, lifting +up the heavy rails with his strong snout and great back +as if they were so many pieces of cane. Then for the next +three minutes Leon only managed to save himself by a very +creditable acrobatic performance, which consisted of +passing from one side of the fence to the other after +the manner of a harlequin. He had lost his tuque, and +the bear had spared time to rend it to shreds with its +great jaws and one quick wrench of its forepaws. His +stout blue coat was ripped right down the back, and +altogether he was in a sorry plight. + +The cross-eyed one had never witnessed anything so funny +in all his life, and fairly danced about on the roof in +his glee. There was every chance that Leon would be clawed +up past all recognition in the next few minutes, so he +shouted encouragement to Bruin for all he was worth. + +Then to the girl's horror she saw the hunted half-breed +stumble in the snow, and the bear grab him by his short +blue coat just as he was wriggling under the fence. +Dorothy did not hesitate to act promptly now. If she +did not instantly put a bullet into the bear the man +would be torn to pieces before her eyes, and that would +be too horrible. True, she might just possibly kill the +man by firing, but better that than he should be killed +by Bruin. Fortunately she was accustomed to fire-arms, +and was a fairly good shot, so, putting the rifle to her +shoulder, she took aim and drew the trigger. + +It was a good shot, for the bullet penetrated a little +behind the left shoulder, in the neighbourhood of the +heart, and the bear, releasing his grip upon Leon, lurched +forward and lay still, while the breed crawled, in a very +dishevelled condition, into the horse corral. + +Dorothy was congratulating herself upon her success, and +was in the act of heaving a sigh of relief, when suddenly +the rifle, which for the moment she held loosely in her +right hand, was snatched from her grasp. At the same +moment an arm was thrust round her throat, and she was +thrown roughly on the snow. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +CHECKMATED + +For a minute or two Dorothy struggled to free herself +from her burly captor, but it was the struggle of the +gazelle with the tiger, and the tiger prevailed. He +laughed brutally, and put his knee upon her chest. + +Even then she managed to slide her hand down to her side, +where, after the manner of most people in that land, she +carried a sheath-knife. This she succeeded in drawing, +but the half-breed saw the gleam of the steel and caught +her wrist with his vice-like fingers. + +"Ho, Leon!" he yelled; "coom quick, and bring ze rope!" + +It was a wonderful change that had come over the cross-eyed +one. A few minutes before and he had been an abject +coward; now he was the blustering bully and villain, with +his worst passions roused, and ready to take any risks +to gratify his thirst for revenge. + +As for Dorothy, she saw the futility of struggling, and +lay still. What could have happened to her father and +Jacques that they did not come up? Surely they must be +near at hand. Was God going to allow these men, whose +lives she and her father had spared, to prevail? She did +not doubt that they meant to put her cruelly to death. +She breathed a prayer for Divine aid, and had a strange +presentiment that she was to be helped in some mysterious +way. + +In a minute or two Leon was also upon the roof. In his +hand he held some strips of undressed buck-skin and a +jack-knife. He seemed to have forgotten all about his +late peril in the paramount question of how they were to +revenge themselves upon the girl who a short time before +had outwitted them. The cross-eyed one hated her because +she had rapped him over the knuckles and given him a bad +five minutes when she had possession of the gun. Leon +was furious because she had brought about his introduction +to Bruin so cleverly, and given him beyond doubt the +worst ten minutes he ever had in his life. Like most +gentlemen of their stamp, they quite lost sight of the +fact that they themselves had been the aggressors, and +that, had it not been for the girl's goodness of heart, +they would in all probability have both been killed. + +Perhaps the strangest feature of the situation to Dorothy +was that Leon did not seem to resent his worthy mate's +late secession from the path of loyalty, or, to put it +more plainly, his cold-bloodedness in laying him the odds +in favour of the bear. Probably they knew each other so +well and were so accustomed to be kicked when down that +Leon took the affair as a matter of course. Dorothy +rightly concluded, however, that this seeming indifference +was merely the outcome of the cunning half-breed nature, +which never forgot an insult and never repaid it until +the handle end of the whip was assured. + +The first thing that the two villains proceeded to do +was to tie Dorothy's hands, not too closely, however, +behind her back. It was useless to attempt resistance, +as they were both powerful men, and they would only have +dealt with her more roughly had she done so. Then the +cross-eyed one proposed that they should take her into +the empty hut and tie her up. If they succeeded in getting +another rifle, as they expected they would, they could +wait inside and shoot the rancher and Jacques as they +unsuspiciously approached with the horses. Bastien Lagrange +could then be easily disposed of. It would be necessary +to put something in the girl's mouth--Leon suggested his +old woollen head-gear which the bear had chewed up--until +her friends were ambushed, as otherwise she might give +the alarm. Afterwards they could dispose of her at their +sweet leisure. This and more they discussed with such +candour and unreserve that had only the occasion and +necessity been different, the greatest credit would have +been reflected on them. + +"Oh, you fiends!" cried the girl as the horror of the +situation dawned upon her. "Would you murder the men in +cold blood who spared your lives when they had every +right to take them? You cowards! Why don't you shoot +me? Do you think I am afraid of being shot?" + +It was all like some horrible nightmare to her just then. +Brief time seemed such an eternity that she longed for +it to come to an end. She felt like one who, dreaming, +knows she dreams and struggles to awake. + +The cross-eyed one was evidently delighted to see that +he had at length aroused this hitherto wonderfully +self-possessed girl to such a display of emotion; she +looked ever so much handsomer now that she was angry. +His watery, awry eyes gleamed, and his thick underlip +drooped complacently. He would see if she had as much +grit as she laid claim to. It was all in the day's sport; +but he would have to hurry up. + +He seized the Winchester, and, holding it in front of +him, jerked down the lever as he had seen Dorothy do, so +as to eject the old and put a fresh cartridge into the +breech. But the old cartridge, in springing out, flew up +and hit him such a smart rap between the eyes that Leon +at once seized his little opportunity and laughed +ironically. + +"Good shot, Lucien!" he cried. "Encore, _mon ami!_" + +Lucien's eyes were watering and smarting, and he felt +quite like shooting his sympathetic friend on the spot, +but he kept his wrath bravely under, and resolved to show +Leon in a very practical fashion how he could shoot on +the first auspicious occasion. Yes, such a blessed +opportunity would be worth waiting and suffering for. + +And now they prepared to remove Dorothy from the roof, +and take her inside the hut. Leon was to descend first, +and then Lucien was to make her jump into the snowdrift, +where she would stick, and Leon would be waiting for her. + +Poor Dorothy knew that if help did not come speedily she +would be undone. She prayed for Divine aid. She could +not believe that God would look down from Heaven and see +these fiends prevail. God's ways, she was aware, were +sometimes inscrutable, and seemed to fall short of justice, +but she knew that sooner or later they invariably worked +out retributive justice more terrible than man's. This +was to be made plain to her sooner than she imagined, +and unexpectedly, as God's ways occasionally are. + +Leon descended, and his comrade, with an evil light in +his eyes and an oath on his lips, came towards Dorothy +to force her to jump on to the snowdrift; but villain +number two stopped him. + +"Ze gun, Lucien," he said, "hand me ze gun first time." + +The half-breed grasped the Winchester by the barrel and +handed it down to his comrade, but as he did so he was +unaware of the fact that the lever, in pumping up a fresh +cartridge, had also put the weapon on full cock. Leon, +in grasping it, did so clumsily, and inadvertently touched +the trigger. In an instant the death-fire spurted from +the muzzle, and Lucien fell forward with a bullet through +his brain. + +Not always slow are the ways of Him Who said, "Vengeance +is Mine." + +The girl sank back in horror at the sight. To see a man +sent to his account red-handed is a terrible thing. + +The fatal shot was still ringing in her ears when another +sound broke in upon the reverberating air. It was the +muffled drumming of hoofs and the hurried exclamations +of voices which she recognised. It was her father and +the others returning with the horses. She staggered to +her feet again as best she could, for her hands, being +tied behind her back, made rising a difficult matter. +She must have presented a strange sight to the party, +bound as she was, and with her long hair streaming behind +her. She heard her father's cry of apprehension, and the +next moment she caught sight of the remaining rebel +scuttling like a startled iguana towards the dense +plantation, where it would have been quite possible for +him to have eluded pursuit. But before he reached it +there was a sharp ping. He threw up his hands and fell +dead on his face. Douglas had made sure of him. + +"It's all right, dad, and I'm not hurt," said the girl +reassuringly, as her father ran towards her with a look +of anguish on his face. "You just came in the nick of +time; they were going to ambush you. Don't let the horses +go too near the corral, as they will be stampeded again. +A dead bear is lying there." + +In a few minutes she had told her father what had occurred, +and he had explained the delay. It had been as the two +rebels had said. The horses had gone off the trail into +a deep snowdrift, and it had required a great deal of +hard work to get them out. They had not heard the shot +which Dorothy had fired at the bear, for the very sufficient +reason that two bluffs intervened, and the fairly strong +chinook wind carried away all sound. They had not thought +there was any reason to be apprehensive about her, but +they had worked toilsomely to get back. Bastien had proved +a pleasant surprise in this respect--he had, doubtless, +by no means incorrect views regarding Riel's powers of +pursuit and revenge. That the two rebels should have come +back, and that a bear--a sure harbinger of spring--should +have made itself so intrusive were contingencies the +party could hardly have foreseen. As it was, Dorothy, +save for the fright, was little the worse for the rough +handling she had received, so they resolved to proceed +on their way in about an hour's time, when certain +necessary duties had been fulfilled. + +Before the ruddy sun began to go down behind the +pine-crested bluffs and far-stretching sea of white-robed +prairie in a fairy cloudland of crimson and gold and +keenest blue, the horses were hitched up into the sleighs, +and the fugitives were bowling merrily up the valley so +as to strike the main trail before nightfall. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FATE OF SERGEANT PASMORE + +When Sergeant Pasmore was left in the dug-out, or, to +explain more fully, the hut built into the side of a +hill, he sat down in the semi-darkness and calmly reviewed +the situation. It was plain enough. + +He was a prisoner, and would be shot within twelve hours; +but Douglas and Dorothy were probably now safe, and well +on their way to friends. This, at least, was a comforting +reflection. + +He heard the talking of the breeds at the door; then he +saw it open, and one looked in upon him with his rifle +resting upon his chest. These were two of the sober crowd. +There was no getting away from them. The leaders of the +rebels probably by this time knew they had a prisoner, +and if he were not forthcoming when they were asked to +produce him, the lives of his gaolers would more than +likely pay the penalty. True, for Katie's sake they had +made an exchange, but that did not matter--no one would +know. Yes, they were ready to shoot him like a dog if he +made the slightest attempt to escape. + +And she, Dorothy--well, he didn't mind dying for her. +Within the last twenty-four hours he had realised how +fully she had come into his life. And he had striven +against it, but it was written in the book. He could not +altogether understand her. At one moment she would be +kind and sympathetic, and then, when he unbent and tried +to come a step nearer to her, she seemed to freeze and +keep him at arm's length. And he thought he had known +women once upon a time, in the palmy days across the +seas. He wondered what she would think on finding out +the truth about her father's release. + +It was cold sitting on an upturned pail with his moccasins +resting on the frozen clay, and breathing an atmosphere +which was like that of a sepulchre. He wished the dawn +would break, even although it meant a resumption of that +awful riot and bloodshed. + +Yes, they would certainly shoot him when they discovered +that he was one of the hated red-coats who represented +the might and majesty of Great Britain. Why they should +now hate the Mounted Police, who had indeed always been +their best friends, was one of those problems that can +only be explained by the innate perversity of what men +call human nature. + +He was becoming drowsy, but he heard a strange scraping +on the low roof over his head, and that kept him awake +for some little time speculating as to whether or not it +could be a bear. It seemed a silly speculation, but then, +in wild regions, inconvenient prisoners have often been +quietly disposed of through roofs and windows during +their sleep. As he did not intend to be taken unawares +like that, he groped around and found the neck yoke of +a bullock. It would do to fell a man with, anyhow. + +He could hear the voices of his two guards at the door +only indistinctly, for, as has been said, it was a long, +narrow room. He wished it were a little lighter so that +he might see what he was doing. When the thing on the +roof once broke through, he would be in the shadow, while +it would be against the light That would give him the +advantage. + +At length the unseen intruder reached the straw that +covered the thin poles laid one alongside the other. The +straw was scraped aside, and then against the dark grey +sky Pasmore could see an uncertain shape, but whether +man or beast he could not make out To push aside the pole +would be an easy matter. He held his breath, and gripped +the neck yoke. + +"Hist!" and the figure was evidently trying to attract +his attention. + +Pasmore thought it as well to wait until he was surer of +his visitor. A Mounted Policeman knew better than to give +himself away so simply. + +"His-st, Sar-jean! Katie and Pepin she was send," said +the voice again. + +It flashed through Pasmore's brain that here now was the +explanation of this strange visit. The half-breed (and +it was Pierre La Chene himself) had been sent by his +sweetheart to effect his rescue. It was, of course, absurd +to suppose that Pierre was undertaking this hazardous +and philanthropical job on his own account. What else +save love could work such wonders? + +"Sar-jean, Sar-jean, you ready now?" asked Pierre, +impatiently, preparing to pull up the poles. + +But Pasmore hesitated. Was he not imperilling the safety +of Douglas and his daughter by following so soon after +them? For, should they not have got quite clear of the +settlement, the hue and cry would be raised and scouts +would be sent out all around to cut off their retreat. +He thought of Dorothy. No, he could not in his sober +senses risk such a thing. + +"Sar-jean, Sar-jean!" + +But just at that moment, somewhere over in the village, +there was a wild outbreak of noise, the sound of +rifle-firing being predominant. + +The straw was quickly pushed back over the poles and some +_debris_ and snow scooped over that At the same moment +the door was thrown open and his two guards entered; but +they came no farther than the doorway. One of them struck +a light, and immediately lit some hemp-like substance he +carried in his hand. It flared up instantly, illuminating +the long barn from end to end. + +"Hilloa! you thar?" cried one of them. + +But it was unnecessary to have asked such a question, +for the light disclosed the form of the sergeant re-seated +on the upturned pail, with his head resting on his hands. +He appeared to be asleep. + +Evidently satisfied with their scrutiny his guards again +turned towards the door to find out, if possible, the +reason of the firing. The whole settlement would be +aroused in a few minutes if it went on, or at least those +would who had not entered so fully as the others into +the orgie. What could it be? It was in reality Jacques +making good his escape, but Pasmore was not to know that. + +To the sergeant the uncertainty was painful. Could the +rancher and his daughter have been delayed until they +had been detected by some vigilant rebels? The idea was +terrible. But he noted that the grey wintry dawn was fast +creeping over the snow-bound earth, and he concluded that +the fugitives must have got through some considerable +time before. + +The firing ceased, and at last the thoroughly tired-out +man laid himself down on some old sacking, and fell fast +asleep. + +It was broad daylight when he was awakened by a kick from +a moccasined foot. + +"Ho, thar!" cried some one. "Git up and be shot!" + +The speaker did not repeat the kick, as he took good care +to stand well to one side when the sleeper awoke. + +Then the present, with all its lurid horror, crashed down +upon the soul of Pasmore. He was to be shot--yes, but +his heart glowed within him when he thought of Dorothy, +for whom he had made this sacrifice! + +He rose to his feet There was a group of dirty, bleary-eyed +breeds and Indians standing within the doorway. One or +two who had known him before looked on sulkily and +silently, for they knew that while he was a man whose +hand was iron and whose will was indomitable in the +carrying out of the law, he had ever a kindly word and +a helping hand for such as needed help. Those who only +knew him by the power he represented in the law, openly +jeered and crowed over this big "shermoganish" whom now +they had fairly in their grasp, and whom they must destroy +if the metis were to own and govern the land. They also, +however, kept well away from him, for had they not heard +how he had taken three bad Indians single-handed on the +Eagle Hills by wounding them in turn, and then driving +them before him, on foot, like sheep, into the Fort? + +The sun was shining brightly down on the scene of rapine +and lawlessness, which looked peaceful and fair enough, +in all truth, robed as it was in its snow-white vestments. +Only here and there a heap of black and smouldering ruins +spoke of the horrors of the previous night. From the +scattered houses on the flat, wreaths of smoke were rising +right cheerily into the sharp, clear air. Breeds and +Indians, men, women, and children, were moving about +everywhere, carrying with them, for purposes of display, +their ill-gotten goods. Some of the lounging figures at +the door even had resplendent new sashes, and odd-looking +articles that did duty for them, wound round their waists +and necks. At intervals Pasmore could hear an odd rifle +shot, and he guessed that the Fort must be closely +invested. His first thoughts, however, were for Dorothy +and her father, whom he hoped were now safely back under +the friendly protection of Child-of-Light. + +"Sar-jean," said a big half-breed whom he recognised as +one of his guards of the previous night, "will you haf +to eat and drink?" + +The fellow did not look such a callous fanatic as some +of the others, and although this promise of breakfast +was not particularly exhilarating, still, Pasmore had a +healthy appetite, and he answered in the affirmative. + +The big breed issued some orders, and in a few minutes, +to Pasmore's no little satisfaction, a lad brought a tin +of biscuits, a tin of salmon, a piece of cheese, and a +spoon, all obviously supplied by the Hudson Bay Company +on the previous evening free of charge--and against its +will. + +He sat down on the upturned pail once more and enjoyed +the simple fare. It was queer to think that this meal in +all probability would be his last on earth. His +surroundings seemed incongruous and unreal, and his mind +ran in a vein of whimsical speculation. It is strange +to think, but it is a fact, all the same, that certain +temperaments, when face to face with death, allow their +thoughts to take an oddly critical and retrospective view +of things in general. The fear of death does not affect +them, although, at the same time, they are fully conscious +of the momentous issues of their fate. + +The crowd gathered around the door of the long building, +and many were the uncouth jests made at the expense of +the prisoner. One or two still half-drunk Indians pushed +their way through and came close up to him, talking +volubly and shaking their fire-arms in his face. But the +big breed let out at them with his great fists, and sent +them away expostulating still more volubly. Pasmore could +easily have settled the matter himself under other +circumstances, but he did not wish to precipitate matters. +The crowd grew in numbers, and very soon he gathered +something in regard to what was on foot. + +He was to be taken to a certain little rise on the +outskirts of the village, where the Police had shot a +notorious malcontent and murderer some years before, and +there he was, in his turn, to be executed. This would be +retributive justice! Pasmore recollected with cynical +amusement how some of these very same rebels had lived +for years in dread of their lives from that desperado, +and how at the time nearly the whole population had +expressed their satisfaction and thanks to the Police +for getting rid of the outlaw, who had been killed in +resisting arrest. Now, when it suited their ends, the +latter was a martyr, and he was a malefactor. He wished +they would hurry up and shoot him out of hand, if he was +to be shot He did not know what horrible formality might +not be in store for him before they did that. But how +beautifully the sun was shining! He had hardly thought +that Battleford could be so fair to look upon. + +At last he saw several breeds approaching, and one of +them carried with him an axe and a quantity of rope. + +And behind the breeds, greeted by lusty acclamations from +the mob, came Louis Riel. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A CLOSE CALL + +As the would-be priest and originator of two rebellions +approached Pasmore, the ragged, wild-eyed, clamorous +crowd made way for him. It was ludicrous to note the air +of superiority and braggadocio that this inordinately +vain and ambitious man adopted. The prisoner was standing +surrounded by his now largely augmented guard, who, +forgetful of one another's contiguity, had their many +wonderfully and fearfully made blunderbusses levelled at +him, ready to blow him into little pieces at a moment's +notice if he made the slightest attempt to resist or +escape. Great would have been the slaughter amongst the +metis if this had happened. + +"Prisoner," said Riel, with a decided French accent, "you +are a spy." He fixed his dark grey eyes upon Pasmore +angrily, and jerked out what he had to say. + +"I fail to see how one who wears the Queen's uniform can +be a spy," said Pasmore, undoing the leather tags of his +long buffalo coat and showing a serge jacket with the +regimental brass button on it. + +"Ah, that is enough--one of the Mounted Police! What +are you doing in this camp?" + +"It is I who should be asking you that question. What +are _you_ doing under arms? Another rebellion? Be warned +by me, Monsieur Riel, and stop this bloodshed as you +value your immortal soul." + +He knew that through the fanatic's religion lay the only +way of reaching him at all. + +But the only effect these words had upon Riel was to +further incense the arch rebel. + +"Bind him, and search him," he cried. + +Pasmore knew that resistance was hopeless, so quietly +submitted. Their mode of tying him was unique. They put +a rope round his waist, leaving his arms free, while the +two ends were held on either side by a couple of men. +His late guard, the big breed, who could not have been +such a bad fellow, discovered his pipe, tobacco, and +matches in one pocket, but withdrew his hand quickly. + +"Nozing thar," he declared. + +Whether or not he thought the prisoner might soon require +them on his way to the Happy Hunting Grounds is a matter +of speculation. + +They took his pocket-knife and keys, and in the inner +pocket of his jacket they found the usual regimental +papers and weekly reports pertaining to the Police +Detachment. These are alike as peas throughout the +Territories, and not of the slightest value or interest, +save to those directly concerned, but to Riel it was a +great find. He spread them out, scanned a few lines here +and there, opened his eyes wide, pursed his lips, and +then, as if it were superfluous pursuing the matter +further, waved his hand in a melodramatic fashion, and +cried-- + +"It is enough! He is of the Police. He has also been +found spying in camp, and the penalty for that is death. +I hear he is one of the men who ran down and shot Heinault, +who was one of the people. Let him be taken to the same +spot and shot also. He took the blood of the metis--let +the metis now take his! Away with him!" + +Such a wild yelling, whooping, and brandishing of guns +took place at these words that Pasmore thought there +would be little necessity to take him to the spot where +"Wild Joe" of tender memory slept. When an antiquated +fowling-piece actually did go off, and shot an Indian in +the legs, the uproar was inconceivable. Pasmore thought +of Rory's dogs having a sporting five minutes, and smiled, +despite the gravity of the situation. But order was +restored, and with Riel and two of his so-called "generals" +in the lead, and a straggling crowd of human beings and +dogs following, the prisoner was led slowly towards the +spot fixed for his execution. + +Past the piles of smouldering ashes, and tracks strewn, +with all sorts of destroyed merchandise, they went. They +had looted the stores to their hearts' content, and were +now rioting in an excess of what to them was good living; +but where those short-sighted creatures expected to get +fresh supplies from is a question they probably never +once put to themselves. + +Silent and powerless in King Frost's embrace lay the +great river. How like beautiful filagree work some of +the pine-boughs looked against the snow banks and the +pale blue sky! How lovely seemed the whole world! Pasmore +was thinking about many things, but most he was thinking +of some one whom he hoped was now making her way over +the snow, and for whose sake he was now here. No, he did +not grudge his life, but it was a strange way to die +after all his hopes--mostly shattered ones; to be led +like a brute beast amongst a crowd of jeering half-breeds +who, only a few days before, were ready to doff their +caps at sight of him; and to be shot dead by them with +such short shrift, and because he had only done his +duty!... + +They were coming to the rise now. How like a gallows that +tall, dead, scraggy pine looked against the pale grey! +How the hound-like mob alongside yelled and jeered! One +of them--he knew him well--he of the evil Mongolian-like +eyes and snaky locks--whom he had spoken a timely word +to a year ago and saved from prison--from some little +distance took the opportunity of throwing a piece of +frozen snow at Pasmore. It struck the policeman behind +the ear, causing him to feel sick and dizzy. He felt the +hot blood trickling down his neck, and he heard one or +two of the pack laughing. + +"He will be plenty dead soon," said one. "What does it +matter?" + +But the big breed, with a touch of that humanity which +beats down prejudice and makes us all akin, turned upon +the now unpleasantly demonstrative rabble, and swore at +them roundly. In another moment Pasmore was himself again, +and he could see that gallows-like tree right in front +of him... And what was that hulking brute alongside +saying about skulking shermoganish? Was he going to his +death hearing the uniform he wore insulted by cowardly +brutes without making a resistance of some sort? He knew +he would be shot down instantly if he did, and they would +be glad of an excuse, but that would be only cutting +short the agony. The veins swelled on his forehead, and +he felt his limbs stiffen. He made a sudden movement, +but the big breed caught his arm and whispered in his +ear. It was an Indian saying which meant that until the +Great Spirit Himself called, it was folly to listen to +those who tempted. It was not so much the hope these few +words carried with them, as the spirit in which they were +uttered, that stayed Pasmore's precipitate action. He +knew that no help would come from the invested Fort, but +God at times brought about many wonderful things. + +As they led him up the rough, conical mound he breathed +a prayer for Divine aid. It would be nothing short of a +miracle now if in a few minutes he were not dead. They +faced him about and tied him to the tree; and now he +looked down upon the upturned faces of the wild-eyed, +fiery-natured rebels. + +Riel stepped forward with the papers in his hand. + +"Prisoner," he said, "you have been caught red-handed, +and the metis will it that you must die. Is it not so?" +He turned to the crowd. "On the spot where he now stands +he spilt the blood of the metis. What say you?" + +There was a hoarse yell of assent from the followers of +the fanatic. + +Riel turned to one of his generals, who cried to some +one in the crowd. It was the next of kin to Heinault, +who had been shot on that very spot, and in very truth +he looked a fit representative of the man who had perished +for his crimes. He was indeed an ill-looking scoundrel. +There was a gratified grin upon his evil face. He knew +Pasmore of old, and Pasmore had very good reason to know +him. Their eyes met. + +"Now you will nevare, nevare threaten me one, two, three +times again," he cried. + +Pasmore looked into the cruel, eager face of the breed, +and he knew that no hope lay there. Then he caught the +gleam of snow on the crest of the opposite ridge--it was +scintillating as if set with diamonds. How beautiful +was that bit of blue seen through the pillar-like stems +of the pines! + +Pasmore's thoughts were now elsewhere than with his +executioners, when unexpectedly there came an interruption. +There was a hurried scattering of the crowd at the foot +of the mound, and Pepin Quesnelle, leading his bear, +appeared upon the scene. That his short legs had been +sorely tried in reaching the spot there could be little +doubt, for his face was very red, and it was evident he +had wrought himself into something very nearly approaching +a passion. + +Riel, who had at first turned round with an angry +exclamation on his lips, seemed somewhat startled when +he saw the weird figures before him, for he, too, like +the breeds and Indians, was not without a species of +superstitious dread of the manikin and his strange +attendant. The executioner glared at the intruder angrily. + +"Wait, you just wait one bit--_coquin_, rascal, fool!" +gasped Pepin, pulling up within a few yards of him, and +shaking his stick. "You will not kill that man, I say +you will not! I know you, Leon Heinault; it is because +this man will stop you from doing as your vile cousin +did that you want to shoot him." He turned to Riel. "Tell +him to put down that gun!" + +But Riel had the dignity of his position to maintain +before the crowd, and although he would not meet the +black, bead-like eyes of the dwarf, with no little bluster, +he said-- + +"This man is a spy, and he must die. He is of the hated +English, and it is the will of the Lord that His people, +the metis, inherit the land." + +"And I say, Louis Riel, that it is the will of the Lord +that this man shall not die!" reiterated the dwarf, +emphasising his words with a flourish of his stick. + +Then an uncanny thing happened that to this day the metis +speak about with bated breath, and the Indians are afraid +to mention at all. Heinault, who during the wrangle had +concluded that his quarry was about to slip through his +hands, took the opportunity of raising his gun to the +shoulder. But ere he could pull the trigger there was +the whistle of a bullet, and he fell dead in the snow. +Then, somewhere from the wooded bluffs--for the echoes +deceived one--there came the distant ring of a rifle. + +The perspiration was standing in beads on Pasmore's +forehead, for he would have been more than human had not +the strain of the terrible ordeal told upon him. From +a dogged abandonment to his fate, a ray of hope lit up +the darkness that seemed to have closed over him. It +filtered through his being, but he feared to let it grow, +knowing the bitterness of hope's extinction. But the blue +through the pines seemed more beautiful, and the snow on +the crest of the ridge scintillated more cheerily. + +As the would-be executioner fell, something like a moan +of consternation ran through the crowd. The dwarf was +the only one who seemed to take the tragedy as a matter +of course. He was quick to seize the opportunity. + +"It is as the Lord has willed," he said simply, pointing +to the body. + +But Riel, visibly taken aback by this sudden _contretemps_, +knew only too well that his cause and influence would be +imperilled if he allowed this manikin, of whom his people +stood so much in awe, to get the better of him; and he +was too quick-witted not to know exactly what to do. He +turned to his officers, and immediately a number of breeds +started out to scour the bluffs. Then he called upon five +breeds and Indians by name to step forward, and to see +that their rifles were charged. Pepin waited quietly +until his arrangements were completed, and then, looking +round upon the crowd with his dark eyes, and finally +fixing them upon the arch rebel, he spoke with such +strength and earnestness that his hearers stood breathless +and spellbound. The file of men which had been drawn up +to act as executioners, and the condemned man himself, +hung upon his words. It was significant that, after the +fatal shot had been fired, no one seemed to be apprehensive +of a second. + +"Louis Riel," he began, "you are one bigger fool than I +did take you for!" + +Riel started forward angrily, and was about to speak when +the dwarf stopped him with a motion of his hand. + +"You are a fool because you cannot see where you are +going," he continued. + +"Can't I, Mr. Hop-o'-my-thumb?" broke out the rebel in +a white heat, shouldering his rifle. + +But the dwarf raised his stick warningly, and catching +Riel's shifty gaze, held it as if by some spell until +the rifle barrel sunk lower inch by inch. + +"If you do, Louis Riel, if you do, the Lord will give +you short shrift!" he said. "Now, I will tell you what +I see, and to you it ought to be plain, for you have been +in Montreal and Quebec, and know much more than is known +to the metis. I see--and it will come to pass long before +the ice that is in one great mass in this river is carried +down and melts in the big lakes, whose waters drain into +the Bay of Hudson--I see the soldiers of the great Queen +swarming all over the land in numbers like the gophers +on the prairie. They have wrested from you Battleford, +Prince Albert, and Batoche. I see a battlefield, and the +soldiers of the Queen have the great guns--as big as Red +River carts--that shoot high into the air as flies the +kite, and rain down bullets and jagged iron like unto +the hailstorms that sweep the land in summer time. I see +the bodies of the metis lying dead upon the ground as +thick as the sheaves of wheat upon the harvest-field. +Many I see that crawl away into the woods to die, like +to the timber-wolves when they have eaten of the poison. +I see the metis scattered and homeless. I see you, Louis +Riel, who have misled them, skulking alone in the woods +like a hunted coyote, without rest night and day, with +nothing to eat, and with no moccasins to your feet. But +the red-coats will catch you, for there is no trail too +long or too broken for the Riders of the Plains to follow. +And, above all, and take heed, Louis Riel, I see the +great beams of the gallows-tree looming up blackly against +the grey of a weary dawn; and that will be your portion +if you shoot this man. Put him in prison if you will, +and keep him as a hostage; but if you spill innocent +blood wantonly, as the Lord liveth, you shall swing in +mid-air. And now I have spoken, and you have all seen +how the hand of the Lord directed the bullet that laid +that thing low. Remember this--there are more bullets!" + +The dwarf paused, and there was a death-like stillness. +Riel stood motionless, glaring into space, as if he still +saw that picture of the gallows. While as for Pasmore, +his heart was thumping against his ribs, for the spark +of Hope within him had burst into flame, and he saw how +beautiful was the blue between the columns of the pines. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ACROSS THE ICE + +Pepin Quesnelle's weird speech had worked upon the +superstitious natures of the rebel leader and his followers +alike, for they unbound Pasmore from the tree and hurried +him away to a tenantless log hut, the big breed and two +others staying to guard him. Riel, with some of his +followers, started off on sleighs to Prince Albert, to +direct operations there, while the remainder stayed behind +to further harass the beleaguered garrison. Pasmore was +now glad that he had not offered a resistance that must +have proved futile when his life hung in the balance. He +offered up a silent prayer of thanksgiving for his +deliverance so far, and he mused over the strange little +being with a deformed body, to whom God had given powers +to see more clearly than his fellows. + +The big breed was remarkably attentive to his wants, +but strangely silent When night arrived, Pasmore was +placed in a little room which had a window much too small +for a man's body to pass through, and left to himself. +He could hear his guards talking in the only room that +led to it. Pasmore had slept during the afternoon, and +when he awoke late in the evening he was imbued with but +one idea, and that was to escape. The fickle natures of +the half-breeds might change at any moment. + +It was close on midnight, and there was not a sound in +the other room. Pasmore had, by standing on the rude +couch, begun operations on the roof with a long thatching +needle he had found on the wall-plate, when the door +silently opened and a flood of light streamed in. He +turned, and there stood the big breed silently watching. +Pasmore stared at him apprehensively, but the big breed +merely placed one finger on his lips to enjoin silence, +and beckoned him to descend. Wondering, Pasmore did so. +His gaoler took him by the arm, and stealthily they +entered the other room, their moccasined feet making no +noise. There, on the floor, lay the other two guards, +fast asleep. The big breed opened the door and they passed +out. Pasmore's brain almost refused to grasp the situation. +Was his gaoler going to assist him to escape? + +But so it was. There was no one about. Every one seemed +to be asleep after the orgie on the previous night. At +last they reached a large empty shed on the outskirts of +the village, and there his guide suddenly left him without +a word. Pasmore was about to pass out, and make good his +escape, when suddenly he was hailed by a voice that he +knew well. + +"Aha! villain, _coquin!_" it said, "and so you are here! +_Bien!_ This is a good day's work; is it not so?" + +"Pepin Quesnelle!" cried Pasmore, going towards him. "No +words can thank you for what you have done for me this +day." + +"And who wants your thanks?" asked the dwarf, +good-naturedly. "Come, the shake of a hand belonging to +an honest man is thanks enough for me. Put it thar, as +the Yanks say." + +And Pasmore felt, as he obeyed, that, despite his +extraordinary foibles, Pepin Quesnelle was a man whom he +could respect, and to whom he owed a debt of gratitude +that he could never repay. + +"Now, that is all right," observed Pepin, "and you will +come with me. Some friends of Katie's have found a friend +of yours to-day in the woods, and I will take you to +him." + +But Pepin would tell him no more; his short legs, indeed, +required all his energies. But after winding in and out +of the bluffs for an hour or more, Pasmore found out who +the friend was. Coming suddenly upon a couple of hay-stacks +in a hollow of the bluffs, the dwarf put his fingers to +his lips and whistled in a peculiar fashion. In another +moment a dark figure emerged from the shadow. + +"Top av the marnin' t'ye," it said. + +"Rory, by all that's wonderful!" exclaimed Pasmore as +they wrung each other's hands. + +"That's me," said Rory. "Now, here's a sleigh. I fancy +it was wance Dumont's, or some other gint's, but I'm +thinkin' it's ours now. It's bruk the heart av me thet +I couldn't bring them dogs along. If we have luck we'll +be back at the ranche before noon to-morrer. Jest ketch +hould av this rifle, and I'll drive." + +In the clear moonlight Pasmore could see a team standing +on an old trail not fifteen yards away. + +"But just let me say good-bye first to Pepin," said +Pasmore. + +But Pepin Quesnelle had vanished mysteriously into the +night. + +"Rory," asked Pasmore a little later, when the team of +spirited horses was bowling merrily along the by-trail, +"was it you who fired that shot to-day and saved my life?" + +"Young man," said Rory, solemnly, "hev yer got sich a +thing about yer as a match--me poipe's gone out?" + +And Pasmore knew that, so far as Rory was concerned, the +subject was closed. + +Next day about noon the two were to the north of the +valley, where lay the ranche. On rounding a bluff they +came unexpectedly upon three Indians in sleighs, who had +evidently just cut the trail. + +"Child-of-Light!" they cried, recognising the foremost. + +A wave of apprehension swept over Pasmore when he saw +the inscrutable expression on the face of the friendly +chief. Was it well with the rancher and his daughter? + +"Ough, ough!" ejaculated Child-of-Light, wonderingly, as +he caught sight of Pasmore. He pulled up, jumped out of +his sleigh, and shook hands cordially. "Child-of-Light's +heart lightens again to see you, brother," he said. "His +heart was heavy because he thought Poundmaker must have +stilled yours." + +"Child-of-Light is ever a friend," rejoined Pasmore. +"But what of Douglas and the others?" + +Then Child-of-Light told him how on the previous morning +Douglas and his daughter had reached the ranche. But as +Poundmaker's men were hovering in great strength in the +neighbourhood, he, Child-of-Light, had deemed it advisable +that they should take fresh horses and proceed in an +easterly direction towards Fort Pitt, and then in a +northerly, until they came to that secluded valley of +which he had previously told them. They had done this, +and gone on with hardly a pause. + +In the meantime Child-of-Light had sent some of his braves +to run off the rancher's herd of horses to a remote part +of the country, where they would be safe from the enemy, +while he and one or two others remained behind to cover +his retreat. But alarming news had just been brought him +by a runner. Big Bear had perpetrated a terrible massacre +at Frog Lake, near Fort Pitt. Ten persons had been shot +in the church, and two brave priests, Fathers Farfand +and Marchand, had been beaten to death. If Douglas and +the others kept on they must run right into their hands. +It was to catch them up, if possible, and fetch them back +before they crossed the Saskatchewan, that Child-of-Light +was on his way now. Better to fall into the hands of +Poundmaker and his braves, who probably now realised that +they had gone too far, than into those of Big Bear, who +was a fiend. Of course, he, Pasmore, would come with +them. + +"But are there no fresh horses for us, Child-of-Light?" +asked Pasmore. "If the others have got a good start and +fresh horses, can we catch them up?" + +"I have said I have sent all the horses of Douglas away +for safe keeping. We must overtake them with what we +have. The Great Spirit is good, and may do much for us." + +"Then let us push on, Child-of-Light, for it will be a +grievous thing if evil befall our friends now." + +For three days they travelled in a north-easterly direction, +but the sun had gained power, and spring had come with +a rush, as it does in that part of the world. The first +chinook wind that came from the west, through the passes +of the Rockies from warm southern seas, would render +travelling impossible--their sleighs would be useless. +The great danger was that Douglas and the others would +have passed over the Saskatchewan, and the ice breaking +up behind them would have cut off their retreat. + +In those three days the party was tortured with alternative +hopes and fears. Now it was a horse breaking through the +softening crust of snow and coming down, and then it +would be one playing out altogether. If in another day +those in front were not overtaken, it was pretty certain +they must run into Big Bear's band, and that would mean +wholesale massacre. In order to catch them up they walked +most of the night, leading their horses along the trail. +On the fourth day they sighted the broad Saskatchewan, +now with many blue trickling streams of water upon its +surface and cracking ominously. They scanned the opposite +shore in the neighbourhood of the trail anxiously. + +"Look, brother," cried Child-of-Light, "they are camped +on the opposite bank, and away over yonder, coming down +the plateau, are Indians who must belong to Big Bear's +band. But the river is not safe now to cross. I can hear +it breaking up and coming down at the speed of a young +broncho away up the reaches. Before the sun sets this +river will be as the Great Falls in the spring, when the +wind is from the west." + +It was as the keen-eyed and keen-eared Red man said. +There were the rancher and his party camped on the other +side, in all innocence of the Indians who, unseen, were +stringing over the plateau. There was no time to be lost. + +"You give me your jumper, Child-of-Light, and your +pony--they are the best," Pasmore cried. "I shall be back +with the others before long. In the meantime, look to +your guns." + +The others would fain have accompanied him, but Pasmore +knew that would only be aggravating the danger. Without +a moment's delay he jumped into the light box of wood +and urged the sure-footed pony across the now groaning +and creaking ice. And now there broke upon his ears what +before only the Indian had heard. It was the coming down +of the river in flood, miles away. It sounded like the +roar of a distant Niagara. Here and there his pony was +up to the fetlocks in water, and the ice heaved beneath +him. Every now and again there was a mighty crackle, +resembling the breaking of a thunderbolt, that sent his +heart into his mouth. He feared then that the end had +come and he would be too late. With rein and voice he +urged the sure-footed pony across the ice. Would he never +reach the opposite bank? But once there, would it be +possible for the party to recross? Surely it would be as +much as their lives were worth to try. + +Long before Pasmore had reached the landing, Douglas and +the others had seen him. It was no time for greetings, +and, indeed, their meeting was one too deep for words. +They merely wrung each other's hands, and something +suspiciously like moisture stood in the rancher's eyes. +As for Dorothy, she could not utter a word, but there +was something in her look that quickened Pasmore's +heart-beats even then. + +"You must be quick," cried Pasmore. "Big Bear will be +down upon you in ten minutes. Look! There they are now. +There is yet time to cross." + +And as he spoke there came a roar like thunder, travelling +from the higher reaches of the river towards them; it +passed them and was lost in the lower reaches. It was +the "back" of the ice being broken--the preliminary to +the grand chaos that was to come. The Indians had seen +them now, and were coming at a gallop not a mile away. + +Douglas, Jacques, and Bastien ran and hitched up the +horses into the sleighs. + +"You are not afraid to tackle it, are you?" asked Pasmore, +as he looked into the girl's face. + +"I'd tackle it now if it were moving down in pieces no +bigger than door-mats," she answered smilingly. + +"Then will you tackle it with me?" he asked. + +"Yes," she said. "Jump in, and I'll follow. Your sleigh +is empty, and father's is full of all sorts of things +--it's too heavy as it is. Here they come! Dad, I'm going +with Mr. Pasmore," she cried; and the sleighs raced +abreast of one another down the slope. + +"Spread out there," cried Pasmore, "and don't bunch +together, or--" + +He did not finish the sentence, for just at that moment +there came a _ping_ from the shore they had just left, +and a bullet sent up a jet of water into the air alongside +of them. There was another great rending sound from the +ice that struck terror into their hearts. Their horses +quivered with excitement as they darted forward. There +was a roar in their ears that sounded as if they were +close to a battery of artillery in action. _Ping, ping, +ping!_ and the bullets came whizzing over their heads or +skidding on the ice alongside. It was a lucky thing for +them that the Indians were too keen in the pursuit to +take proper aim. Separating, so as to minimise the danger, +each team dashed forward on its own account. + +"Stay with it, broncho! Stick to it, my son!" yelled +Pasmore. + +In the pauses of the thundering and rending there cut +clearly into the now mild air the clattering of the +horses' hoofs, the hum of the steel-shod runners, and +the _ping, ping_ of the rifles. It was a race for life +with a vengeance, with death ahead and alongside, and +with death at their heels. A gap in the ice, or a stumble, +and it would surely be all up with them. + +"Go it, my game little broncho!" and with rein and voice +Pasmore urged the brave "steed onwards. + +"Hello! there goes the breed's pony!" cried Pasmore. + +A bullet had struck Bastien's horse behind the ear and +brought it down all of a heap upon the ice. There was +an ear-splitting crack just at that moment which added +to the terror of the situation. But the rancher pulled +his horse up by a supreme effort, and Bastien, deserting +his sleigh, leapt in beside him. Then on again. + +Pasmore's pony was now somewhat behind the others, when +suddenly there was a mighty roar, and a great crevasse +opened up in front of them. It took all the strength that +Pasmore possessed to pull up on the brink. + +"We must get out and jump over this somehow," Pasmore +cried to Dorothy. "It's neck or nothing." + +So they sprang out of the sleigh, unhitched the plucky +pony, and prepared to cross the deadly-looking fissure. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CAPTURED BY POUNDMAKER + +The first thing that Pasmore did was to urge the pony to +leap the crevasse on its own account; after a very little +coaxing the intelligent animal gathered itself together, +and jumped clear of certain death. It then rushed on with +the others. + +"Now, give me your hand, and we'll see if we can't find +an easier place to cross," said Pasmore to Dorothy. + +"It's lucky we've got on moccasins instead, of boots, is +it not?" she said. She seemed to have dropped that old +tone of reserve as completely as she might a cloak from +her shoulders. + +She gave him her hand, and they ran up the river alongside +the jagged rent. Two or three bullets whizzed past them +perilously near their heads. + +"Why, there's Child-of-Light and Rory!" she cried. "I +suppose they've come to keep back the Indians."' + +It was indeed the case. The sight of the advancing Indians +had been too much, for them, and they had come out on +the ice so as to check the foe. Their fire was steadier +than the enemy's, for it did undoubted execution. + +Soon Pasmore and Dorothy came to a place that seemed +comparatively narrow, and here they essayed to cross. +The other side seemed a terribly difficult spot on which +to land, and the clear, blue water that ran between looked +deadly cold. Once in there and it would be a hundred +chances to one against getting out. + +"I'll jump across first," said Pasmore, "so as to be +ready to catch you on the other side." + +He jumped it with little effort, although he fell on the +other side, and then it was Dorothy's turn. + +There was a flush on her cheeks and her eyes were strangely +bright as she put one foot on the sharp corner of the +rent, fixed her eyes on him, and sprang. It was a +dangerous and difficult jump for a woman to take, but he +caught her in his strong arms just as she tottered on +the brink, in the act of falling backwards, and drew her +to him. + +"Well done!" he cried, "another time I wish you'd come +to me like that!" + +"Let us run," she said, ignoring his remark, but without +show of resentment. "Here is Jacques waiting for us with +his sleigh." + +And then a tragic thing occurred. The mighty waters of +the Saskatchewan had been gathering force beneath the +ice, and, pressing the great flooring upwards, at length +gained such irresistible power that the whole ice-field +shivered, and was broken up into gigantic slabs, until +it resembled a vast mosaic. The horse attached to Jacques' +sleigh was shot into a great rent, from which it was +impossible to extricate it. They dared not stay a moment +longer if they wished to escape with their lives. + +Then far five minutes they held their lives in their +hands, but they proceeded cautiously and surely, jumping +from berg to berg, the man encouraging the woman to fresh +endeavour, until at last they gained the southern bank. +Had they slipped or overbalanced themselves it would have +been good-bye to this world. Pasmore and Douglas had to +assist Dorothy up the steep banks, so great had been the +strain and so great was the reaction. Nor was it to be +wondered at, for it would have tried the nerves of most +men. They turned when they had reached a point of vantage +and looked around. An awe-inspiring but magnificent sight +met their gaze. + +Coming down the river like a great tidal wave they could +see a chaotic front of blue water and glistening bergs +advancing swiftly and surely. At its approach the huge +slabs of ice in the river were forced upwards, and shivered +into all manner of fanciful shapes. It was the dammed-up +current of the mighty river which at length had forced +the barrier of ice, and carried all in front of it, as +the mortar carries the shell. There was one continuous, +deafening roar, punctuated with a series of violent +explosions as huge blocks of ice were shivered and shot +into the air by that Titanic force. Nothing on earth +could live in that wild maelstrom. It was one vast, +pulsating, churning mass, and as the sun caught its +irregular, crystal-like crest, a lawn-like mist, that +glowed with every colour of the rainbow, hovered over +it. It was indeed a wondrously beautiful, but awe-inspiring +spectacle. + +But the most terrible feature of the scene was the human +life that was about to be sacrificed in that fierce flood. +The murderous members of Big Bear's band who had followed +them up, led away against their better judgment by the +sight of their human prey, had advanced farther over the +ice than they imagined, so that, when checked by the +deliberate and careful shooting of Rory and Child-of-Light, +they remained where they were instead of either rushing +on or beating a precipitate retreat. Thus thirty of them +realised that they were caught as in a trap. They saw +the towering bulk of that pitiless wave coming swiftly +towards them, and then they ran, panic-stricken, some +this way and some that. They ran as only men run when +fleeing for their lives. + +"It is too horrible!" cried the girl, turning away from +the gruesomeness of the spectacle. + +The Indians had flung their rifles from them and were +scattering in all directions over the ice, but that +gleaming wave, that Juggernaut of grinding bergs, was +swifter than they, and bore down upon them at the speed +of a racehorse. It shot them into the air like so many +playthings, caught them up again, and bore them away in +its ravenous maw like the insatiable Moloch that it was. +In another minute there was neither sign nor trace of +them. + +And now the party drew together to compare notes, and to +deliberate upon their future movements. Whatever was +said by Douglas to Pasmore about the sacrifice he had +made on his behalf none of the party knew, for the rancher +did not speak about it again, nor did the Police sergeant +ever refer to it. + +What they were going to do now was the matter that gave +them most concern. They could not go on, and to go back +meant running into Poundmaker's marauding hordes. They +came to the conclusion that the best thing they could do +was to camp where they were. They therefore drove the +sleighs over to a sunny, wooded slope that was now clear +of snow, and pitched Dorothy's tent in lee of the +cotton-wood trees. The air was wonderfully mild, a soft +chinook wind was blowing, and the snow was disappearing +from the high ground as if by magic. + +For three days they stayed in that sheltered spot, and +enjoyed a much-needed rest; and perhaps it was the +pleasantest three days that Pasmore had spent for many +a long year. + +"Don't you think we're understanding each other better +than we used to do?" he asked of Dorothy one day. + +"You don't insist on having quite so much of your own +way," she replied stooping to pick up something. He, +however, saw the smile upon her face. + +On the fourth day Child-of-Light had ascended the rise +behind the camp to look around before going back to his +people, and to reconnoitre in the neighbourhood of the +ranche, when, to his no little dismay, he saw a +far-stretching column of Indians coming towards them +across the plain. He cried to those in the camp to arm +themselves. In a few minutes more he was joined by Douglas, +Pasmore, and the others. To their consternation they saw +that they were gradually being hemmed in by a +crescent-shaped body of warriors, who must have numbered +at least several hundred. + +"It is Poundmaker's band," said Child-of-Light. "They +have been with the wolves worrying the sheep, and have +grown tired of that and are anxious to hide. But they +cannot cross the Kissaskatchewan for many days yet, so +they will turn and go back to their holes in the Eagle +Hills. The chances are they may be afraid to kill us, +but they will certainly make us prisoners. Shall we fight +them, my brothers, and then all journey together to the +Happy Hunting Grounds beyond the blood-red sunsets?" + +But there was Dorothy to be thought of, and they knew +that Poundmaker, though he might possibly put them to +death, would not practise any of those atrocities ascribed +to Big Bear. As the odds were a hundred to one against +them, and they would all inevitably be shot down, it +would be folly to resist, seeing that there was a chance +of eventually escaping with their lives. Discretion was +always the better part of valour, and in this case it +would be criminal to forget the fact. + +They laid down their arms, and Pasmore himself went +forward to meet them on foot, waving a branch over his +head. This, amongst the Indians on the North American +continent, is equivalent to a flag of truce. + +In five minutes more they were surrounded, marshalled in +a body, and marched into the presence of Poundmaker +himself. The chief sat on a rise that was clear of snow, +surrounded by his warriors. All the fire-arms the party +had possessed were taken from them. Douglas had slipped +his arm through his daughter's, and, no matter what the +girl may have felt, she certainly betrayed no fear. It +was Child-of-Light who first addressed Poundmaker. He +stood in front of the others, and said-- + +"Poundmaker, it is not for mercy, but for your protection +that we sue. If you have gone upon the war-path with the +metis against the white people, let not those who are +innocent of wrong suffer for those whose unwise doings +may have stirred you up to the giving of battle after +your own fashion. Thus will it be that the warriors of +the Great White Queen, who will surely swarm over all +this land in numbers as the white moths ere the roses on +the prairie are in bloom, when they hear from our lips +that you have been mindful of us, will be mindful of you. +Douglas and his daughter you know; they have ever been +the friends of the Red man. You remember the evil days +when there was nought to eat in the land, how they shared +all they had with us, and called us brothers and sisters? +Ill would it become Poundmaker and his Stonies to forget +that. As for the others, they but serve their masters as +these your braves serve you, and is that a crime? + +"As for myself, Poundmaker, I have not gone on the +war-path, because I believe this man, Louis Riel, to be +one who hearkens to a false Manitou. For him no friendly +knife or bullet awaits, but the gallows-tree, by which +no good Indian can ever hope to pass to the Happy Hunting +Grounds. + +"If it is that one of us must suffer to show that you +have the power of life and death over us, let it be me. +I am ready, O Poundmaker! Do with me as you will, but +spare these who have done no wrong. This is the only +thing that I ask of you, and I ask it because of those +days when we were as brothers, riding side by side after +the buffalo together, and fighting the Sarcees and the +Sioux. You have told me of old that you believed in the +Manitou--show your belief now. I have spoken, O chief!" + +It has been the fashion with those who have seen only +one or two contaminated specimens of the Red man to sneer +at that phrase, "the noble savage." This they do out of +the fullness of their ignorance. Child-of-Light was +indeed a noble savage, and looked it, every inch of him, +as he drew himself up to his full height and gazed +fearlessly into the face of his enemy. + +A chorus of "Ough! ough!" was heard from every side, +showing that not only had Child-of-Light himself +considerable personal influence, but that the fairness +of his speech had gone home. + +Then the wily Poundmaker spoke. He was an imposing figure +with his great head-dress of eagles' feathers, and clad +in a suit of red flannel on which was wrought a rich +mosaic of coloured beadwork. White ermine tails dangled +from his shoulders, arms, and breast. He was in reality +cruel and vindictive, but his cunning and worldly wisdom +made him a master in expediency. He had intelligence +above the average, but lacked the good qualities of such +as the loyal Crowfoot, the Chief of the Blackfoot nation, +who also had the benefit of Pere Lacombe, that great +missionary's, sound counsel. + +"Child-of-Light has spoken fairly," he said, "but it +remains to be shown how much of what he has said is true, +and how much like the ghost-waters that deceive the +traveller in autumn, in places where nought but the +sage-bush grows, and the ground is parched and dry. +Douglas and the others must come with us. We shall return +to the strong lodges in the Eagle Hills and await what +time may bring. If the warriors of the Great Queen come +to the land and molest us, then shall you all be put to +death. But if they come and stay their hand, then we +shall let you return to your own homes. As for the white +maiden, the daughter of Douglas, nothing that belongs to +her shall be touched, and she shall have a squaw to wait +upon her. I have spoken." + +He was a far-seeing redskin, and meditated grim reprisals +when the time was ripe. + +In a few days, when the snow had completely gone, they +started back to the Eagle Hills. It was heavy travelling, +and the men had to walk, but the Indians got a light Red +River cart for Dorothy, and in this, attended by a squaw, +she made the greater part of the journey. Their goods +were not interfered with, for the Indians had a plethora +of loot from the Battleford stores. But still the +uncertainty of their ultimate fate was ever hanging over +them. They knew that if Poundmaker thought the British +were not coming, or that they were not strong enough to +vanquish him, he was capable of any devilry. + +They passed into the wild, broken country of the Eagle +Hills, the "Bad Lands," as they were called, and there, +in a great grassy hollow surrounded by precipices, gullies, +and terraces of wonderfully-coloured clays, they camped. + +It was now the end of April, and the prisoners were +beginning to get uneasy. Had anything happened to the +British, or had they been left to their fate? The situation +was more critical than they cared to admit But one day +all was bustle in the camp, and the warriors stood to +their arms. + +The British column had moved out from Battleford, and +was advancing to give battle to Poundmaker. + +The critical moment had come. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE BATTLE OF CUT-KNIFE + +When the Indians discovered that bright May morning that +a British column had unexpectedly moved right up to their +position, there was a scene approaching confusion for a +few minutes. But they had studied the ground for days +and knew every inch of it, so that each individual had +his allotted post, and needed no orders to go there. +Luckily for the prisoners, however, Poundmaker had not +time to put into operation the elaborate plans he had +contemplated. Moreover, the chief saw, to his no little +consternation, that, as Child-of-Light had said, the +soldiers of the White Queen were in numbers beyond anything +he had expected. He therefore hurried the prisoners up +a narrow terrace to a high headland from which it would +be impossible to escape, and where a couple of Indians +could effectually take charge of them. The latter followed +close at their heels with loaded rifles. To the no little +satisfaction of Pasmore and the others, the headland, or +bluff, which must have been some two hundred feet high, +commanded a splendid view of the operations. The British +were approaching right across a species of scarred +amphitheatre, while the Indians, and such half-breeds as +had recently fled from Battleford on the approach of the +British and joined them, occupied the deep ravines and +wildly irregular country in their immediate neighbourhood. +They were protected by the rocks from rifle and shell-fire; +the only danger would be in the event of a shrapnel +bursting over them. + +Dorothy's face was lit up with animation as she watched +the stirring spectacle. The sight of British troops, with +the promise of speedy release after weeks of continuous +danger and apprehension, was surely something to gladden +the heart. And now they were about to witness that +grandest, if most terrible, of all sights, a great battle. + +"Look," Dorothy was saying to Pasmore, who crouched beside +her amongst the rocks, "there come the Police--" + +"Down all," cried Pasmore. + +He had seen a flash and a puff of smoke from one of the +guns. There was a dead silence for the space of a few +moments, and then a screech and a peculiar whirring sound, +as a shell hurried through the air over their heads. + +Following this there was a loud report and a puff of +smoke high in the air; a few moments later and there came +a pattering all round as a shower of iron descended. It +was indeed a marvel that none of the party were hit. The +two Indians who guarded them were evidently considerably +astonished, and skipped nimbly behind convenient rocks. + +"It will be more lively than pleasant directly if they +keep on like that," remarked Pasmore. "Look, there are +the Queen's Own extending on the crest of the gully to +protect the left flank, and there are the Canadian Infantry +and Ottawa Sharpshooters on the right. I don't know who +those chaps are protecting the rear, but--" + +His words were drowned in the furious fusillade that +broke out everywhere as if at a given signal. There was +one continuous roar and rattle from the battery of +artillery, and from the Gatling guns, as they opened +fire, and a sharp, steady crackle from the skirmishers +in the firing line and from the gullies and ridges in +which the Indians had taken up their position. Everywhere +one could see the lurid flashes and the smoke wreaths +sagging upwards. + +"What a glorious sight!" exclaimed the girl, her eyes +sparkling and her face glowing. "If I were a man I'd give +anything to be there--I'd like to be there as it is." + +"You're very much there as it is," remarked Pasmore, +soberly. "If you expose yourself as you're doing, something +is bound to hit you. There's not much fun or glory in +being killed by a stray bullet. Move just a little this +way--there's room enough for us both--and you'll be able +to see just as well with a great deal less danger." + +She smiled, and a slight flush dyed her cheeks, but it +was significant to note that she obeyed him unhesitatingly. +A month ago she would have remained where she was. + +And now the battle had begun in grim earnest. The Indians, +dreading the destructiveness of the guns and the Gatlings, +had made up their minds to capture them. As if by a +preconcerted signal a large number of them leapt from +their cover, and with wild, piercing whoops and war-cries, +made a rush on the battery. Some of them were on horseback, +and actually had their steeds smeared with dun-coloured +clay so as to resemble the background and the rocks. It +was indeed exceedingly difficult to distinguish them. +Those on foot ran in a zigzag fashion, holding their +blankets in front, so as to spoil the aim of the rifle-men. + +"They will capture the guns," cried Dorothy, trembling +with excitement, "look, they are nearly up to them now!" + +Indeed, for the moment it seemed extremely likely, for +the Indians rushed in such a way that those on the flanks +were unable to render the gunners or the Mounted Police +any assistance. If Poundmaker succeeded in capturing the +guns, the flankers would soon be cut to pieces. It was +a moment of the keenest anxiety for the prisoners, not +only for the safety of the brave Canadian troops, but +also because they realised that if Poundmaker prevailed +their lives were not worth a moment's purchase. + +"Well done, Herchmer!" cried Pasmore. "See how he is +handling the Police!" + +And in all truth the coolness and steadiness of the Police +were admirable. They lay flat on their faces while the +guns delivered a telling broadside over them on the +approaching foe that mowed them down, and sent them +staggering backwards. Then, with a wild cheer, the troopers +rose, and, like one man, charged the wavering mass of +redskins, firing a volley and fixing their bayonets. The +sight of the cold steel was too much for the Indians, +who turned and fled. The guns were saved. + +But those precipitous gullies were filled with plucky +savages, and not a few half-breeds, who, while they could +effectively pick off and check the advance of the British, +were themselves screened from the enemy's fire. For two +hours and more the fight went on with little gain on +either side. The day was hot, and it must have been +terribly trying work for those in the open. The guns +contented themselves with sending an odd shell into likely +places, but owing to the nature of the ground, which +presented a wall-like front, their practice was only +guess work. + +Suddenly the girl caught Pasmore by the wrist "Look over +there," she cried. "Do you see that body of Indians going +down that gully? They are going to attack the column in +the rear, and our people don't know it. Is there no way +of letting them know?" + +"There is," cried Pasmore, "and it's worth trying. Our +fellows are not more than a thousand yards away now, and +I can signal to them. It's just possible they may see +me. Give me that stick, Rory. Jacques, I saw you with +your towel an hour or so ago. Have you still got it?" + +In a few seconds he had fastened the towel to the stick +and was about to crawl out on to the other side of the +ledge in full view of the British, who had been steadily +advancing. + +"Do take care," cried Dorothy, "if any of the Indians +should see you--" + +"They won't be looking this way," he said, adding, "There's +sure to be a signaller with Otter or Herchmer. They'll +think it a queer thing to get a message from the enemy's +lines"--he laughed light-heartedly at the idea. "Now, do +keep out of sight, for there's just a chance of a bullet +or two being sent in this direction." + +Fortune favoured Pasmore when a shell came screeching +over their heads just at that moment, for the two guards, +who might otherwise have seen him, both dodged behind +rocks. When they looked again in the direction of their +prisoners they did not know that one of them was apprising +the British leader of the fact that a body of the enemy +was at that moment skirting his right flank in cover of +an old watercourse, so as to attack his rear. + +When the British signaller wonderingly read the message, +and repeated it to the Colonel, the latter, before giving +his troops any definite order, inquired of the sender of +the message as to his identity, and Pasmore signalled in +reply. Then the order was given to fix bayonets and charge +the enemy in the watercourse. Silently and swiftly the +regular Canadian Infantry bore down on it. Completely +taken by surprise, and at a disadvantage, the redskins +were completely routed. + +But an ambush was being prepared for the British of which +they did not dream. At a certain point the redskins fell +back, but in a hollow of the broken country through which +the British would in all probability pass to follow up +their supposed advantage, were two or three hundred +warriors mounted and awaiting their opportunity. If only +the British could bring their artillery to bear upon that +spot, and drop a few shells amongst them, great would be +their confusion. + +Pasmore rose to his feet again from behind the rock where +he had crouched, for one or two bullets, either by design +or accident, had come very near him indeed. Quickly the +towel at the end of the stick waved the message to the +officer in command. Just as he was going to supplement +it, a bullet passed clean through his impromptu flag and +grazed his serge. He went on with his message as if +nothing had happened. But the moment he had finished, +and was still standing erect to catch the glint of the +British signaller's flag, a voice hailed him. It was +Dorothy's. + +"Mr. Pasmore," she cried, "if you have done, why don't +you take cover? The Indians have seen you, and you'll be +shot in another minute." + +"For goodness' sake, get down!" he cried, as he turned +round and saw that the girl, unseen by the others, had +come towards him, and was also exposed to the enemy's +fire. + +She looked him steadily in the eyes, but did not move, +although the bullets were beginning to whistle in grim +earnest all around them. + +"Not unless you do," she said. "Oh, why don't you take +shelter?" + +Immediately he resumed his crouching attitude by her +side, and then he turned to her, and there was an unwonted +light in his eyes. + +"Did you really care as much as that?" he asked. + +"You are the stupidest man I know," she replied, looking +away. "Do you think I'd have stood there if I didn't!" + +There was a great joy in his heart as he took her hand. + +"If we get out of this alive, will you say that again?" +he asked. + +"That you are the stupidest man I know?" she queried, +with that perversity inseparable from the daughters of +Eve from all time. + +"No--that you care for me?" + +And at this she looked into his eyes with a simple +earnestness, and said, "Yes." + +What more they might have said was cut short by the +furious outburst of firing from the guns, which dropped +shell after shell into the projected ambuscade. + +And now the British were forcing the natural stronghold +of the Indians in many places, and their guards looked +as if they were undecided what to do with their prisoners. + +"If we don't collar those chaps," said Douglas, "they'll +be wanting to account for us before they go off on their +own. They look dangerous. Stand by me, Jacques, and we'll +crawl up behind them when the next shell comes. They're +too busily engaged below to pay much attention to us +now." + +The words were hardly out of his mouth before their ears +caught the eerie sound of a shrapnel shell coming towards +them. The two Indians got down on their faces behind a +rock. The next moment, regardless of consequences, the +rancher was on the top of one and Jacques had secured +the other. To take their rifles, and tie their hands and +feet with belts, was short work, and then Rory told them +that if they remained quiet all would be well with them. +They were sensible redskins, and did as they were bid. + +And now it was time for the prisoners to again make their +presence known to the British, for should the Indians +and breeds succeed in holding the gully beneath them +against the invading force, it was tolerably certain they +would discover how Pasmore and his companions had +overpowered their guards, and swift vengeance was sure +to follow. As they looked down the precipitous sides of +the ravine they could see that only four men--two breeds +and two Indians held the narrow pass. These men, while +they themselves were comparatively safe, could easily +hold a large number of troops at bay. + +"_Mon Dieu!_ it ees ze metis, and it ees _mon ami_, +Leopold St Croix, I can see," exclaimed Lagrange, as he +peered anxiously over the brink. "Ah! I tink it ees one +leetle rock will keel him mooch dead." + +He did not wait for any one to express assent, but began +at once to assist the British with dire effect. Lagrange +never did things by halves. When he realised that he was +compromised with the enemy, he at once started in to +annihilate his old friends with the utmost cheerfulness. + +No sooner had Jacques heard that Leopold St. Croix was +below than he rushed down the terrace, rifle in hand, to +have it out with him. There was no holding him back; he +was regardless of consequences. + +The others remained where they were. With one rifle they +could command the terrace until the troops came to their +relief. Lagrange continued to roll down rocks, to the +great discomfiture of the holders of the pass, who kept +dodging about from one side to the other in imminent fear +of their lives. When one Indian was effectually quieted +by a huge boulder that Lagrange had sent down on the top +of him, the others saw that it was impossible to remain +there any longer, so incontinently fled. Leopold St. +Croix, being somewhat stout, was left behind in the +headlong flight that ensued. + +When Jacques reached the bottom of the terrace, he found +that the Indians had left the coast clear for him. He +was rounding the bluff amongst the rocks when he met his +old enemy face to face. + +"Ha! _coquin!_" cried Jacques; "and so, _mon ami_, I have +found you! _Bien!_ Now we shall fight, like that, so!" + +And putting his rifle to his shoulder, he sent a bullet +through Leopold St. Croix's badger-skin cap. St. Croix +returned the compliment by shaving a lock of hair off +Jacques' right temple. Both men got behind rocks, and +for three minutes they carried on a spirited duel. At +length, after both had had several narrow shaves of +annihilation, Jacques succeeded in sending a bullet +through St. Croix's shoulder, and that settled the matter. + +The prisoners had now descended the terrace, and were +every moment expecting to find themselves once more face +to face with British troops, when something occurred +which is always occurring when a civilised force, with +its time-honoured precedent, is dealing with a savage +race that acts on its own initiative--the unexpected +happened--the inevitable slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. +The British, thinking that their work was over, left +their cover and rushed towards the various inlets in a +careless, disorganised fashion. Quick as thought the +rebels seized their opportunity. They rallied and poured +in a withering fire upon the scattered troops. The +unprotected guns were rushed by a mere handful of Indians +who had been hiding in the watercourse, and the retreat +was sounded to protect them. At the same moment Poundmaker +found himself with one of his head men, who bore the +picturesque name of Young-Man-Who-Jumps-Like-a-Frog, and +these two, with a strong following at their heels, appeared +round the corner of a bluff. A few seconds later Jacques +was seized from behind, and the other prisoners were once +more secured. It all happened so suddenly that there was +no time to escape or make any resistance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +BACK TO CAPTIVITY + +It was as well for the prisoners that Poundmaker was not +aware of the fact that they had overpowered their guard +and had been in the act of escaping when he came round +the corner. It is only probable to suppose that he was +surprised to find them all alive and unscathed by the +shell-fire, and that he imagined some natural mishap had +occurred to the escort during the progress of the fight +Lucky it was for that same escort that it was the British +troops, and not Poundmaker's men, who afterwards found +them bound hand and foot, for it is safe to say that in +the latter case they would never have had an opportunity +of being surprised again. They would have dangled by +their heels from the bough of some tree while a slow fire +underneath saved them the necessity of ever after requiring +to braid their raven locks. + +In point of fact, Poundmaker was in rather a good humour +than otherwise, for the British were now withdrawing to +take up a position on the open prairie, where they knew +the Red men and metis would not attack them. True, the +rebels had suffered severely, but so had the Government +troops. Before the British could make another attack, he +would be off into the wild, inaccessible fastnesses of +the Eagle Hills, where they would have to catch him who +could. He had sense enough to know that the British must +catch him in the long run, but he would have a high old +time till then. Civilisation was a very tame affair, and +a rebellion was a heaven-sent opportunity for resuscitating +a picturesque past with lots of loot and scalps thrown +in. His meditated revenge on the prisoners would keep--there +was nothing like having a card up one's sleeve. + +He straightway broke up the party. With a certain rude +sense of the fitness of things, he put Douglas and Pasmore +together. He assured the former that the same young squaw +who had been in attendance on his daughter would continue +to wait upon her in the future. His lieutenant, +"Young-Man-Who-Jumps-Like-a-Frog," a very promising young +man indeed, would be responsible to him for her safety. +If anything happened to her, or she escaped, then Young-Man, +etc., would no longer have eyes to see how he jumped. + +It would have been madness for the party to have made +any serious attempt to resist arrest, for they were simply +covered by the muzzles of fire-arms. Still, Pasmore sent +two Indians reeling backwards with two right and left +blows, which made them look so stupid that Poundmaker +was secretly amused, and therefore stopped the pulling +of the trigger of the blunderbuss that an Indian placed +close to the police sergeant's head in order to effect +a thorough and equal distribution of his brains. The grim +and politic chief, who was not without a sense of humour, +ordered that a rope be tied round the waist of the wild +cat--as he was pleased to term Pasmore--and that to the +two braves who had been so stupid as to allow him to +punch their heads, should be allotted the task of leading +him about like a bear. He hinted that if Pasmore +occasionally amused himself by testing the powers of +resistance of their skulls with his hammer-like fists, +no difficulties would be thrown in his way by the others. + +Douglas had begged to be allowed to accompany his daughter, +but Poundmaker said that was impossible, and assured him +that no harm would come to her. Dorothy went over to +her father and said good-bye, and then they were forced +apart. To Pasmore she said-- + +"You need not fear for me. I feel sure that, now they +know the strength of the British, they will take care of +us so as to save themselves. It is madness for you to +resist. If you wish to help me, go quietly with them." + +"Yes, you are right," he said. "But it is so hard. Still, +I feel that we shall pull through yet. Good-bye!" + +He was too much a man of action and of thought to be +prodigal of words. And she knew that a facility in making +pretty speeches is in nine cases out of ten merely the +refuge of those who desire to conceal indifference or +shallowness of heart. + +In another minute the men were hurried away. An Indian +pony with a saddle was brought for Dorothy, and she was +told to mount. The young squaw who had her in charge, +and who was called "The Star that Falls by Night," mounted +another pony and took over a leading-rein from Dorothy's. +Poundmaker, after giving a few instructions, rode off to +direct operations and to see that his sharpshooters were +posted in such a way that it would be impossible for the +British to advance until his main body had made good +their retreat into the more inaccessible country. Of +course, it was only a matter of time before they would +be starved out of those hills, but much might occur before +then. + +The middle-aged brave who was handicapped with a name +that suggested froggy agility, proudly took his place at +the head of the little cavalcade, and a few minutes later +they were threading their way through deep, narrow gullies, +crossing from the head of one little creek on to the +source of another, and choosing such places generally +that the first shower of rain would gather there and wash +out their tracks. When they passed the main camp, Dorothy +saw that the lodges had been pulled down, and were being +packed on _travois_, [Footnote: Two crossed poles with +cross pieces trailing from the back of a pony.] preparatory +to a forced march. She noted that the sleighs had been +abandoned, as, of course, there were no wheels there to +take the place of the runners. Her own slender belongings +were secured on the back of a pack-horse, and the squaw +saw to it that she had her full complement of provisions +and camp paraphernalia such as suited the importance of +her prisoner. + +Poor Dorothy! There would, however, be no more tea or +sugar, or other things she had been accustomed to, for +many a long day, but, after all, that was of no particular +moment There was pure water in the streams, and there +would soon be any amount of luscious wild berries in the +woods, and plants by the loamy banks of creeks that made +delicious salads and spinaches, and they would bring such +a measure of health with them that she would experience +what the spoilt children of fortune, and the dwellers in +cities, can know little about--the mere physical joy of +being alive--the glorious pulsing of the human machine. + +They kept steadily on their way till dusk, and then halted +for a brief space. The party was a small one now, only +some half-dozen braves and a few squaws. Dorothy wandered +with her jailer, whom she had for shortness called the +Falling Star, to a little rise, and looked down upon the +great desolate, purpling land in which evidently Nature +had been amusing herself. There were huge, pillar-like +rocks streaked with every colour of the rainbow, from +pale pink and crimson to slate-blue. There were yawning +canyons, on the scarped sides of which Nature had been +fashioning all manner of grotesqueries--gargoyles and +griffins, suggestions of many-spired cathedrals, the +profile of a face which was that of an angel, and of +another which was so weirdly and horribly ugly--suggesting +as it did all that was evil and sinister--that one shivered +and looked away. All these showed themselves like +phantasmagoria, and startled one with a suggestion of +intelligent design. But it was not with the face of the +cliff alone that Nature had trifled. + +The gigantic boulders of coloured clays, strewn about +all higgledy-piggledy, resolved themselves into uncouth +antediluvian monsters, with faces so suggestive of +something human and malign that they were more like the +weird imaginings of some evil dream than inanimate things +of clay. And over all brooded the mysterious dusk and +the silence--the silence as of death that had been from +the beginning, and which haunted one like a living +presence. Only perhaps now and again there was a peculiar +and clearly-defined, trumpet-toned sound caused by the +outstretched wing of a great hawk as it swooped down to +seize its prey. It was the very embodiment of desolation. +It might well have been some dead lunar landscape in +which for aeons no living thing had stirred. + +But Dorothy had other things to think of. Her position +was now seemingly more perilous than before. It was so +hard to think that they had all been so near deliverance, +and, in fact, had given themselves over entirely to hope, +and then had been so ruthlessly disappointed. + +But there had been compensations. Putting on one side +the shedding of blood, for which nothing could compensate, +there was that new interest which had sprung into glorious +life within her, and had become part of her being--her +love for the man who had more than once put himself in +the power of the enemy so that she and her father might +be saved. Yes, that was something very wonderful and +beautiful indeed. + +When the moon got up the party was reformed, and they +started out again. In the pale moonlight the freaks of +Nature's handiwork were more fantastic than ever, and +here and there tall, strangely-fashioned boulders of clay +took on the semblance of threatening, half-human monsters +meditating an attack. + +Dorothy had noticed by the stars that the party had +changed its direction. They were now heading due north. +With the exception of one short halt they travelled all +through the night, and in the early grey dawn of the +morning came out upon a great plain of drifting sand that +looked for all the world like an old ocean bed stretching +on and on interminably. It was the dangerous shifting +sands, which the Indians generally avoided, as it contained +spots where, it was said, both man and horse disappeared +if they dared to put foot on it. But Poundmaker's lieutenant +was not without some measure of skill and daring, and +piloted them between the troughs of the waste with unerring +skill. + +When the sun gained power in the heavens and a light +breeze sprang up, a strange thing took place. The face +of the wave-like heights and hollows began to move. The +tiny grains of sand were everywhere in motion, and actually +gave out a peculiar singing sound, somewhat resembling +the noise of grain when it falls from the spout of a +winnowing machine into a sack. It was as if the sand were +on the boil. There was no stopping now unless they wanted +to be swallowed up in the quicksand. Dorothy noticed that +the squaws, and even the braves, looked not a little +anxious. But their leader kept steadily on. The sand +was hard enough and offered sufficient resistance to the +broad hoof of a horse, but if one stood still for a minute +or so, it began gradually to silt up and bury it. It was +a horrible place. When at noon that devil's slough resolved +itself into a comparatively narrow strip, and Dorothy +saw that they could easily have left it, she began to +understand their reason for keeping on such dangerous +ground--_they did not wish to leave any tracks behind +them_. In all truth there was absolutely nothing to show +that they had ever been in that part of the country. At +last they came to what looked like a high hill with a +wall-like cliff surmounting it. They stepped on to the +firm clayey soil where the sage-bush waved, and had their +midday meal. As soon as that had been disposed of, they +resumed their journey. + +They now went on foot, and steadily climbed the steep +hillside by the bed of an old watercourse. Dorothy +wondered what was behind the sharply-cut outline of the +cliffs, for it gave the impression that nothing lay beyond +save infinite space. They entered a narrow ravine, and +then suddenly it was as if they had reached the jumping-off +place of the world, for they passed, as it were, into +another land. Immediately beneath them lay a broken +shelf of ground shaped like a horseshoe, the sides of +which were sheer cliffs, the gloomy base of which, many +hundred feet below, were swept by the coldly gleaming, +blue waters of the mighty Saskatchewan. Beyond that, +drowsing in a pale blue haze, lay the broad valley, and +beyond that again the vast purpling panorama of rolling +prairie and black pinewoods until earth and sky were +merged in indistinctness and became one. It resembled a +perch on the side of the world, a huge eyrie with cliffs +above and cliffs below, with apparently only that little +passage, the old creek bed, by which one might get there. +Dorothy realised that people might pass and repass at +the foot of the hill on the other side and never dream +there was such a place behind it. Still less would they +imagine that there was a narrow cleft by which one could +get through. Moreover, a couple of Indians stationed at +the narrow track could easily keep two hundred foe-men +at bay. Dorothy realised that she was now as effectually +a prisoner as if she had been hidden away in an impregnable +fortress. + +The party descended a gentle slope, and there, in a +saucer-shaped piece of low-lying ground fringed with +saskatoon and choke-cherry trees, they pitched their +camp. + +For the first three days Dorothy was almost inclined to +give way to the depression of spirits which her surroundings +and the enforced inaction naturally encouraged. Though +the Red folk were not actually unkind to her, still, +their ways were not such as commended themselves to a +well-brought-up white girl. Fortunately, the Falling Star +was well disposed to her, and did all she could to make +Dorothy feel her captivity as little as possible. The +two would sit together in a shady place on the edge of +the great cliff for hours, gazing out upon the magnificent +prospect that outspread itself far beneath them, and the +Indian girl, to try and woo the spirit of her white sister +from communing too much within itself, would tell her many +of the quaint, beautiful legends of the Indian Long Ago. + +On the third day, just as Dorothy was beginning to wonder +if it were not possible to steal out of the wigwam one +night when Falling Star slept soundly, and, by evading +the sentries--who might also chance to be asleep--make +her way out through the narrow pass and so back to freedom, +there was an arrival in camp that exceedingly astonished +her. She was sitting some little distance back from the +edge of the great cliff with Falling Star near at hand, +when some one behind her spoke. + +"Ah, Mam'selle," said the voice, "it ees ze good +how-do-you-do I will be wish you." + +Dorothy turned, and to her surprise Bastien Lagrange +stood before her. + +Despite the jauntiness of his speech, and the evident +desire he evinced to appear perfectly at his ease, Dorothy +at once detected an under-current of shame-facedness and +apprehension in Bastien's manner. His presence urged that +he was no longer a prisoner with Poundmaker's band. What +did it portend? + +In her eagerness to learn something of her father, Pasmore, +and the others, Dorothy sprang to her feet and ran towards +Lagrange. But that gentleman gave her such a significant +look of warning that she stopped short. He glanced +meaningly at the Indian woman, Falling Star. Dorothy +understood, and a presentiment that she was about to be +disappointed in the feeble-hearted half-breed took +possession of her. + +"You can speak, Bastien," Dorothy said. "Falling Star +will not understand a word. I can see you have come with +a message to Jumping Frog, but first, tell me--what about +my father and the others?" + +"_Helas_, I know not!" said Bastien, feeling vastly +relieved that it had not been a more awkward question. +"They haf go 'way South branch of Saskatchewan. They all +right. I tink Poundmaker mooch 'fraid keel them. They--" + +"But how is it you are here? Have you joined the enemy +again?" + +It had come at last, and Bastien, shrugging his high +shoulders, spread his hands out deprecatingly. + +"_Helas_, Mam'selle! What was there for to do? I say I +Eenglish, and they go for to shoot me mooch dead. I say +'Vive Riel!' and they say, 'Zat ees all right, Bastien +Lagrange, you mooch good man.' I tell them that I nevare +lof ze Eenglish, that your father and shermoganish peleece +she was took me pressonar, and I was not able to get +'way, and that I plenty hate the Eenglish, oh! yees, and +haf keel as many as three, four, fife, plenty times. So +they say, 'Bully for you, pardner! and you can go tell +Man-Who-Jumps-Like-a-Frog to sit down here more long and +ozer tings.' _Comprenez?_" + +The peculiar and delicate line of policy the unstable +breed was pursuing was obvious. Lagrange was one of those +who wanted to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds +simply because he did not particularly care for either, +and it was incumbent upon him that he should do one or +the other. When the proper time came he certainly wanted +to be with the side that got the best of it, and he had +a shrewd suspicion that that would be the English. He +was delightfully immune from any moral prejudice in the +matter, and already a brilliant scheme was developing in +his plastic brain that promised both safety and +entertainment. He, however, resolved to do whatever lay +in his power to assist this charming young lady and her +father. + +"Bastien," observed the girl, after a pause, "you'd better +take good care what you do. Take my word for it that all +the rebels, both half-breeds and Indians, who have done +wrong will have to answer for it. I do not ask you what +message you carry to the Indians here, but it is unlikely +that you will stay with us. Now, I know that Battleford +is not so very far away; will you go and tell Pepin +Quesnelle to come to me? The Indians are all afraid of him, +so he will suffer no harm. See, give him this from me." + +She turned and plucked a little bunch of blue flowers +that grew close at hand, which in the Indian language +signify "Come to me." Then she produced a little brooch +which she had worn at her throat that night she had met +the dwarf, and wrapping both In a small piece of silk, +gave them to the half-breed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ANTOINE IN TROUBLE + +Four nights later Pepin Quesnelle and his mother were +having their supper in the large common sitting-room, +which also did duty as kitchen and workshop. The tidy, +silver-haired old dame had set out a place for Pepin at +the well-scrubbed table, but the _petit maitre_, much to +her regret, would not sit down at it as was his wont He +insisted on having his supper placed on the long, low +bench, covered with tools and harness, at which he was +working. He had a Government job on hand, and knew that +if he sat down to the table in state, there would be much +good time wasted in useless formality. His mother therefore +brought some bread and a large steaming plate of some +kind of stew, and placed them within reach of his long +arms. + +"Pepin," she said, with a hint of fond remonstrance, "it +is not like you to eat so. If any one should happen to +come and catch you, my sweet one, eating like a common +Indian, what would they think? Take care, apple of my +eye, it is ver' hot!" + +She hastily put down the steaming bowl, from which a +savoury steam ascended, and Antoine the bear, who was +sitting on his haunches in evident meditation behind the +bench, deliberately looked in another direction. What +mattered the master's dinner to a bear of his high-class +principles! + +"Thank you, my mother," said Pepin, without lifting his +eyes, and sewing away with both hands as if for dear +life. "What you say is true, ver' true, but the General +he will want this harness, and the troops go to-morrow +to catch Poundmaker. And, after all, what matters it +where I sit--am I not Pepin Quesnelle?" + +Antoine, still looking vacantly in another direction, +moved meditatively nearer the steaming dish. Why had they +not given him his supper? He had been out for quite a +long walk that day, his appetite was excellent. + +"Mother," said Pepin again, "that young female Douglas, +who was here some time ago, I wonder where she may be +now? Since then I have been many times think that, after +all, she was, what the soldier-officers call it, not +half-bad." + +"Ah, Pepin!" and the old lady sighed, "she was a sweet +child, and some day might even have done as wife for you. +But you are so particular, my son. Of course, I do not +mean to say she was good enough for you, but at least +she was more better than those other women who would try +and steal you from me. _Mon Dieu_, how they do conspire!" + +"So, that is so," commented Pepin resignedly, but at the +same time not without a hint of satisfaction in his voice; +"they _will_ do it, you know, mother. Bah! if the +shameless females only knew how Pepin Quesnelle sees +through their little ways, how they would be +confounded--astonished, and go hide themselves for the +shame of it! But this girl, that is the thing, she was +nice girl, I think, and if perhaps she had the airs of +a _grande dame_ and would expect much--well, after all, +there was myself to set against that Eh? What? Don't you +think that is so, my mother?" + +"Yes, Pepin, yes, of course that is so, my sweet one, +and what more could any woman want? And that girl, I +think, she was took wid you, for I see her two, three +times look at you so out of the corners of the eyes." + +While this conversation was proceeding, Antoine had more +than once glanced at his master without turning his head. +The plate of stew was now within easy reach of his short +grizzled snout, and really it looked as if it had been +put there on purpose for him to help himself. + +When Pepin happened to look round, he thought his mother, +in a fit of absent-mindedness, must have put down an +empty plate--it was so clean, so beautifully clean. But +when he looked at Antoine, who was now sitting quite out +of reach of the plate, and observed the Sunday-school +expression on the bear's old-fashioned face, he understood +matters. He knew Antoine of old. + +"Mother," he said, in his natural voice and quite quietly, +"my dear mother, don't let the old beast know that you +suspect anything. Take up that plate, and don't look at +him, or he will find out we have discovered all. What +have you got left in the pot, my mother?" + +"Two pigeons, my sweet one, but--" + +"That will do, mother. Do not excite yourself. Your +Pepin will be avenged. The b'ar shall have the lot, _ma +foi!_ the whole lot, and he will wish that he had waited +until his betters were finished. Take down the mustard +tin, and the pepper-pot, and yes, those little red peppers +that make the mouth as the heat of the pit below, and +put them all in the insides of one pigeon. Do you hear +me, my mother dear? Now, do not let him see you do it, +for his sense is as that of the Evil One himself, and he +would not eat that pigeon." + +"Oh, my poor wronged one, and to think that that--" + +"Hush hush, my mother! Can you not do as I have told you? +Pick up the plate quietly. _Bien_, that is right! Now, +do not look at him, but fill the pigeon up. So ... that +is so, mother dear. O, Antoine, you sweet, infernal b'ar, +but I will make you wish as how the whole Saskatchewan +were running down your crater of a throat in two, three +minutes more. But there will be no Saskatchewan--_non_, +not one leetle drop of water to cool your thieving tongue!" + +And despite the lively state of affairs he predicted for +his four-footed friend, he never once looked at it, but +kept tinkering at the harness as if nothing particular +were exciting him. + +The good old lady was filled with concern for Antoine, +for whom, as sharing the companionship of her well-beloved, +she had quite a friendly regard. Still, had not the +traitorous animal robbed her darling--her Pepin--of his +supper? It was a hard, a very hard thing to do, but he +must be taught a lesson. With many misgivings she stuffed +the cavernous fowl with the fiery condiments. + +"Now, mother dear, just wipe it clean so that the fire +and brimstone does not show on the outside, and pour over +it some gravy. That is right, _ma mere_. I will reward +you--later. Now, just place it on the bench and take away +the other plate. Do not let the cunning malefactor think +you notice him at all. He will think it is the second +course. _Bien!_" + +He turned his head sharply and looked at the bear with +one of his quick, bird-like movements, just at the same +moment as the bear looked at him. But there was nothing +on the artless Antoine's face but mild, sentimental +inquiry. + +"Ha! he is cunning!" muttered Pepin. "Do you remember, +my mother, how--_Mon Dieu!_ he's got it!" + +That was very apparent. Antoine had nipped up the fowl, +and with one or two silent crunches was in the act of +swallowing it. So pressed was he for time that at first +he did not detect the fiery horrors he was swallowing. +But in a minute or two he realised that something unlooked +for had occurred, that there was a young volcano in his +mouth that had to be quenched at any cost So he sprang +to his feet and rushed at a bucket of water that stood +in a corner of the room, and went so hastily that he +knocked the bucket over and then fell on it. The burning +pain inside him made him snap and growl and fall to +worrying the unfortunate bucket. + +As for Pepin, he evinced the liveliest joy. He threw the +harness from him, leapt from the bench, and seizing his +long stick, danced out on the floor in front of the bear. +The good old dame stood with clasped hands in a far corner +of the room, looking with considerable apprehension upon +this fresh domestic development. + +"Aha, Antoine, _mon enfant!_" cried the dwarf, "and so +my supper you will steal, will you? And how you like it, +_mon ami?_ Now, for to digest it, a dance, that is good. +So--get up, get up and dance, my sweet innocence! Houp-la!" + +But just at that moment there came a knock at the door. +It was pushed open, and the unstable breed, Bastien +Lagrange, entered. Antoine, beside himself with internal +discomfort and rage, eyed the intruder with a fiery, +ominous light in his eyes. Here surely was a heaven-sent +opportunity for letting off steam. Before his master +could prevent him he had rushed open-mouthed at Lagrange +and thrown him upon his back. Quicker than it takes to +write it, he had ripped the clothing from his body with +his great claws and was at his victim's throat. The dwarf, +with a strange, hoarse cry, threw himself upon the bear. +With his powerful arms and huge hands he caught it by +the throat, and compressed the windpipe, until the +astonished animal loosed its hold and opened its mouth +to gasp for breath. Then, bracing himself, Pepin threw +it backwards with as much seeming ease as when, on one +occasion, he had strangled a young cinnamon in the woods. +Bastien Lagrange lay back with the blood oozing from his +mouth, the whites of his eyes turned upwards. He tried +to speak, but the words came indistinctly from his lips. +He put one hand to his breast, and a small packet fell +to the ground. + +"From the daughter of Douglas," he gasped. And then he +lay still. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE DEPARTURE OF PEPIN + +After all, Bastien Lagrange had been more frightened than +hurt by Antoine the bear. When Pepin Quesnelle had +satisfied himself that there were no bones broken, and +that the wound from which the blood flowed was a mere +scratch, he, as usual, became ashamed of his late display +of feeling and concern, and again assumed his old truculent +attitude. He gave the breed time to recover his breath, +then roughly asked him whom he thought he was that he +should make such a noisy and ostentatious entry into his +house. + +"It ees me, Pepin, your ver' dear friend, Bastien Lagrange," +whined the big breed, with an aggrieved look at the dwarf +and an apprehensive one at Antoine. + +"What, villain, _coquin_, _I_ your ver' dear friend? +--may the good Lord forbid! But sit up, and let me once +more look upon your ugly face. Idiot, _entrez!_ Sit up, +and take this for to drink." So spoke Pepin as he handed +Bastien a dipper of water. + +In all truth the shifty breed had an expression on his +face as he tried to put his torn garments to rights that +savoured not a little of idiocy. He had been for the last +three hours working himself into a mood of unconcern and +even defiance, so that he might be able to repel the +attacks of the outspoken Pepin. But now, at the very +first words this terrible manikin uttered, he felt his +heart sinking down into his boots. Still, he bore news +which he fancied would rather stagger the dwarf. + +"And so, _mon ami_--" + +"_Tenez vous la_, villain! You will pardon me, but I am +not the friend of a turncoat and traitor! _Dis donc_, +you will bear this in mind. Now what is it you have for +to say? _Bien?_" + +"_Parbleu!_ what ees ze matter wit' Antoine?" exclaimed +the breed uneasily. "What for he look at me so? Make him +for to go 'way, Pepin." + +Pepin caught up his stick and changed the trend of +Antoine's aggressive thoughts. The big brute slunk to +the far end of the room, sat upon his haunches, and +blinked at the party in a disconcerting fashion. Then +Pepin again turned upon Bastien with such a quick, fierce +movement that the latter started involuntarily. + +"Bah! blockhead, pudding-head!" cried Pepin impatiently. +"Antoine has only that fire in his mouth that you will +have in the pit below before two, three days when you +have been hanged by the neck or been shot by the soldiers +of the great Queen. Proceed!" + +"Aha! you ver' funny man, Pepin, but do you know that +Poundmaker has been catch what zey call ze convoy--sixteen +wagons wit' ze drivers and ze soldiers belongin' to your +great Queen, and now zey haf no more food and zey perish? +Haf you heard that, _mon_--M'sieur Pepin?" + +Pepin had not heard it, but then he had heard some awkward +things about Bastien Lagrange, and he immediately proceeded +to let him know that he was acquainted with them. The +soldiers, with their great guns, were now swarming up +the Saskatchewan, and it was only a matter of a few weeks +before Poundmaker and Big Bear would be suing for mercy. +This and more of a disquieting nature did the dwarf tell +the unstable one, so that by the time he had finished +there was no hesitation in Bastien's mind as to which +side he must once and for all definitely espouse. So he +told of the capture of the Douglas party by Poundmaker +and of the fight at Cut-Knife. Then he called Pepin's +attention to the packet he had dropped, and explained +how it had been entrusted to him. + +The manikin examined it in silence. A strange look of +intelligence came into his face. He shot a half-shy, +suspicious glance at the breed, but that gentleman, with +an awe-stricken expression, was watching Antoine, as with +sinister design that intelligent animal was piling up +quite a collection of boots, moccasins, and odds and ends +in a corner preparatory to having a grand revenge for +the trick that had been played upon him. He would chew +up every scrap of that leather and buckskin if he wore +his teeth out in the attempt The old lady, fortunately +for him, had left the room. + +Pepin opened the packet, and the sight of that plain +little gold brooch and the bunch of prairie forget-me-nots +moved him strangely. After all, his heart was not adamant +where youth and beauty were concerned--he only realised +the immense gulf that was fixed between a man of his +great parts and graces and the average female. + +He abruptly ordered Bastien into the summer kitchen to +look for his mother and get something to eat, and then, +when he realised he had the room to himself, he literally +let himself go. He sprang to his feet, and, waving the +flowers and the brooch over his head, advanced a few +paces into the middle of the room, struck a melodramatic +attitude, and, with one hand pressed to his heart, carried +Dorothy's tokens to his lips. + +Then he turned and observed Antoine. This somewhat +absent-minded follower had already begun operations on +his little pile; but he had been so taken aback by the +unwonted jubilation of his master, that he stopped work +to gaze upon him in astonishment, and quite forgot to +remove the half-torn moccasin from his mouth. When he +saw he was caught red-handed, he dropped the spoil as he +had dropped the hot potato, and crouched apprehensively. +His master made a fierce rush at him. + +"What ho! Antoine, you pig, you!" he cried; "and so you +would have revenge, you chuckle-pate!" And then he punched +Antoine's head. + +Just at that moment his mother and Bastien re-entered +the room; the former set Lagrange down at a small table +in a far corner with some food before him. The dwarf +lounged towards the fire-place with an assumed air of +indifference and boredom, and, leaning against the +chimney-piece, stroked his black moustache. + +"What is it, Pepin, my son?" asked the old lady anxiously. + +"Oh, nothing--nothing, my mother; only that they are at +it again!" + +"The shameless wretches!" she exclaimed; "will they never +cease? Who is it this time, Pepin?" + +"Only that young Douglas female we have spoke about"--he +tried hard to infuse contempt into his voice--"she wants +me to go to her! Just think of it mother! But she is a +preesonar, and, perhaps, it is also my help she wants. +And she was a nice girl, was it not so, _ma mere?_" + +Between them they came to the conclusion that Pepin must +go with Bastien to where Dorothy was kept a prisoner and +see what could be done. They also wisely decided that it +was no use notifying or trying to lead the Imperial troops +to the spot, for that might only force the Indians to +some atrocity. + +Later on, when the moon arose, Pepin took Lagrange out +and showed him the British camp with its apparently +countless tents, and its battery of guns. It appeared +to the unstable one as if all the armies of the earth +must be camped on that spot. When the dwarf told him that +there were other camps further up the river, to which +the one before him was as nothing, Bastien fairly trembled +in his moccasins. When a sentry challenged them, the +now thoroughly disillusioned breed begged piteously that +they should return to Pepin's house and set out early on +the following morning for the place where Dorothy was +imprisoned up the Saskatchewan, before that army of +soldiers, who surely swarmed like a colony of ants, was +afoot. + +Pepin knew that the approach of an army would only be +the means of preventing him from finding Dorothy. He +must go to her himself. He would also, for the sake of +the proprieties, take his mother along in a Red River +cart; his mind was quite made up upon that point. If he +did not do so, who could tell that the Douglas female, +with the cunning of her sex, would not lay some awkward +trap for him? The girl had plainly said, "Come to me," +and he was secretly elated, but his conviction of old +growth, that all women were "after" him, made him cautious. + +So next morning, before break of day, the Red River cart +was packed up and at the door. Pepin and his mother got +into it, Antoine was led behind by means of a rope, and +Bastien rode alongside on a sturdy little Indian pony. +It was indeed an _outre_ and extraordinary little procession +that started out. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE INDIANS' AWAKENING + +Little Running Cropped-eared Dog of the Stonies sat +smoking his red clay calumet at the narrow entrance of +the gorge that looked out upon the wooded hillside, the +only means of ingress to the shelf which constituted +Dorothy's prison-house. He was keeping watch and ward +with his good friend "Black Bull Pup," who also sat +smoking opposite him. Their rifles lay alongside; they +had finished a _recherche_ repast of roasted dog, and +were both very sleepy. It was a horrible nuisance having +to keep awake such a warm afternoon. No one was going to +intrude upon their privacy, for they had heard that the +British General, Middleton, was in hot pursuit after +Poundmaker, and it was unlikely that Jumping Frog, who +was over them, would trouble about visiting the sentries. + +Little Running Cropped-eared Dog laid down his pipe and +folded his arms. + +"Brother," he said to Black Bull Pup, with that easy +assumption of authority which characterised him, "there +is no necessity for us both to be awake. I would woo the +god of pleasant dreams, so oblige me by keeping watch +while my eyelids droop." + +Bull Pup, who was a choleric little Indian, and, judging +by his finery, a tip-top swell in Indian upper circles, +looked up with an air of surprise and angry remonstrance. + +"Brother," he replied, "the modest expression of your +gracious pleasure is only equalled by the impudence of +the prairie dog who wags his tail in the face of the +hunter before hastening to the privacy of his tepee +underground. You slept all this morning, O Cropped-eared +one! It is my turn now." + +But Little Running Dog was renowned among the Stonies +for his wide knowledge of men and things. Moreover, he +loved ease above all, so, by reason of his imperturbability +and honeyed words, he invariably disarmed opposition and +had his own way. On the present occasion he said-- + +"Black Bull Pup will pardon me; he speaks with his +accustomed truthfulness and fairness of thought I had +for the moment forgotten how, when he took Black Plume +of the Sarcees prisoner, and was leading him back for +the enlivening knife and burning tallow, he watched by +him for four days and four nights without closing an eye, +thus earning for himself the distinction of being called +the 'Sleepless One.' There is no such necessity for his +keeping awake now. Let his dreams waft him in spirit to +the Happy Hunting Grounds. As for me, I am getting an +old man, whose arrow-hand lacks strength to pull back +the string of the bow. It can be but a few short years +before I enter upon the long, last sleep, so it matters +not Sleep, brother." + +But Black Bull Pup, as is often the case, was tender of +heart as well as choleric, and hastened to say that his +venerable comrade must take some much-needed rest, so +that within five minutes the ugly Cropped-eared one was +making the sweet hush of the summer noon hideous with +his snores, whilst Black Bull Pup was beginning to wonder +if, after all, he had not been "got at" again by his +Machiavelian friend. It was not a pleasant reflection, +and it really was a very drowsy sort of afternoon. Four +minutes later he was sound asleep himself. + +Slowly toiling up the stony, sun-dried bed of the tarn +came Pepin the dwarf, and alongside him, showing unusual +signs of animation--he had scented brother bears--came +Antoine. Behind them walked the unstable breed, Bastien +Lagrange, with a huge pack upon his back. The pack was +heavy and the hill was steep, so that the human beast of +burden perspired and groaned considerably. He also showed +much imagination and ingenuity in the construction of +strange words suitable to the occasion. Pepin's ears had +just been assailed by some extra powerful ones when he +turned to remonstrate. + +"Grumbler and discontented one," he said, "have your long +legs grown weak at the knees because you are asked to +carry a few pennyweights on your back?"--the breed was +resting his several hundred pounds pack upon a rock--"Bah! +it is nothing compared to the load of things you will +have to carry and answer for when you have to appear +before the Great Court, when the bolt has been drawn and +you are launched into space through the prison trap-door, +and your toes go jumpety-jumpety-jump. Blockhead!" + +"_Parbleu, M'sieur_ Pepin, _mais_ eet ees mooch dead +would be more better than this, I tink it! _Helas!_ how +my heart eet does go for to break! I would for to rest, +Pepin, my ver' dear frient." + +"Then rest, weak-kneed one, and be sure afterwards to +come on. It is good I did leave the good mother with the +Croisettes down the river! _Au revoir_, pudding-head!" + +Pepin held Antoine by the neck while he surveyed the +slumbering forms of Little Running Crop-eared Dog and +Black Bull Pup. + +"_Mais_, they are beautiful children of the tepees," he +murmured. "It would be easy to kill, but that would not +be of the commandments. 'He who lives by the sword shall +perish by the sword.' No; no man's blood shall stain the +hands of Pepin Quesnelle. Ah! now I have it. So!" + +If the dwarf drew the line at killing, he was still as +full of mischief as a human being could well be. He had +an impish turn of mind, and hastened to gratify the same. +He took the two rifles and at once proceeded to draw the +charges, then with a smartness and lightness of touch +that was surprising, he possessed himself of their +sheath-knives. He placed Antoine on its haunches between +them, and threatened him with dire vengeance if he moved. +He himself clambered on to a rock over their heads, at +the same time not forgetting to take a few stones in his +pockets. His eyes gleamed and rolled in his head, and +he chuckled in a truly alarming fashion. Then he dropped +a stone on to the pit of Black Bull Pup's stomach, and +the other on to the head of the Crop-eared one. Antoine +watched the proceedings with much interest. + +Black Bull Pup sat up and was about to remonstrate angrily +with his comrade for having roused him so unceremoniously, +when the latter also raised himself full of the same +matter. + +Their eyes fairly started from their heads and they were +nearly paralysed with horror when they beheld a huge bear +sitting within a few feet of them. It must be a very ogre +of a bear when it could sit there so calmly waiting for +them to awake before beginning operations. Pepin, unseen +on the rock above them, fairly doubled himself up with +delight. But they were both Indians who had borne +themselves with credit in former encounters with bears, +so, snatching up their rifles, they both fired at Antoine +at the same moment with a touching and supreme disregard +to the other's proximity. Antoine seemed interested. +There were two flashes in the pan, and two hearts sank +simultaneously. They searched for their knives in vain. +Antoine appeared amused and looked encouragement. It was +a very nightmare to the two warriors. Then, from the rock +over their heads, they heard a deep bass voice of such +volume that it sounded like half-a-dozen ordinary voices +rolled into one. + +"_Canaille!_" it cried, "cut-throats! villains! +block-heads! pudding-heads! _mais_ you are nice men to +sleep at your posts; truly, that is so! Shall I make this +bear for to devour you? Eh? What?" + +When the two men looked up and beheld the weird form of +Pepin perched on the rock, it nearly finished them. They +had heard of many strange monsters, but here was something +beyond their very wildest imaginings. Of course, this +bear was his attendant evil spirit, and it was a judgment +upon them. The Crop-eared one and the Black Bull Pup +grovelled in an agony of terror. Pepin never had such a +time. What would have happened it is hard to say had +not Bastien Lagrange appeared upon the scene. For Antoine, +imagining that the movements of the Indians were generously +intended as an invitation for him to indulge in frivolity, +at once reared himself on his hind legs preparatory to +dancing all over them. Pepin slid from the rock and called +his absent-minded friend to attention. Bastien came +forward wiping his forehead, declaring that he was all +but dead, and the two worthy savages rose wonderingly to +their feet The unstable breed, who at once took in the +situation, and, as usual, derived a secret pleasure from +observing the abject discomfiture of the Indians, at once +proceeded to explain to them that the strange gentleman +before them, whom they had mistaken for a celebrity from +the ghost world, was no other than the celebrated Pepin +Quesnelle, of whom they must have heard, and that the +bear, whose magnanimity and playfulness they had just +been witnesses of, was his equally distinguished friend +and counsellor. He also explained that, of course, no +one in the land ever questioned Pepin's right to do what +he liked or to go where he chose. There was no doubt +that, in a different sphere of life, Bastien would have +risen to eminence in diplomatic circles. The two warriors +having been handed back their knives, swore by the ghosts +of their illustrious grandfathers and grandmothers, that, +so far at least as they were concerned, the little but +mighty man, with his servant the bear, might go or come +just as he pleased. Pepin and Bastien left the two now +sleepless sentries at their posts, and passed through to +the great wide terrace that overlooked the Saskatchewan, +which, here describing a great half-circle, rushed like +a mill-race between vast gloomy walls of rock. + +When they reached the camp in the hollow, Jumping Frog +came forward to meet them. Pepin he had heard of, but +had not seen before. It was quite evident he resented +his presence there. He turned angrily upon the breed, +whose joy at now having come to the end of his journey +received a decided check from the reception he met with +from the head man. Jumping Frog looked at Bastien +scornfully, and asked-- + +"Brother, did I not send you on a mission? and what is +this thing you have brought back?" + +The unstable breed, whose mercurial condition was influenced +by every breath of wind, shook with apprehension, but +Pepin came to the rescue. To be called "a thing" by an +Indian was an insult that cut into the quick of his +nature. He had taken off his slouch hat, and was leaning +forward with his two hands grasping the long stick he +usually carried. Antoine was squatted meditatively on +his haunches alongside him. Pepin now drew himself up; +his face became transfigured with rage; he took a step +or two towards the head man, and shook his stick +threateningly. + +"Black-hearted and cross-eyed dog of a Stony!" he fairly +screamed; "by the ghost of the old grey wolf that bore +you, and which now wanders round the tepees of the outcasts +in the land of lost spirits picking up carrion, would +you dare to speak of me thus! I have a mind to take the +maiden whom you now hold as a prisoner away from you, +but the time is not yet ripe. But I swear it, if you +molest her in any way, or speak of me again as you have +done, or interfere with my coming or going, you shall +swing by the neck on a rope, and your body shall be given +to the dogs. Moreover, your spirit shall wander for ever +in the Bad Lands, and the Happy Hunting Grounds shall +know you not." + +"Ough! ough!" exclaimed Jumping Frog uneasily; "but you +use big words, little man! Still, there is something +about you that savours of big medicine, and I do not wish +to offend the spirits, so peace with you until this matter +rights itself." He turned to Lagrange. "And you, O one +of seemingly weak purpose, tell me what news of Poundmaker +and Thunderchild?" + +What Bastien had to tell was not calculated to encourage +Jumping Frog in his high-handed policy. His face fell +considerably, and Pepin, taking advantage of his +preoccupation, walked off with Antoine to find Dorothy. + +When the dwarf was looking into one of the tepees, Antoine +created quite a flutter of excitement by looking into +another on his own account When the four Indians who were +solemnly seated therein, handing round the festive pipe, +beheld a huge cinnamon bear standing in the doorway, +evidently eyeing them with a view to annexing the one in +best condition, they bolted indiscriminately through the +sides of the lodge, leaving Antoine in possession. But +when they gathered themselves together outside, they were +confronted by Pepin, whom they took to be some terrible +monster from the ghost world, and the last state of them +was worse than the first Pepin enjoyed their discomfiture +for a brief space, and then explained who he was and why +he came to honour them with his presence. Calling Antoine +off, he left them in a still more dubious and confused +state of mind. + +He had wandered almost half-a-mile from the camp on to +the broken edge of the great canyon, where, nearly a +thousand feet below, the ice-cold waters of the mighty +Saskatchewan showed like a blue ribbon shot with white. +Right in front of him was infinite space, and the earth +fell away as if from the roof of the world. It seemed to +Pepin that he had never before so fully realised the +majesty of Nature. Standing on the edge of the nightmarish +abyss, with the Indian girl near her, he saw Dorothy. +Neither of them observed him, and he stood still for a +minute to watch them. + +As he gazed at the slim, graceful figure of the white +prisoner in her neat but faded black dress, it seemed to +him that he had never realised how beautiful and perfect +a thing was the human form. He had only in a crude way +imagined possibilities in the somewhat squat figures of +the Indian girls. There was a distinction in the poise +of Dorothy's proud shapely head that he had never seen +before in any woman. When she turned and saw him, her +face lighting up with welcome and her hands going out in +front of her, he experienced something that came in the +light of a revelation. He wondered how it was he could +have ever said, "she will not do." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A PROPOSAL FROM PEPIN + +Dorothy approached Pepin as if to shake hands, but the +dwarf artfully pretended that there was something the +matter with Antoine's leading-rein, and ignored her. He +had never before realised how really dangerous a despised +female could he. + +"Pepin Quesnelle," said Dorothy, "it was asking a great +deal when I sent for you, but I knew you would come. You +saved the life of Sergeant Pasmore when Riel was going +to shoot him, and I want to--" + +"Bah, Mam'selle! But it is nonsense you talk like that, +so! The right--that is the thing. What is goodness after +all if one can only be good when there is nothing that +pulls the other way--no temptations, no dangers? It is +good to pray to God, but what good is prayer without the +desire deep down in the heart to do, and the doing? The +good deed--that is the thing. So! As for that Pasmore, +villain that he is--" + +"He is a good man. Why do you say such a thing?" + +"Bah! he is _coquin_ blockhead, pudding-head; still, I +love him much"--Dorothy visibly relented--"and he is +brave man, and to be brave is not to be afraid of the +devil, and that is much, _nest ce pas?_ But what is it +you want me for to do? The good mother is down at Croisettes +and sends her love--Bah! what a foolish thing it is +that women send!" + +"Your mother is a good woman, Pepin, and I am glad to +have her love; as for you--" + +"Mam'selle, Mam'selle! Pardon! but I am not loving--you +will please confine your remarks to my mother"--there +was visible alarm in Pepin's face; he did not know what +this forward girl might not be tempted to say--"What I +can do for to serve you, that is the question? I have +hear that your father and Sergeant Pasmore--that +pudding-head--and the others are all right. The thing is +for you to get 'way." + +Pepin, who in reality had a sincere regard for Sergeant +Pasmore, had merely spoken of him in an uncomplimentary +fashion because he saw it would annoy Dorothy. He must +use any weapon he could to repel the attacks of the enemy. +As for Dorothy, the delusion that the dwarf was labouring +under was now obvious, and she hardly knew whether to be +amused or annoyed; it was such an absurd situation. She +must hasten to disillusion him. + +"I don't think anything very serious can happen to me +here, Pepin. They will be too afraid to harm me, seeing +that they must know the British are so near. It is my +father and the others that I am concerned about And +Sergeant Pasmore--" + +The girl hesitated. Could she bring herself to speak +about it, and to this dwarf? But she realised that she +must hesitate at nothing when the lives of those who were +dear to her hung in the balance; and she knew that he +was chivalrous. Pepin tilted his head to one side, and, +looking up suspiciously, asked-- + +"_Bien!_ and this Sergeant Pasmore, have you also designs +on him? Eh? What?" + +"Designs! The idea!--but, of course, how can you know? +No, and I will tell you, Pepin Quesnelle, for I believe +you are a good man, and you have been our friend, and we +are in your debt--" + +"Bah! Debt! What is that? I am a man, Mam'selle, and beg +you will not talk about debt! Pouf!" He shrugged his +shoulders and spread out his great hands. + +"Very well, this Sergeant Pasmore, I love him, and I have +promised to be his wife." + +She drew herself up proudly now, and felt that she could +have said so before the whole world. + +"_Parbleu!_" exclaimed Pepin, who did not seem to hail +the news with any particular satisfaction. "You are quite +sure it was not any one else you wanted to marry? What? +You are quite sure?" + +"Of course, who could there be?" + +"Perhaps Mam'selle aspired. But who can tell? After all, +a woman must take whom she can get I dare say that he +will do just as well as another." + +Pepin Quesnelle, now that his own safety was assured, +did not seem to value it as he thought he would. After +all, if the girl's nose did "stop short too soon," it +was by no means an unpretty one; its sauciness was +decidedly taking, and if he saw mischief lurking away +back in her eyes, he admitted it was an uncommonly lovable +sort of mischief. Being only human, he now began to wish +for what he had despised. + +As for Dorothy, she could have rated Pepin roundly for +his conceit and his sentiments. But it was all too absurd, +and she must bear with him. She continued-- + +"Pepin Quesnelle, you have a good heart, I know, and you +can understand how it is. If I had not known that you +were not like other men, I would hardly have dared to +ask you to come all this long distance to me. I know what +you do is not for reward, so I am not afraid to ask you. +Will you find out about my father and Mr. Pasmore and +the others, and will you do what you can to save them? +I feel sure there is no man on the Saskatchewan can do +more than you." + +Pepin drew himself up to his full height, smiled +complacently, and stroked his black moustache. His dark +eyes twinkled as he turned to gaze encouragingly at +Antoine, who with his tongue out was seated on his hind +quarters, watching him meditatively. + +"Mam'selle has spoken the truth. I would be sorry to be +like other men--particularly your Pasmore"--he grinned +impishly as he saw the indignation on Dorothy's face--"but +that is not the thing. Pasmore is all right--in his own +way. He is even, what you might call, goodfellow. But +why is it you should fret for him? He is all right. And +even if anything should happen to him, it is not Pepin +that has the hard heart--he might even console Mam'selle. +He will not exactly promise that, but he may come to it. +Perhaps Mam'selle will remember in the house when the +good mother told how you would like to marry Pepin, and +he said you would not do. Well, Pepin has considered well +since then, and he has thought that if you tried to suit +him, you might" + +"It is too great an honour, Pepin. If you expect any one +in this world to be as good and kind to you as your +mother, you will find you have made a great mistake. +Believe me, Pepin Quesnelle. I am a woman, and I know." + +"_Bien! Oui_, the mother she is good, ver' good, and I +know there is right in what you say. So! Still, I think +you have improved since we first met, and the mother +likes you, so you need not think too much of that you +are not good enough, and if you should think better of +it--all may yet be well." + +But Dorothy assured him that, seeing she had given her +word to Pasmore, and, moreover, seeing she loved him, it +would be a mistake to change her mind upon the subject. + +This, however, was not exactly clear to Pepin, who could +not understand how any woman could be foolish enough to +stand in her own light when he, the great Pepin, who had +been so long the catch of the Saskatchewan, had graciously +signified his intention to accept her homage. Perhaps +she was one of those coy creatures who must have something +more than mere conventionalism put into an offer of +marriage, so under the circumstances it might be as well +for him to go through with the matter to the bitter end. + +"Mam'selle," he said, "the honour Pepin does you is +stupendous; he is prepared to accept you--to make the +great sacrifice. He lays his heart at your feet--he +means you have laid your heart at his feet, and he stoops +to pick--" + +"You'd better do nothing of the kind, Pepin Quesnelle. +It's all a mistake!--You utterly misunderstand--" + +But Dorothy could say no more, for, despite her alarm, +the situation was too ludicrous for words. What further +complications might have arisen, it is difficult to say, +had not just then the astute Antoine come to the conclusion +that his master was developing some peculiar form of +madness and wanted a little brotherly attention. He +therefore came noiselessly behind him and with a show of +absent-mindedness poked his snout between his legs. + +In another moment Pepin had landed on his back on top of +his four-footed friend, wherefrom he rolled helplessly +to earth. Dorothy ran forward to help him up, but the +dwarf could not see her proffered hand now--it was +Antoine he had to do business with. He was already creeping +on all-fours towards the interrupter. Dorothy's heart +was in her mouth when Pepin, with an unexpected movement, +threw his arms round the bear's neck and proceeded to +force its jaws apart with his powerful hands. He had no +twigs or old boots handy, but he meant to try the teeth +in its inside by administering earth or young rocks or +anything of a nature that could not exactly be called +nourishing. To add to the confusion, the Indian girl +fearful that something terrible was about to happen, at +once began to indulge in a weird uproar. + +What would have happened it is difficult to say had not +their attention been suddenly claimed by a couple of +shots which rang out from the direction of the gorge. +Pepin released his hold on Antoine, and that resourceful +creature took the opportunity of revenging himself by +picking up his master's hat and trotting off with it in +his mouth. He meant to put it where Pepin intended to +put the little rocks. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A BOLD BID FOR LIBERTY + +It was midnight, and Poundmaker's prisoners, Douglas, +Pasmore, Jacques, and Rory, were lying in their tepee +under the charge of their armed guards. They knew the +latter were asleep, and in answer to some proposition +that Rory had just whispered to Jacques, the latter said-- + +"So, that is so. Keel him not, but to make that he cry +not. The knife to the throat, not to cut, but to silence, +that is the thing." + +"S-sh! or by the powers it's your throat the knife'll be +at. Now, you to the man at your feet, and I'll to the +man beyant... Ow, slape, ye gory babes!" + +If the wind had not been whistling round the tepees just +then, causing some of the loosely-laced hides to flap +spasmodically, it is extremely unlikely that either of +the two men would have ventured even to whisper. But the +tepee was dark, and Rory had managed to tell his +fellow-prisoners that, if they wanted to put their +much-discussed scheme of overcoming their guards and +making their escape into execution, now was their time. +They might never have such another chance. Rory, by reason +of his experience of such matters in the past, had insisted +on leading off with the work. He had also intimated his +intention of securing the arms of some of the other +Indians after their guards had been overpowered. + +Rory rolled over on his right side and looked at the +Indians. He could only see two dark, prostrate forms +outlined blackly against the grey of the doorway. Luckily +the moon was rising, and that would somewhat assist their +movements. + +One of the Indians turned over and drew a long, throaty +breath. He had indeed been asleep, and perhaps he was +going to awake. The thought of the contingency was too +much for the backwoodsman. He crawled forward as stealthily +as a panther, and next moment one sinewy hand was on the +Indian's throat, the other was across the mouth, and a +knee was planted on his chest Simultaneously Jacques was +on top of the other Indian; Pasmore and Douglas jumped +to their feet. In less time than it takes to write it, +the hands of the Indians were secured behind their backs, +gags were placed upon their mouths, their fire-arms and +knives were secured, and the latter were flashed before +their eyes. They were told that if they remained still +no harm would come to them, but if they showed the +slightest intention of alarming the camp their earthly +careers would be speedily closed. Neither of them being +prepared to die, they lay still, like sensible redskins. +Then Rory left the tepee and in two minutes more returned +with two rifles, which he had managed to purloin in some +mysterious way. + +Pasmore took the lead, then came Rory, and immediately +after him Douglas and Jacques. + +It was a miserable mongrel of an Indian dog that +precipitated matters. They came full upon it as it stood +close to a Red River cart, with cocked ears and tail in +air. The inopportune brute threw up its sharp snout and +gave tongue to a series of weird, discordant yelps after +the manner of dogs which are half coyotes. + +"Come on!" cried Pasmore, "we've got to run for it now. +Let's make a bee-line straight up the valley!" + +With rifles at the ready they rushed between the tepees. +It was run for it now with a vengeance. Next moment the +startled Indians came pouring out of their lodges. Red +spurts of fire flashed out in all directions, and the +deafening roar of antiquated weapons made night hideous. +Luckily for the escaping party they had cleared the +encampment, so the result was that the Indians, imagining +that they were being attacked by the Blackfeet or the +British, at once began to blaze away indiscriminately. +The results were disastrous to small groups of their own +people who were foolish enough to leave their doorways. +It would have been music in the ears of the fleeing ones +had not three or four shots whizzed perilously close to +their heads, thus somewhat interfering with their +appreciation of the _contretemps_. + +But their detection was inevitable. Before they had gone +two hundred yards a score of angry redskins were at their +heels. It seemed a futile race, for the Indians numbered +some hundreds, and it was a moral certainty it could be +only a question of time before they were run down. They +knew that under the circumstances there would be no +prisoners taken. It was not long before the pace began +to tell on them. + +"I'm afraid I'm played out," gasped Douglas, "go on, my +friends, for I can't go any farther. I'll be able to keep +them back for a few minutes while you make your way up +the valley. Now then, good-bye, and get on!" + +He plumped down behind a rock, and waited for the advancing +foe. + +Pasmore caught him by the arm and dragged him to his +feet. The others had stopped also. It was not likely they +were going to allow their friend and master to sacrifice +himself in such a fashion. + +"Let's make up this ravine, sir," cried Pasmore. "Come, +give me your arm; we may be able to fool them yet. There's +lots of big rocks lying about that will be good cover. +There's no man going to be left behind this trip." + +High walls of clay rose up on either side, so that at +least the Indians could not outflank them. At first the +latter, thinking that the troublesome escapers were +effectually cornered, essayed an injudicious rush in upon +them, but the result was a volley that dropped three and +made the remainder seek convenient rocks. Taking what +cover they could the white men retired up the narrow +valley. It was becoming lighter now, and they could +distinctly see the skulking, shadowy forms of the redskins +as they stole from rock to rock. Suddenly they made a +discovery that filled them with consternation. They had +come to the end of the valley and were literally in a +_cul-de-sac!_ They were indeed caught like rats in a +trap. + +"I'm afraid we're cornered," exclaimed Douglas, "but +we've got some powder and shot left yet." + +"Yes," remarked Pasmore, "we'll keep them off as long as +we can. I can't understand why the troops are not following +those fellows up. There's no getting out of this, I +fear,"--he looked at the crescent of unscalable cliff--"but +I don't believe in throwing up the sponge. I've always +found that when things seemed at their worst they were +just on the mend." + +He did not say that there was a very powerful incentive +in his heart just then that in itself was more than +sufficient to make him cling to life. It was the thought +of Dorothy. + +Half-an-hour more and the Indians had crawled up to within +fifty yards, and might rush in upon them at any moment, +and then all would be over. As yet, thanks to their +excellent cover, none of the little party had been wounded, +though the redskins had suffered severely. There were +few words spoken now; only four determined men waited +courageously for the end. And then something happened +that paled their cheeks, causing them to look at one +another with startled, questioning eyes. There was a +growing fusillade of rifle fire over their heads and the +sound of British cheers! + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Douglas. "It's the troops at last +They've come up overnight to attack the camp, and they +haven't come a minute too soon." + +"So, that is so," said Jacques, as he took deliberate +aim at his late enemies, who, realising the situation, +were scuttling in confusion down the ravine. "_Mais_, it +is the long road that knows not the turn." + +But as for Pasmore, as on one occasion when he had been +snatched from the Valley of the Shadow, and realised how +beautiful was the blue between the columns of the pines, +he now saw the sweet face of a woman smiling on him +through the mists of the uncertain future. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AN ONLY WAY + +When Antoine the bear so far forgot himself as to interfere +in his master's affairs, he, as usual, had occasion for +after regret--Pepin saw to that. + +The Indians seized their rifles and ran up the slope to +the narrow slit in the cliff that led to their eyrie, +and which on the other side looked out upon the +far-stretching prairie. Pepin, calling Antoine all the +unpleasant names he could think of, told him to follow, +and waddled uphill after the redskins as fast as his late +exertions and his short legs would allow him. The Indians +did not attempt to interfere with his movements. Once +there, he immediately saw the reason of the interruption. +Hurriedly retiring down the hill were three or four men, +but whether whites or breeds it was difficult to determine. +He rather thought he recognised one burly form, and +determined to make sure of the fact that very night. He +thought, however, it was quite excusable for any small +party to retire. Twenty men could have been picked off +by one before they got half-way up. It was as well for +the strangers that the Indians had opened fire so soon, +otherwise some of them might have been left behind. + +That night Pepin disappeared without saying a word to +any one. The strange thing was that none of the Indians +saw him go. Two days passed and there was no sign or +trace of him. On the afternoon of the third day, when +the two Indians on guard at the entrance of the Pass were +busily engaged in quarrelling over some sort of rodent, +nearly as large as a rat, Pepin suddenly rose up before +them as if from the earth. They flattened themselves +against the sides of the cliff in order to allow him and +Antoine to continue their royal progress. + +Pepin sought out Dorothy. She was at her usual place on +the edge of the precipice that looked down upon the deep, +divided channels of the great river. She turned on +hearing the deep breathing of Pepin and the shambling of +Antoine as they passed over some loose gravel behind her. +She rose to her feet with a little cry of welcome. There +was something in the dwarfs face that spoke of a settled +purpose and hope. Their late awkward meeting was quite +forgotten. + +There was a by no means unkindly look on the dwarfs face +as he seated himself beside Dorothy, and told her how he +had slipped out of the Indian camp unobserved three nights +before, and how, going back to Croisettes down the river, +where he had left his mother, he had fallen in with her +friends, who had been rescued by British troops from +Poundmaker's clutches and sent to stay there out of harm's +way while the soldiers pursued the scattered and flying +Indians. Pepin having told them that Dorothy was for the +time being safe, though in Jumping Frog's hands, they of +course wanted to start out at once to rescue her, but +that was promptly negatived by Pepin. Such an attempt +might only precipitate her fate. It had come to his ears +that Poundmaker's scattered band was at that very moment +making back to the strange hiding-place in the cliff, +and that as it would be impossible for them--Douglas and +party--to force the position, they must get Dorothy away +by strategy. He had been to that wild place years before. +There was a steep footpath at the extreme western end, +close to the cliff, which led directly down to the water's +edge. If a canoe could be brought overland on the other +side of the river to that spot, and hidden there, it +would be possible for him and Dorothy to get into it and +escape. They could drift down with the current and land +just above Croisettes. They would, however, have to take +care to get into the proper channel, as one of them was +a certain death-trap. It led through a horrible narrow +canyon, which for some considerable distance was nothing +more than a subterraneous passage. There were rapids in +it, through which nothing could hope to pass in safety. +To be brief, the canoe had been taken to the desired +spot, but Pepin had been enjoined not to resort to it +unless things became desperate. Jacques and Rory had gone +off in search of the British troops, while Douglas and +Pasmore remained where they were in case they would be +required. + +Dorothy was jubilant over the scheme and would have +started off at once, could she have got her own way, but +Pepin told her she must retire as usual to her tepee, +where he would come for her if necessity arose. + +One hour before dawn and a hundred horrible, pealing +echoes rang out from the mouth of the Pass. The British +had attacked without considering what results might follow +their precipitancy. In point of fact, Bastien Lagrange, +the unstable breed, alarmed by Pepin's unpleasant +prognostications, had developed a sudden fit of loyalty +to the British, and gone off ostensibly to carry a message +to Poundmaker, while in reality he went to search for +the former in order that he might lead them to Dorothy's +prison. Hence the present attack. + +Dorothy heard the firing and rose quietly from her couch +of skins. For five minutes she waited in a condition of +painful uncertainty as to the true state of affairs. Then +some one lifted aside the flap of the doorway and Pepin +entered with Antoine close at his heels. He was evidently +perturbed. + +"Mam'selle, Mam'selle," he cried, "you must come with me +now. I have hear that Jumping Frog say something to two +of his cut-throats of redskins! Come quickly!" + +Without any interruption the dwarf and the girl headed +down the gulley that sloped westward. It was terribly +rough travelling, and, but for following an old and +tortuous path, it would hardly have been possible to +steer clear of the rocks and undergrowth. Suddenly the +gully stopped abruptly on the brink of the terrace, +looking down which brought a thrill of terror to Dorothy's +heart. It was as if a great water-spout had burst on the +hillside and washed out for itself an almost precipitous +channel. A wan dawn-light was creeping on apace, and +Dorothy could see that it was at least six hundred feet +to the bottom of this appalling chute. Pepin muttered +something to himself as he regarded it. + +"Have we to go down there?" Dorothy asked, with white +lips. + +"So, that is so!" observed Pepin soberly. "If we go back +there is the death that is of hell. If we go on, there +is the death we know or the life which means your father +or your Pasmore for you, and the good mother and the home +for me. There is the canoe at the foot of this hill, and +those we have spoken of down the river at Croisettes. It +is for you to make up your mind and choose." + +"Come, Pepin, let us go down," she cried. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW + +The dwarf seized her hand, and, stepping over the brink, +they began their perilous descent. They lay on their +sides, feet downwards, and at once the loose sand and +fine pebbles began to move with their bodies. Down the +long slope they slid at a terrific pace that fairly took +their breath away. To Dorothy it was as if she were +falling from an immense height. The earth rushed past +her, and for one horrible moment she feared she was losing +her senses. It was a nightmare in which she was tumbling +headlong from some dizzy cliff, knowing that she would +be dashed to pieces at its foot. + +"Courage, my dear." + +It was Pepin's voice that brought her to her senses. +She felt the grasp of his strong hand upon her arm. Soon +she became conscious that their rocket-like flight was +somewhat checked, and noted the reason. Pepin who lay +on his back, had got his long stick wedged under his +arms, and, with the weight of his body practically upon +it, made it serve as a drag on their progress. Dorothy +felt as if her clothes must be brushed from her body. +She hardly dared look down to see how much of the fearful +journey there was yet to accomplish. Suddenly the sand +and gravel became of a heavier nature. Their pace slackened; +Pepin threw all his weight on to the stick, and they +pulled up. Dorothy saw that they were now about half-way +down--they must have dropped about three hundred feet in +a matter of seconds. Then something that to Dorothy seemed +to presage the end of all things happened. There was a +roar as of thunder over their heads. Looking up as they +still lay prone they beheld a terrifying spectacle. A +huge rock was bounding down upon them from the heights +above. It gathered force as it came, rising high in the +air in a series of wild leaps. _Debris_ and dust marked +its path. It set other stones in motion, and the noise +was as if a 15-pounder and a Vicker's Maxim gun were +playing a duet. For the moment a species of panic seized +Dorothy, but Pepin retained his presence of mind. + +"Bah!" he exclaimed. "It is that cut-throat and blockhead, +Jumping Frog, who has been throw down that stone! But +what need to worry! Either it will squeeze us like to +the jelly-fish or the flat-fish, or it will jump over +our heads and do no harm--" + +He pressed her to earth with one strong hand as the great +rock struck the ground a few feet short of them and +bounded over their heads. A warm, sulphurous odour came +from the place of concussion. An avalanche of small +stones rattled all around them. It was a narrow escape +truly, and the very thought of it almost turned Dorothy +sick. She saw the rock ricochet down the steep slope and +plunge with a mighty splash into the blue waters far +below. + +How they got to the bottom Dorothy was never able to +determine. She only knew that when she got there her +boots were torn to pieces, and any respectable dealer in +rags would hardly have demeaned himself by bidding for +her clothes. Pepin was a curious sight, for his garments +looked like so many tattered signals of distress. + +The two found themselves in a great gloomy canyon with +frowning sides and a broad, leaden-hued river surging at +its foot. + +But the canoe, where was it? Had it been sunk by the rock +from above? If so, they had absolutely no hope of escape. + +But Pepin's sharp eyes saw it riding securely in a little +bay under a jutting rock. Dorothy and he hurried down to +it. There was a narrow strip of sand, and the water was +shallow just there. The painter was wound round a sharp +rock, and they pulled the canoe to them. Just at that +moment a shower of rocks and _debris_ passed within a +few feet of them and plunged into the water, throwing up +a snow-white geyser. + +"Jump in, my dear," cried Pepin, "we will escape them +yet, and that fool of a Jumping Frog will swing at the +end of a long rope or die like a coyote with a bullet +through his stupid head." + +Dorothy got in, and Pepin rolled in bodily after her. +He seized the paddle, seated himself near the bow, and +dipped his blade into the eddying flood. "Now then, +Mam'selle, have the big heart of courage and the good +God will help. One, two!" + +The canoe shot out into the stream. Like a child's paper +boat or a withered leaf it was caught up and whirled +away. There was a look of exultation on the dwarfs face; +his dark eyes flashed with excitement. + +"Courage, my dear!" he cried again. "Move not, and do +not be afraid. Think of the good father and the sweetheart +who will meet you at the Croisettes lower down. Think of +them, dear heart, the father and the lover!" + +Dorothy did think, and breathed a prayer that God would +nerve the arm of Pepin and give them both faith and +courage. + +But the river was in flood, and the current rushed like +a mill-race. Dorothy fairly held her breath as the canoe +rode over the surging waters. The river seemed to narrow, +and great black walls of rock wet with spray and streaked +with patches of orange and green closed in upon them. +They came to a bend where the water roared and boiled +angrily, its surface being broken with great blue +silver-crested furrows. Suddenly Pepin uttered a strange, +hoarse cry. There had been an immense landslide, and the +entire channel had been altered. Right in their path lay +a broad whirlpool. Pepin paddled for dear life, while +the perspiration stood out in beads upon his forehead. +His face was set and there was a strained look in his +eyes. Dorothy clasped her hands, praying aloud, but +uttering no word of fear. + +"Courage, courage," Pepin cried. "The good Lord will not +forsake. Courage!" + +The muscles stood out like knots on his great arms. His +body inclined forward and his paddle flashed and dipped +with lightning, unerring strokes. + +The canoe leapt out of the water, and then shot out of +that swirling, awful ring into the headlong stream again. + +"Houp-la, Hooray!" cried Pepin. "Thanks be to the good +God! Courage, _mon ami!_" + +And then the words died on his lips, and Dorothy perceived +a sickly grey overspread his face as he stared ahead. +She looked and saw a great mass of rock right in the +centre of the stream, as if a portion of the cliff had +fallen into it, dividing the passage. Pepin, who had +somewhat relaxed his efforts, now began to ply his paddle +again with redoubled vigour. His hair stood on end, the +veins swelled on his forehead, and his body was hunched +forward in a grotesque fashion. Once he turned and, +looking swiftly over his shoulder, cried something to +Dorothy. But the thundering of the waters was now so +great that his voice was drowned. The canoe was heading +straight for the rock, as an arrow speeds from the bow. +Dorothy closed her eyes and prayed. There was a lurch, +the canoe heeled over until the water poured in, she +opened her eyes and clung to the sides for dear life, +and then it shot past the menacing death, just missing +it by a hand's breadth. + +But what was the matter with the river? It had contracted +until it was not more than twenty yards in width. It +flowed between smooth slimy walls of rock, the vasty +heights of which shut out the light of coming day. There +was no roaring now, only the rapid, deep, tremulous flow +of the sea-green waters. Dorothy looked upwards, but +all she could see was the black, pitiless cliffs, and a +narrow ribbon of sky. Pepin had ceased to ply his paddle, +and was gazing fixedly down stream. A presentiment that +something was wrong took possession of Dorothy. When the +dwarf turned round, and she saw the look of pity for her +upon his face, she knew he had something ghastly to tell. +His expression was not that of fear; it was that of one +who, seeing death ahead, is not afraid for himself, but +is strangely apprehensive about breaking the news to +another. And all the time the thin ribbon of sky was +getting narrower. + +The girl looked at the dwarf keenly. + +"Pepin Quesnelle," she said, "you have been a good, dear +friend to me, and now you have lost your life in trying +to save mine--" + +"Pardon, Mam'selle, my dear, what is it you know? You +say we go for to meet the death. How you know that, eh? +What?" + +Despite the tragedy of the situation, and the great pity +for her that filled his heart, he would not have been +Pepin had he not posed as the _petit maitre_ in this the +hour of the shadow. + +She pointed to the great black archway looming up ahead +under which their canoe must shoot in another minute. It +was the dread subterranean passage, which meant for them +the end of all things. It was a tragic ending to all her +hopes and dreams, the trials and the triumphs of her +young life. It was, indeed, bitter to think that just +when love, the crowning experience of womanhood, had come +to her, its sweetness should have been untasted. Even +the lover's kiss--that seal upon the compact of souls--had +been denied her. Her fate had been a hard one, but Dorothy +was no fair-weather Christian. Was it not a great triumph +that in the dark end she should have bowed to the higher +will, and been strong? And her love, if it had experienced +no earthly close, might it not live again in the mysterious +Hereafter? She thanked God for the comfort of the thought. +She had been face to face with death before, but now here +surely was the end. She would be brave and true to all +that was best and truest in her, and she felt that somehow +those who were left behind must know. + +The dwarf faced her, and his hands were clasped as in +prayer. His face was transfigured. There was no fear +there--only a look of trust in a higher power, and of +compassion. + +"Pepin," cried Dorothy, "you have been a good, dear friend +to me, and I want to thank you before--" + +"Bah !" interrupted the dwarf. "What foolishness is it +you will talk about thanks! But, my dear, I will say this +to you now, although you are a woman, there is no one in +this wide world--save, of course, the good mother--that +I would more gladly have laid down my life to serve than +you! I am sure your Pasmore would forgive me if he heard +that Good-bye, my dear child, and if it is the Lord's +will that together we go to knock at the gates of the +great Beyond, then I will thank Heaven that I have been +sent in such good company. Now, let us thank the good +God that He has put the love of Him in our hearts." + +And then the darkness swallowed them up. + +Back from the land of dreams and shadows--back from the +Valley of the Shadow and the realms of unconsciousness. + +Dorothy opened her eyes. At first she could see nothing. +Then there fell upon her view the shadowy form of a human +figure bending over her, and a slimy roof of rock that +seemed to rush past at racehorse speed. It seemed to grow +lighter. The canoe swayed; she heard the rush of water; +then there was darkness again. + +It was the splash of cold water on her face from a little +wave that dashed over the side of the canoe that roused +her. She opened her eyes. In the bow she could see Pepin +kneeling; his hands were clasped before him; his deep +voice ran above the surge of the current, and she knew +that he was praying aloud. + +The roof over her head seemed to recede. It grew higher. +Pepin turned and seized the paddle. He dipped it into +the water and headed the canoe into the centre of the +stream. + +"Mam'selle, my dear," he cried, "the good God has heard +our prayer. He has guided us through. Have heart of +courage, and all will be well." + +Dorothy raised herself on to her hands and knees. It was +as if she had been dead and had come to life again. The +stream opened out. Suddenly there came a break in the +roof. + +"Courage, _mon ami!_" cried Pepin, and he was just in +time to turn them from a rock that threatened destruction. + +Then all at once they shot out into the great isle-studded +bosom of the broad river, and the sweet sunshine of the +coming day. + +Half-an-hour later, and the canoe was gliding past the +banks where the ash and the wolf-willow grew, and the +great cliffs were left behind. They knew that they were +safe, and in their hearts was thanksgiving. Suddenly +Pepin cried-- + +"Ah, Mam'selle, you Douglas female, look--don't you see +it? There it is--Croisettes, and look--look, there is +the good mother, and your father, and there your Pasmore, +your pudding-head, Pasmore! Look, they run. Do not you +see them?" + +But Dorothy could not see, for her eyes were full of +tears--like Pepin's. + + +END + + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Rising of the Red Man, by John Mackie + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12827 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..045255b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12827 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12827) diff --git a/old/12827.txt b/old/12827.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9928eb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12827.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7693 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rising of the Red Man, by John Mackie + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Rising of the Red Man + A Romance of the Louis Riel Rebellion + +Author: John Mackie + +Release Date: July 6, 2004 [EBook #12827] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RISING OF THE RED MAN *** + + + + +This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan. + + + + + + +THE RISING OF THE RED MAN +A Romance of the Louis Riel Rebellion + +by JOHN MACKIE + + +Author of "The Heart of the Prairie," "Tales of the Trenches," +"The Cannibal Island," "Daring Deeds in Far Off Lands," +"The Prodigal's Brother," "The Man Who Forgot," etc. + + +TO E.M. DAVY. + + + + +CONTENTS + +PROLOGUE +I. IN THE GREAT LONE LAND +II. TIDINGS OF ILL +III. THE STORM BREAKS +IV. HARD PRESSED +V. TO BATTLEFORD +VI. THE GRIM BLOCKADE +VII. DETECTED +VIII. IN THE JUDGMENT HALL +IX. THE DWARF AND THE BEAR +X. THE UNEXPECTED +XI. THE RETREAT +XII. A MYSTERIOUS STAMPEDE +XIII. ROOFED +XIV. A THREE-CORNERED GAME +XV. CHECKMATED +XVI. THE FATE OF SERGEANT PASMORE +XVII. A CLOSE CALL +XVIII. ACROSS THE ICE +XIX. CAPTURED BY POUNDMAKER +XX. THE BATTLE OF CUT-KNIFE +XXI. BACK TO CAPTIVITY +XXII. ANTOINE IN TROUBLE +XXIII. THE DEPARTURE OF PEPIN +xxiv. THE INDIANS' AWAKENING +XXV. A PROPOSAL FROM PEPIN +XXVI. A BOLD BID FOR LIBERTY +XXVII. AN ONLY WAY +XXVIII. THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW + + + + +PROLOGUE + +The 16th of March, 1885, was a charming day, and Louis +David Riel, fanatic and rebellion-maker, was addressing +a great general meeting of the half-breeds and Indians +near Batoche on the Saskatchewan river in British North +America. There were representatives from nearly every +tribe; Poundmaker and his Stonies, who were always spoiling +for trouble, being particularly well represented. Round +the arch malcontent were a score of other harpies almost +as wicked if less dangerous than himself. Among them were +Gabriel Dumont, Jackson, Maxime, Garnot and Lepine. Riel's +emissaries had been at work for months, and as the time +was now ripe for a rising he had called them together to +decide upon some definite course of action. + +The weather was comparatively mild, and the Indians sat +around on the snow that before many days was to disappear +before the sudden spring thaw. Their red, white, and grey +blankets against the dull-hued tepees [Footnote: Wigwams.] +and the white wintry landscape, gave colour and relief +to the scene. Two o'clock in the afternoon and the sun +shone brightly down as he always does in these latitudes. +Riel knew exactly how long it would continue to shine, +for had not the almanac told him and all the world--with +the exception of the ignorant half-breeds and Indians +whom he was addressing--that there was to be an eclipse +that day. The arch rebel knew how strongly dramatic effect +appealed to his audience, so he was prepared to indulge +them to the full in this respect, and turn the matter to +account. Being an educated man there was a good deal of +method in his madness. + +The red-bearded, self-constituted prophet of the _metis_ +[Footnote: Half-breeds.] stood on a Red River cart and +spun out his pleasant prognostications concerning that +happy coming era in which unlimited food, tobacco and +fire-water would make merry the hearts of all from the +Missouri in the south, to the Kissaskatchewan in the +north, if only they would do as he told them. As for Pere +Andre and his fulminations against him, what did they +want with the Church of Rome!--he, Louis David Riel, was +going to start a church of his own! Yes, St. Peter had +appeared to him in a vision, and told him that the Popes +had been on the wrong tack long enough, and that +he--Riel--was to be the new head of all things spiritual +and temporal. He promised them a good all-round time when +this came about, as it certainly would before long. + +He wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and looked +anxiously at the sun. What if, after all, the compilers +of the almanac, or he himself, had made a mistake, and +he had called this his most vital meeting on the wrong +day? The bare idea was too terrible. But, no, his keen +eyes detected a dark line on the outer edge of the great +orb, and he knew that the modern astrologers had not +erred. His grand opportunity had come, and he must seize +it. He stretched out his hands and dramatically asked-- + +"But O, my people, tell me, how can I make manifest to +you that these things shall be as I say? Shall I beg of +the Manitou, the Great Spirit, to give to you a sign that +He approves of the words his servant speaketh, and that +these things shall come to pass?" + +From the great crowd of half-breeds and Indians there +went up a hoarse, guttural cry for confirmation. + +Yes, if the Manitou would give a sign then no one in the +land would doubt, and those who were feeble of heart +would take courage. + +Riel bowed his head, lifted off his beaver-skin cap, +rolled his eyes about, and by his melodramatic movements +claimed the attention of all. He, however, found, time +to shoot a quick glance at the sun. Those almanac people +were wonderfully accurate, but he must hurry up, for in +another minute the eclipse would begin. In a loud voice +he cried-- + +"You have asked for a sign, and it shall be given unto +you; but woe unto those to whom a sign is given and who +shall pay no heed to the same. Their days shall be cut +short in the land, and their bodies shall burn for ever +in the pit of everlasting fire. The Great Spirit will +darken the face of the sun for a token, and a shadow, +that of the finger of the Manitou Himself, shall sweep +the land." + +The knavish fanatic closed his eyes and raised his face +heavenwards. There was a rapturous look on it, and his +lips moved. He was calling upon the Almighty to give them +the sign which he obligingly indicated. The new head of +the church was already distinguishing himself. As for +the half-breeds and Indians, they sat around with +incredulity and awe alternately showing upon their faces. +It was something new in their experiences for the Manitou +to interest himself personally in their affairs. A great +silence fell upon them; the prophet mumbled inarticulately +and proceeded with his hanky-panky. + +Then a great murmur and chorus of "Ough! Ough's!" and +"me-was-sins!" [Footnote: Meaning good or approval.] +arose from the Indians, while many of the half-breeds +crossed themselves. Incredulity changed to belief and +fear, and the simple ones raised their voices in wondering +accents to testify to the potency of the "big medicine" +that was being wrought before their eyes. The hand of +the Manitou was slowly but surely passing over the face +of the sun and darkening it. The shadow of that same hand +was already creeping up from the east. The rapt prophet +never once opened his eyes, but he knew from the great +hoarse roar of voices around him that the almanac had +not erred. And then the clamour subsided, as the face of +the sun was darkened, and the ominous shadow fell like +a chill over them ere passing westward. The Indians +shivered in their blankets and were thrilled by this +gratuitous and wonderful proof of their new leader's +intimacy with the Great Spirit. But what if the Great +Spirit should take it into His head to darken the face +of the light-giver for ever! It was a most alarming +prospect truly. Louis David Riel opened his eyes, glanced +at the sun, and said-- + +"The Manitou is pleased to remove His hand and to give +us light again." + +Then, as it seemed more quickly than it had been darkened, +the blackness was removed from the sun's face, and the +shadow passed. + +The murmur and the shout that went up from the wondering +throng must have been as music in the ears of the arrant +fraud. He looked down upon the deluded ones with triumph +and a new sense of power. + +"The Great Spirit has spoken!" he said with commendable +dramatic brevity. + +"Big is the Medicine of Riel!" cried the people. "We +are ready to do his bidding when the time comes." + +"The time has come," said Riel. + +Never perhaps in the history of impostors from Mahomet +to the Mahdi had an almanac proved so useful. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +IN THE GREAT LONE LAND + +It was the finest old log house on the banks of the mighty +Saskatchewan river, and the kitchen with its old-fashioned +furniture and ample space was the best room in it. On +the long winter nights when the ice cracked on the river, +when the stars twinkled coldly in the blue, and Nature +slept under the snows, it was the general meeting-place +of the Douglas household. + +Henry Douglas, widower and rancher, was perhaps, one of +the best-to-do men between Battleford and Prince Albert. +The number of his cattle and horses ran into four figures, +and no one who knew him begrudged his success. He was an +upright, cheery man, who only aired his opinions round +his own fireside, and these were always charitable. But +to-night he did not speak much; he was gazing thoughtfully +into the flames that sprang in gusty jets from the logs, +dancing fantastically and making strange noises. At length +he lifted his head and looked at that great good-natured +French Canadian giant, Jacques St Arnaud, who sat opposite +him, and said-- + +"I tell you, Jacques, I don't like it. There's trouble +brewing oh the Saskatchewan, and if the half-breeds get +the Indians to rise, there'll be--" he glanced sideways +at his daughter, and hesitated--"well, considerable +unpleasantness." + +"That's so," said Jacques, also looking at the fair girl +with the strangely dark eyes. "It is all so queer. You +warned the Government two, three months ago, did you not, +that there was likely to be trouble, but still they did +not heed? Is not that so?" + +"I did, but I've heard no more about it. And now the +Police are beginning to get uneasy. They're a mighty fine +body of men, but if the half-breeds and Indians get on +the war-path, they'll swamp the lot, and--" + +"Shoo!" interrupted the giant, again looking at the girl, +but this time with unmistakable alarm on his face. "Them +Injuns ain't going to eat us. You've been a good friend +to them and to the metis. So!" + +Jacques St. Arnaud had been in the rancher's service +since before the latter's child had been born down in +Ontario, some eighteen years ago, and followed him into +the great North-West to help conquer the wilderness and +establish his new home. He had a big heart in a large +body, and his great ambition was to be considered a rather +terrible and knowing fellow, while, as a matter of fact, +he was the most inoffensive of mortals, and as simple in +some ways as a child. + +"Bah!" he continued after a pause, "the metis are +ungrateful dogs, and the Indians, they are mad also. I +would like to take them one by one and wring their +necks--so!" + +The rancher tried to conceal the concern he felt. His +fifty odd years sat lightly upon him, although his hair +was grey. His daughter had only been back from Ontario +for two years, but in that time she had bulked so largely +in his life that he wondered now how he could ever have +got along without her. She reminded him of that helpmate +and wife who had gone hence a few years after her daughter +was born, and whose name was now a sacred memory. He had +sent the girl down East to those whom he knew would look +after her properly, and there, amid congenial surroundings, +she grew and quickened into a new life. But the spell of +the vast, broad prairie lands was upon her, and the love +for her father was stronger still, so she went, back to +both, and there her mind broadened, and her spirit grew +in harmony with the lessons that an unconventional life +was for ever working out for itself in those great, +unfettered spaces where Nature was in the rough and the +world was still young. She grew and blossomed into a +beautiful womanhood, as blossoms the vigorous wild-flower +of the prairies. When she smiled there was the light and +the glamour of the morning star in her dark hazel eyes, +and when her soul communed with itself, it was as if one +gazed into the shadow of the stream. There was a gleam +of gold in her hair that was in keeping with the freshness +of her nature, and the hue of perfect health was upon +her cheeks. Her eighteen years had brought with them all +the promise of the May. That she had inherited the +adventure-loving spirit of the old pioneers, as well as +the keen appreciation of the humorous side of things, +was obvious from the amount of entertainment she seemed +to find in the company of Old Rory. He was an old-timer +of Irish descent, who had been everywhere from the Red +River in the east to the Fraser in the west, and from +Pah-ogh-kee Lake in the south to the Great Slave Lake in +the north. He had been _voyageur_, trapper, cowboy, +farm-hand in the Great North-West for years, and nothing +came amiss to him. Now he was the hired servant of her +father, doing what was required of him, and that well. +He was spare and wrinkled as an old Indian, and there +was hardly an unscarred inch in his body, having been +charged by buffaloes, clawed by bears and otherwise +resented by wild animals. + +"Rory," said the girl after a pause, and the softness of +her voice was something to conjure with, "what do you +think? Are the half-breeds and Indians going to interfere +with us if they do rise?" + +"Thar be good Injuns and bad Injuns," said Rory doggedly," +but more bad nor good. The Injun's a queer animile when +he's on the war-path; he's like Pepin Quesnelle's tame +b'ar at Medicine Hat that one day chawed up Pepin, who +had been like a father to 'im, 'cos he wouldn't go stares +wid a dose of castor-oil he was a-swallerin' for the good +of his health. You see, the b'ar an' Pepin used allus +to go whacks like." + +The girl laughed, but still she was uneasy in her mind. +She mechanically watched the tidy half-breed woman and +the elderly Scotchwoman who had been her mother's servant +in the old Ontario days, as the two silently went on, at +the far end of the long room, with the folding and putting +away of linen. Her eyes wandered with an unwonted +wistfulness over the picturesque brown slabs of pine that +constituted the walls, the heavy, rudely-dressed tie-beams +of the roof over which were stacked various trim bundles +of dried herbs, roots and furs, and from which hung +substantial hams of bacon and bear's meat. As she looked +over the heads of the little group on the broad benches +round the fire, she saw the firelight and lamplight glint +cheerfully on the old-fashioned muskets and flintlock +pistols that decorated the walls--relics of the old +romantic days when the two companies of French and English +adventurers traded into Hudson's Bay. + +She had an idea. She would ask the sergeant of Mounted +Police in charge of the detachment of four men, whose +little post was within half-a-mile of the homestead, what +he thought of the situation, and he would have to tell +her. Sergeant Pasmore was one of those men of few words +who somehow seemed to know everything. A man of rare +courage she knew him to be, for had he not gained his +promotion by capturing the dangerous renegade Indian, +Thunder-child, single-handed? She knew that Thunderchild +had lately broken prison, and was somewhere in the +neighbourhood waiting to have his revenge upon the +sergeant. Sergeant Pasmore was a man both feared and +respected by all with whom he came in contact. He was +the embodiment of the law; he carried it, in fact, on +the horn of his saddle in the shape of his Winchester +rifle; a man who was supposed to be utterly devoid of +sentiment, but who had been known to perform more than +one kindly action. Her father liked him, and many a time +he had spent a long evening by the rancher's great +fireside. + +As she thought of these things, she was suddenly startled +by three firm knocks at the door. Jacques rose from his +seat, and opening it a few inches, looked out into the +clear moonlight. He paused a moment, then asked-- + +"Who are you, and what you want?" + +"How!" [Footnote: Form of salutation in common use among +the Indians and half-breeds.] responded a strange-voice. + +"Aha! Child-of-Light!" exclaimed Jacques. + +And into the room strode a splendid specimen of a red +man in all the glory of war paint and feathers. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TIDINGS OF ILL + + "Mislike me not for my complexion, + The shadow'd livery of the burnished sun." + _Merchant of Venice._ + +"How! How!" said the rancher, looking up at the tall +Indian. "You are welcome to my fireside, Child-of-Light. +Sit down." + +He rose and gave him his hand. With a simple dignity the +fine-looking savage returned his salutation. + +"The master is good," he said. "Child-of-Light still +remembers how in that bad winter so many years ago, when +the cotton-tails and rabbits had died from the disease +that takes them in the throat, and the wild animals that +live upon them died also because there was nought to eat, +and how when disease and famine tapped at the buffalo +robe that screens the doorways of the tepees, he who is +the brother of the white man and the red man had compassion +and filled the hungry mouths." + +"Ah, well, that's all right, Child-of-Light," lightly +said Douglas, wondering what the chief had come to say. +He understood the red man's ways, and knew he would learn +all in good time. + +But the chief would not eat or drink. He would, however, +smoke, and helped himself from the pouch that Douglas +offered. He let his blanket fall from his shoulders, and +underneath there showed a richly-wrought shirt of true +barbaric grandeur. On a groundwork of crimson flannel +was wrought a rare and striking mosaic in beads of blue +and yellow and red. The sun glowed from his breast, +countless showy ermine tails dangled from his shoulders, +his arms and his sides like a gorgeous fringe, and numerous +tiny bells tinkled all over him as he moved. His features +were large and marked, his forehead, high, and his nose +aquiline. His Mongolian set eyes were dark and full of +intellect, his expression a strange mixture of alertness, +conscious power, and dignity. He was a splendid specimen +of humanity. + +He filled his pipe leisurely, then spoke as if he hardly +expected that what he had to say would interest his +hearers. + +The half-breeds, led by Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont, +had risen, he said, and large numbers of the Indians had +joined them. Before twenty-four hours there would hardly +be a farmstead or ranche in Saskatchewan that would not +be pillaged and burnt to the ground. He, Child-of-Light, +had managed to keep his band in check, but there were +thousands of Indians in the country, Crees, Salteaus, +Chippeywans, Blackfoot, Bloods, Piegans, Sarcees, renegade +Siouxs, and Crows who would join the rebels. Colonel +Irvine, of the North-West Mounted Police at Fort Carlton, +had already destroyed all the stores, and, having set +fire to the buildings, was retreating on the main body. + +Douglas the rancher had "sat quietly while the chief told +his alarming news. He hardly dared look at his daughter. + +"I have been a fool!" he said bitterly. "I have tried to +hide the truth from myself, and now it may be too late. +Of course it's not the stock and place I'm thinking about, +Dorothy, but it's you--I had no right---" + +"Oh, hush, dad!" cried the girl, who seemed the least +concerned of any. "I don't believe the rebels will +interfere with us. Besides, have we not our friend, +Child-of-Light?" + +"The daughter of my brother Douglas is as my own child," +said the chief simply, "and her life I will put before +mine. But Indians on the war-path are as the We'h-ti-koo, +[Footnote: Indians of unsound mind who become cannibals.] +who are possessed of devils, whose onward rush is as the +waters of the mighty Saskatchewan river when it has forced +the ice jam." + +"And so, Child-of-Light, what would you have us do?" +asked Douglas. "Do you think if possible for my daughter +and the women to reach the Fort at Battleford?" + +But a sharp tapping at the door stopped the answer of +the chief. + +Rory shot back the bolt and threw open the door. A +fur-clad figure entered; the white frost glistened on +his buffalo-coat and bear-skin cap as if they were tipped +with ermine. He walked without a word into the light and +looked around--an admirable man, truly, about six feet +in height, broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped, and without +a spare ounce of flesh--a typical Rider of the Plains, +and a soldier, every inch of him. In the thousands upon +thousands of square miles in which these dauntless military +police have to enforce law and order, the inhabitants +know that never yet has the arm of justice not proved +long enough to bring an offender to book. On one occasion +a policeman disappeared into the wilderness after some +one who was wanted. As in three months he neither came +back, nor was heard of, he was struck off the strength +of the force. But one day, as the men stood on parade in +the barrack square, he came back in rags and on foot, +more like a starved tramp than a soldier. But with him +he brought his prisoner. That was the man, Sergeant +Pasmore, who stood before them. + +He inclined his head to Dorothy, and nodded to the men +around the fire, but when he saw Child-of-Light he extended +his left hand. + +The Indian looked straight into the sergeant's eyes. + +"What has happened?" he asked. "Ough! Ough! I see; you +have met Thunderchild?" + +The sergeant nodded. + +"Yes," he said, with apparent unconcern, "Thunderchild +managed to put a bullet through my arm. You may give me +a hand off with my coat, Jacques. Luckily, the wound's +not bad enough to prevent my firing a gun." + +When they removed his overcoat they found that the sleeve +of the tunic had been cut away, and that his arm had been +roughly bandaged. The girl was gazing at it in a peculiarly +concentrated fashion. + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Douglas," he said, hastily +turning away from her. "I had forgotten it looked like +that, but fortunately the look is the worst part of it. +It's only a flesh wound." + +The girl had stepped forward to help him, as if resenting +the imputation that the sight of blood frightened her, +but Jacques had anticipated what was required. She wanted +to bring him something to eat and drink, but he thanked +her and declined. He had weightier matters on hand. + +"Mr. Douglas," he said, quietly, "I've told my men to +move over here. You may require their services in the +course of the next twenty-four hours. What I apprehended +and told you about some time ago has occurred." + +"Pasmore," said the rancher, earnestly, "is there any +immediate danger? If there is, my daughter and the women +had better go into Battleford right now." + +"You cannot go now--you must wait till to-morrow morning," +was the reply. "It's no use taking your household goods +into the Fort--there's no room there. Your best plan is +to leave things just as they are, and trust to the rebels +being engaged elsewhere. I believe your warriors, +Child-of-Light, are in the wood in the deep coulee just +above where the two creeks meet?" + +"That is right, brother," said the Indian, "but what +about Thunderchild, the turncoat?" + +And then Pasmore told them how he had gone to Thunderchild's +camp that day to arrest the outlaw, and warn his braves +against joining the rebels, and how he had been shot +through the arm, and only escaped with his life. He had +come straight on to warn them. In the meantime he would +advise the women to make preparations for an early start +on the morrow. Food and clothing would have to be taken, +as they might be away for weeks. + +Then, while Dorothy Douglas and her two women-servants +were already making preparations for a move, a brief +council of war was held. Child-of-Light, when asked, +advised that the Mounted Police and those present should +next day escort the women into Fort Battleford, while he +and his braves ran off the rancher's fine herd of horses, +so as to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. + +Pasmore said that this was exactly the right thing to +do. He also intimated that there was a party of half-breeds, +the Racettes and the St. Croixs, coming by trail at that +very moment from Battleford to plunder and pillage; they +would probably arrive before many hours. He had, however, +taken the precaution of stationing men on the look-out +on the neighbouring ridges. + +"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Jacques, springing to his feet. +"It is the neck of that St. Croix I will want to wring. +It is two, three years ago now he say he will wring mine; +but very good care he will take to keep away. Ah, well, +we shall see, my friend, we shall see!" + +Child-of-Light stole out to his men in the coulee, and +Jacques and Rory went to the stables and out-houses to +make certain preparations so that they might be able to +start at any moment. The windows were boarded up, so that +if the half-breeds came no signs of life might be observed +in the house. Douglas saw that certain loopholes in the +walls commanding the lines of approach, which he himself +had made by way of precaution when danger from the Indians +had threatened in the old days, were reopened and plugged +in case of emergency. + +As for the sergeant, he had not slept for three days, +and was too utterly tired out to be of any assistance. +He had done what he could, and had now to await +developments. The fire was good, and he had dropped, at +the rancher's request, into a comfortable high-backed +chair in a corner, where he fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE STORM BREAKS + +Midnight, and the rancher had left the house to assist +Rory and Jacques with the sleighs, which had to be packed +with certain necessaries such as tea, coffee, sugar, +bread and flour, frozen meat, pemmican, culinary articles, +snow-shoes, and ammunition. + +Dorothy, having made all the preparations she could, had +re-entered the kitchen. The first thing that drew her +attention was the sleeping figure of the sergeant in the +chair. She was filled with self-reproach. Why had she +forgotten all about this wounded, tired-out man? Why did +she always seem to be holding him at arm's-length when +there was, surely, no earthly reason why she should do +so? His manner had always been perfectly courteous to +her, and even deferential. He had done her father many +acts of kindness, without as much as referring to them, +and still, with a spice of perversity, she had always +shrunk from appearing to notice him. She shrewdly suspected +that his present life was not the sort of one he had been +accustomed to, that, in fact, he belonged by birth and +upbringing to a state of things very different from hers. +He looked wretchedly uncomfortable and, doubtless, as +his limbs seemed cramped, they were cold. She would find +a rug to throw over him. + +She picked up one, and, with a strange shyness that she +had never experienced before, placed it carefully over +him. If he awoke she would die with terror--now that he +was asleep and did not know that she was looking after +his comfort, she experienced a strange, undefinable +pleasure in so doing. It was quite a new feeling--something +that filled her with a vague wonder. + +And then he suddenly opened his eyes, and looked at her +for a few moments without stirring. + +"Thank you," he said simply, and closed his eyes again. + +She could have cried with vexation. If he had been profuse +in his thanks she would have had an opportunity of cutting +him short with some commonplace comment. + +"Hadn't you better lie on the couch, Mr. Pasmore?" she +said. "You don't look as if you fitted that chair, and +it makes you snore so." + +She had hardly thought herself capable of such perfidy, +but she did not want him to think that she could be +altogether blind to his faults. He sat bolt upright in +an instant, and stammered out an apology. + +But she cut it short. She resented the idea that he should +imagine she took sufficient interest in him to be put +out by a trifle. + +At that very moment there rang out a rifle shot from the +ridge just above the wood hard by. It was followed by +another at a greater distance. + +"There!" said the girl, with a finger pressed against +her lower lip, and a look as if of relief on her face. +"Now you will have some work to do. They have come sooner +than you expected." + +He scanned her face for a moment as if to note how this +quick call to grim tragedy affected her. A man of courage +himself, he instantly read there possibilities of a very +high order and exceptional nerve. There was nothing +neurotic about her. Whatever the wayward imaginings of +her heart might be, she was a fresh, wholesome and healthy +daughter of the prairie, one whose nerves were in accord +with her mind and body, one for whom there were no physical +or imaginary bogeys. + +"It won't frighten you, will it, if we have to turn this +kitchen into a sort of shooting gallery?" he asked. + +She smiled at the very familiarity with which he handled +his subject. + +"It will be unpleasant," she replied simply, "but you +know I'm accustomed to rifles." + +"You don't seem to realise what a rising means amongst +savages," he continued. "You must never lose your head, +whatever happens, and you must never trust any one outside +your own family circle. You must never let yourself fall +into their hands; you understand me?" + +"I understand," she said, facing him unflinchingly, "and +I have my rifle in case of emergencies." + +"You are stronger than I thought," he said thankfully, +looking at her for the first time with unmistakable +admiration. + +The rancher entered the room. He had always been noted +for his coolness in time of danger. He looked quickly at +his daughter, and was wonderfully relieved to see her +take the situation so quietly. He kissed her, and said-- + +"Now, my dear, you'd better get into the other room till +this affair is over. There's no need to be alarmed." + +How he wished he could have believed what he said!' + +"I'm not frightened, dad, a little bit, and I'm going to +stay right with" you and load the guns." + +"Lower the lamp," cried Pasmore, suddenly. + +In another minute each man was glancing along the barrel +of his rifle out into the clear moonlight. They faced +the entrance to the valley up which came the enemy. It +was a dimly-defined half-circle, with a deep-blue, +star-studded background. A fringe of trees ran up it, +bordering the frozen creek alongside the trail. Stealthily +stealing up, they could see a number of dark figures. +Every now and again, from the heights above on either +hand, they could see a little jet of fire spurt, and hear +the crack of a Winchester as the Mounted Police on the +look-out tried to pick off members of the attacking body +from their inaccessible point of vantage. But the +half-breeds and Indians contented themselves with firing +an odd shot in order to warn them off. They would deal +with them later. In the meantime they came nearer. + +"Ah, St. Croix, old friend! It is my neck you will want +to wring, is it? Eh, bien!" And Jacques chuckled audibly. + +"Now, hold hard, and wait until I give you the word," +said Pasmore, quietly. + +The rebels, of whom there might be some thirty or forty, +now came out into the open and approached the house until +they were abreast of the out-buildings. In the clear +moonlight they could be seen distinctly, clad in their +great buffalo coats, with collars up over their ears, +and bearskin and beaver-caps pulled well down. + +At a signal from their leader they raised their rifles +to send a preparatory volley through the windows. + +"_Now then!_" thundered Pasmore. + +Four rifles cracked like one, and three rebels dropped +where they stood, while a fourth, clapping his hands to +the lower part of his body, spun round and round, stamping +his feet, reviling the comrades who had brought him there, +and blaspheming wildly, while the blood spurted out +between his fingers. At the same moment, several bullets +embedded themselves in the thick window shutters and in +the walls. One only found its way through the dried mud +between the logs, and this smashed a bowl that stood on +the dresser within two feet of Dorothy's head. She merely +glanced at it casually, and picking up the basket of +cartridges, prepared to hand them round. With fingers +keen and warming to their work, the defenders emptied +the contents of their magazines into the astonished +half-breeds and Indians. It was more than the latter had +bargained for. They made for an open shed that stood hard +by, leaving their dead and wounded in the snow. + +"What ho! Johnnie Crapaud, you pig!" cried Rory, withdrawing +his rifle from the loophole, and applying his mouth to +it instead. "It's the Red River jig I've bin dyin' to +tache ye for many a long day." + +At the same moment Jacques caught sight of his old _bete +noire_, Leopold St. Croix the elder, and, not to be +outdone by his friend Rory in the exchange of seasonable +civilities with the enemy--although, when he came to +think of it afterwards, he might as well have shot his +man--he was applying his mouth to, his loophole to shout +something in the same vein when the quick-eyed Leopold +fired a shot at the spot from which the gun-barrel had +just been withdrawn. So lucky or good was his aim that +he struck the mud in the immediate neighbourhood of the +hole, and sent the _debris_ flying into the +French-Canadian's mouth. Jacques spent the rest of his +time when in the house watching for a long-haired half-breed +with a red sash round his waist, who answered to the name +of St. Croix the elder. + +_Ping, ping, ping, zip--phut--cr-runck!_ and the bullets +played a very devil's tattoo upon the walls and windows. +The enemy were still five to one, and if they could only +succeed in rushing in and breaking down the doors, victory +would be in their hands. But to do that meant death to +so many. + +Another half-hour, and the firing still continued, though +in a more desultory fashion. It was a strange waiting +game, and a grim one, that was being played. The defenders +had shifted their positions to guard against surprise. +Douglas had in vain begged his daughter to leave the room +and join the women in an inner apartment, but she had +pleaded so hard with him that he allowed her to remain. + +As for the sergeant, he was outwardly, at least, his old +self. He was silent and watchful, showing neither concern +nor elation. He moved from one position to another, and +never pulled the trigger of his Winchester without making +sure of something. With the help of Douglas he had pulled +on his fur coat again, as the fire was going out, and he +was beginning to feel the cold in his wound. + +"I can't make out why Child-of-Light hasn't come up with +his men," he said at length, "but, anyhow, he is sure to +turn up--" + +He paused, listening. Then all in the room heard the +_chip-chop_ of an axe as it steadily cut its way through +a post of considerable size. The rebels were evidently +busy. Suddenly the sound stopped. + +"They're preparing for a rush," observed Rory. "What +I'm surprisit at is ther riskin' their ugly carcases as +they do." + +"Sargain Pasmore--Sargean?" cried some-one from the shed. + +"Aha! he has recognised your voice," said Jacques. "He +is as the fox, that St. Croix." + +"Well, what is it?" shouted the sergeant. + +What the half-breed had to say rather took the sergeant +aback. It was to the effect that unless they surrendered +within a few minutes, they would all most assuredly be +killed. + +Then for the first time that night Sergeant Pasmore +betrayed in his voice any feeling that may have animated +him. + +"Go home, Leopold St. Croix," he cried, "go home, and +those with you before it is too late! Go on to the Fort +and ask pardon from those in authority, and it may yet +be well with you; For as soon as the red-coated soldiers +of the Great Queen come--and, take my word for it, they +are in number more than the fishes in the Great Lake--you +will be shot like a coyote on the prairie, or hanged by +the neck, like a bad Indian, on the gallows-tree. That +is our answer, Leopold St Croix; you know me of old, and +you also know how I have always kept my word." + +There was a dead silence for a minute or two, and whilst +it lasted one could hear the embers of the dying fire +fall into ashes. On a shelf, an eight-day clock ticked +ominously; the girl stood with one hand upon her father's +shoulder, motionless and impassive, like some beautiful +statue. There was no trace of fear of any impending +tragedy to mar the proud serenity of her face. At length +the sound of voices came to them from outside. It grew +in volume and rose like the angry murmur of the sea. +Pasmore was looking through a crack when the noise of +the chopping began again. In another minute there was a +crash of falling timber. + +The sergeant turned to the girl. + +"Miss Douglas," he said, "will you kindly go into the +other room for a minute! They have cut down one of the +large posts in the shed and are going to make a +battering-ram of it so as to smash in the door. Come +this way, all of you. Two on either side. That is right. +Fire into them as they charge!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HARD PRESSED + +The half-breeds and Indians, keen and determined as they +were to effect an entrance to the house at any costs, +were not without considerable foresight and strategy. +But their feint failed, and when they did make a rush +with their ram two or three of them were picked off. The +survivors dropped the ram, and made a dash across the +open for the stable. + +Pasmore telling the others to remain at their loopholes, +went to a room at the end of the long passage, Dorothy +following him. + +The rebels must have applied a match to some of the +inflammable matter, for in another instant the growing, +hissing roar of fire was audible. + +"It will spread to the house in a few minutes more," +remarked the sergeant, quietly, "and I'm afraid that will +be the end of it." + +But he had already seized an axe and was opening the +door. + +"Shut the door after me and go to your father," he +exclaimed. "I'll cut down the slabs that connect it with +the house. Child-of-Light may come up yet. Good-bye--in +case of accidents." + +She caught him by the arm and looked into his face. + +"You can't do that--you must _not_ do that! You are sure +to be shot down." + +"And I may be shot if I don't." Forcibly, but with what +gentleness the action permitted, he disengaged her firm +white hand. + +"You can't use an axe with that arm," she pleaded, all +her old reserve vanishing. + +"I can at a pinch," he replied. "It is good of you to +trouble about me." + +He slipped out and pulled the door behind him. The look +he had seen in her eyes had come as a revelation and +given him courage. + +She stood for a moment speechless and motionless, with +a strained, set expression on her face. It was old Rory +who aroused her to the gravity of the situation. He came +running along the passage. + +"Come hyar, honey, and into the cellar wid ye," he cried. +"There's more of the inimy comin' along the trail, but +there's still a chanct. Nivir say die, sez I." + +As if roused from some horrible dream her feverish energy +and readiness of resource returned to her. + +"Come into the next room," she cried to Rory; "we can +see the oil-house from the window. He is out there pulling +down the stockade and we can keep them back from him. +Quick, Rory!" + +Like one possessed she made for the first door on the +left of the passage. + +Along the trail came the new lot of half-breeds and +Indians to the assistance of their fellows, or, perhaps +it would be more correct to say, to see to it that they +did not miss their full share of the plunder. Roused to +fresh efforts by the sight of the others, those on the +spot fairly riddled the doors and windows of the house. +The bullets were whizzing into the kitchen in every +direction, splintering the furniture and sending the +plaster flying from the walls until the room was filled +with a fine, blinding, choking dust. It was impossible +to hold out much longer. The final rush was sure to come +in a very few minutes--and all would be over. + +Pasmore had cut off the house from the burning shed by +hewing down the connecting wall, while Dorothy Douglas +and Rory, by firing from a side window, had kept the +enemy from approaching; After what seemed an age, Pasmore +rejoined them. + +There was a pause in the firing, then a hoarse murmur of +excited voices came from the sheds. It rose like a sudden +storm on the Lake of the Winds. There was a wild volley +and a rush of feet. A dark body smashed in the casement +and tried to follow it, but Rory's long knife gleamed in +the air, and the intruder fell back in his death agony. +Rory seldom wasted powder and shot at close quarters. +The sergeant looked at the girl strangely. + +"Come with me to your father," he said hoarsely. + +"Is it the end?" she asked. + +"I fear it is," he replied; "but we'll fight to the +finish." + +He opened the door and led the way out. + +"I must go to the others," he continued. "Rory can guard +this end of the house. Will you come with me?" + +"Yes, and remember your promise--I am not afraid." + +"I am," he admitted, "but not of them." + +They reached the kitchen, but he would not let her enter. + +"Stay where you are for a moment," he commanded firmly. + +He found Douglas and Jacques still holding the doorway, +though the door itself, and the table which had been +placed against it, were badly wrecked. A breed had actually +forced his body through a great rent when they had rushed, +but Jacques had tapped him over the head with the stock +of his rifle and cracked it as he would have done an +egg-shell. The lifeless body still filled the gap. + +"Bravo, gentlemen," cried the sergeant, "we shall exact +our price. If we can only stand them off a little longer--" + +The words died on his lips as a rattle of musketry awoke +somewhere in the neighbourhood of the surrounding ridges. +It grew in volume until it seemed all around them. Several +bullets struck the house that did not come from those +immediately attacking. A series of wild whoops could be +heard from among the pines on the hillside, and they came +nearer and nearer. + +"It's Child-of-Light and his Crees!" cried Pasmore. "He +saw the new lot approaching and waited until they fell +into the trap. Now he has surrounded them." + +"Thank God!" cried the rancher, and never had he breathed +a more sincere thanksgiving. + +The breeds and Indians made back for the out-buildings; +then, realising that sooner or later these must prove +untenable, they scurried for the pine wood on the hillside. +But now Child-of-Light and his braves were on the ridges +and a desperate running fight ensued. Not more than a +dozen of the enemy managed to get safely away. For hours +afterwards they held their own from the vantage of the +rocks and pines. + +When those in the house realised that all immediate danger +was over, they took the change of situations +characteristically. The rancher went quietly to find his +daughter. She showed no signs of any reaction, although +perhaps she had a hard struggle to conquer her feelings. +Jacques wanted to sally out and seek for Leopold St. +Croix, so that they might settle once and for all their +little differences, but Sergeant Pasmore vetoed this. +There was other work to do, he said. It was no use +remaining at the ranche; the women must go into the fort +at Battleford--if, indeed, it were possible to get +through to it. As for Rory, he had gone to the stables +and seen to the horses and the dogs that were to pull +the sleighs; these latter, by the way, were a remarkable +lot, and comprised as many varieties as there are different +breeds of pigeons. There were Chocolats, Muskymotes, +Cariboos, Brandies, Whiskies, Corbeaus, and a few others. +During the fight they had kept wonderfully quiet, but +now they seemed to know that it was over, and began, +after the playful manner of their kind, to indulge in a +spirited battle on their own account. Rory snatched up +a whip with the object of seeing fair play. + +An hour later and a strange scene that kitchen presented, +with its wounded, smoke-stained men, Its shattered doors +and windows, and splintered tables and dresser. The four +Mounted Policemen had come down from the ridges where +they had so harassed the enemy and were now receiving +steaming pannikins of coffee. + +Child-of-Light had just come in, and told how to the +north Big Bear and his Stonies were lurking somewhere, +not to speak of Thunderchild and one or two others, so +it would be as well to try Battleford first. His braves +at that moment were pursuing the fleeing breeds and +Indians, but he had ordered them to return soon in order +that they might remove the dead and wounded from the +ranche, and then see after the stock belonging to their +brother Douglas. It had been as Sergeant Pasmore had +said--they had seen the fresh enemy coming up and delayed +their attack until they could surround them. + +But grey-eyed morn had come at last; the sleighs were +packed and brought round to the door. It was time to make +a start. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TO BATTLEFORD + +It was quite a little procession of jumpers and sledges +that set out from the rancher's that morning after the +fight. First went the police, each man on his little +box-like jumper with its steel-shod runners drawn by a +hardy half-bred broncho. Next came Rory in a dog-sled +cariole, with his several pugnacious canine friends made +fast by moose-skin collars. They would have tried the +patience of Job. They fought with each other on the +slightest pretext from sheer love of fighting, and knew +not the rules of Queensberry. If one of them happened to +get down in one of their periodical little outbreaks, +the others promptly abandoned their more equal contests +to pile on to that unfortunate one. + +The rancher and Dorothy came next in a comfortable sleigh, +with large buffalo robes all around them to keep out the +cold. Then came the two women servants in a light wagon-box +set on runners, and driven by Jacques. A Mounted Policeman +in a jumper formed the rear-guard at a distance of about +half-a-mile. The wagons were well stocked with all +necessaries for camping out. + +It was a typical North-West morning, cold, bracing and +clear. The dry air stimulated one, and the winter sun +shone cheerfully down upon the great white land of virgin +snow. + +There was a sense of utter solitude, of an immensity of +space. There was no sound save the soft, even swish of +the runners over the snow, and the regular muffled pounding +of the horses' hoofs. + +Within the next hour so buoyant were Dorothy's spirits, +and so light-hearted and genuine her outlook on things +in general, that Douglas began to wonder if the events +of the previous evening were not, after all, the imaginings +of some horrible nightmare. + +On, on, over the plains of frozen snow. The sun was so +strong now that Douglas was obliged to put great goggles +over his eyes, and Dorothy pulled a dark veil down over +hers, for fear of snow-blindness. They had left the flat +prairie behind, and were now in the bluff country which +was simply heights and hollows lightly timbered with +birch, poplar and saskatoon bushes, with beautiful meadows +and small lakes or "sloughs" scattered about everywhere. +They passed many pretty homesteads nestling cosily in +sheltered nooks; but no smoke rose from their chimneys; +they all seemed to have been deserted in a hurry. Their +occupants had doubtless fled into Battleford. What if +they had been too late to reach that haven of refuge! + +At noon the travellers stopped in a little wooded valley +for dinner. It was more like a picnic party than that of +refugees fleeing for their lives. The Scotswoman actually +made a dish of pancakes for the troopers, because she +said there was one of them who reminded her of her own +son, whom she had not seen for many a long day. The +sincere thanks of the hungry ones were more than recompense +for the worthy dame. + +They all sat down on buffalo robes spread on the snow, +and Dorothy was immensely taken with the gentlemanly, +unobtrusive way in which the troopers waited upon the +women of the party. But they were all mostly younger sons +of younger sons, and public school men, so after all it +was not to be wondered at. The high standard of honour +and duty, and the courage that was a religion animating +the force--the North-West Mounted Police--was easily +accounted for. She began to understand how it was that +some men preferred such a life to that of the mere quest +for gold. + +Every one seemed in the best of spirits. Wounds were not +mentioned, so it went without saying that these, owing +to the healthy bodies of their owners, were giving no +trouble. The only interruption of a non-harmonic nature +was when a burly Muskymote dog of Rory's team took it +into its head that a little _tete-noire_ dog had received +a portion of frozen fish from its master out of all +proportion to its inconsiderable size, so, as soon as +Rory's back was turned, showed its disapproval of such +favouritism by knocking the favoured one down, and trying +to bite off the tips of its ears. As the other dogs, with +their peculiar new Queensberry instincts, at once piled +on to the one that was getting the worst of it, Rory had +to put down the chicken leg he was enjoying to arbitrate +with his whip in the usual way. He gave the jealous +Muskymote an extra smack or two for its ill-timed behaviour +as he thought of that chicken leg. + +To Dorothy's no little surprise she found Pasmore unusually +communicative. Despite his seeming austerity, he possessed +a keen vein of humour of a dry, pungent order that was +eminently entertaining. To-day he gave vent to it, and +she found herself laughing and talking to him in a way +that, twenty-four hours before she would not have deemed +possible. + +Dinner over, the horses were watered--they had now cooled +down--the culinary articles were stowed away, pipes lit, +and preparations made for a fresh start. It would be +necessary to move with extreme caution, as they were not +more than twelve miles from Battleford, and the enemy +were pretty sure to have their scouts out. + +On again through the still air, and between the winding +avenues of birch, poplar and saskatoon bushes. Nothing +to be heard save the occasional call of the grouse in +the bracken, and the monotonous chafing of the harness. +At dusk they arrived within a mile or two of the little +town, and halted. + +A fire was lit in a deserted farmhouse, and a good drink +of hot tea put fresh life into them. There was trying +and dangerous work to be done that night; they would +require to be well prepared. + +An hour later, when the moon began to show over the +tree-tops, the entire party moved out silently by a +little-used by-path towards Battleford. A couple of +troopers went on some considerable distance in front, +and one on either flank, with strict instructions to +create no alarm if possible in meeting with an enemy, +but to at once warn the main body. + +And now on the still air came a weird, monotonous sound, +rising and falling, as does that of the far-off rapids, +borne on the fitful breath of the Chinook winds. _Tap, +tap, tap_, it went, _tum, tum, tum_, in ever-recurring +monotones. As they stopped to listen to it, the girl +realised its nature only too well. It was the tuck of +the Indian drum, and the Indian was on the war-path. As +they walked on they could hear it more plainly, and soon +the sound of whooping, yelling human voices, and the +occasional discharge of fire-arms, fell upon their +apprehensive ears. + +"They've bruk into the stores, an' are paintin' the town +red," explained Rory. "Guess they're hevin' a high ole +time." + +And now they could see a red glare tingeing the heavens +above the tree-tops. They ascended a hill to the right, +and looking down on the valley of the Saskatchewan, a +truly magnificent but terrifying sight met their gaze. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE GRIM BLOCKADE + +The great chief Poundmaker and his Stonies had broken +loose, and, after looting the Hudson Bay and other stores +in Battleford, were indulging in a wild orgie. Some of +the buildings were already burning, and the Indians, mad +with blood and fire-water, were dancing wildly around +the spouting flames that lit up that pine and snow-clad +winter scene for miles? + +Some of the warriors, more particularly round the burning +buildings, had donned uncanny masks that took the shape +of buffalo and moose heads, with shaggy manes, horns and +antlers, and, horror of horrors, some of them, silhouetted +blackly against the fierce glare, showed themselves to +be possessed of tails that made them look like capering +demons. + +_Pom, pom, pom_, went the hollow-sounding drums. Round +and round danced the wildly-gesticulating imp-like crowds. +They yelped and howled like dogs. They brandished +tomahawks and spears, all the time working themselves +into a frenzy. It more resembled an orgie of fiends than +of human beings. + +"It is horrible," exclaimed Dorothy, shivering, despite +her resolve to face bravely whatever might come. + +Within half-a-mile of the burning township, looming up +dimly over there among the trees, was the new village of +Battleford, and further back still, hardly discernible, +lay the Fort. Within several hundred yards of the latter, +under cover of hastily-improvised trenches of bluff and +scrub, was a cordon of half-breeds and Indians, by no +means too strong and not too well posted, for one of the +Police had already managed to elude the careless and +relaxed watch, and join the besieged ones. Under the +circumstances it was impossible for the defenders to make +a sortie, as this would leave the bulk of the refugees +unprotected. All they could do was to hold their position +and wait patiently until help came from Prince Albert +and the south. + +What the rancher's party had to do was plain, _i.e._ +separate, and endeavour, in ones and twos, to pass the +rebel lines and enter the Fort. Fortunately they could +all speak the curious patois of English, French, and Cree +that the enemy used, and therefore they had no need to +be at a loss. Moreover, with beaver-skin caps, and long +fur coats down to their heels, with the addition of a +sash round their waists, they were in no way different +from hundreds of others. Dorothy noticed that even the +Police had adopted means to conceal their identities so +far as appearances went. + +Sergeant Pasmore did not take long to make his plans. He +did not ask for any advice now, but gave his orders +promptly and explicitly. It would be better that they +should all endeavour to pass through the enemy at the +same time, so that in the event of an alarm being given, +some of them at least might be able to push on into the +Fort. + +Mrs. Macgregor and the half-breed woman were sent away +round by the right flank under the charge of Jacques, +who was to go ahead and try to pilot them into the Fort +in safety. The Police were to move round on the left +flank. + +As for Douglas and his daughter, they were to go down +separately to the foot of the ridge, walk leisurely +through the scattered houses, evading as much as possible +the straggling groups of rebels, and make towards a +certain point where a series of old buffalo-wallows would +to a great extent prevent their being seen. He warned +Douglas against keeping too near his daughter. He, being +so well-known, would be easily recognised, and their +being close together might lead to the capture of both. + +Douglas at first demurred, but presently saw the force +of this advice. It was a hard thing to be separated from +Dorothy, but he realised that otherwise he might only +compromise her safety, so he kissed her and went in the +direction the sergeant pointed out. Pasmore and his +charge were now left quite alone. There was a dead +silence for some moments. + +"I think we'd better go," he said, at length. "Now, do +you feel as if you could keep your nerve? So much depends +on that." + +"I'm going to rise to the occasion," she answered smilingly, +and with a look of determination on her face. "Let us +start." + +"One moment--you mustn't show quite so much of your +face--it isn't exactly an everyday one. Let me fix you +up a little bit first." + +She looked at him laughingly as he pressed her beaver-cap +well down over her smooth white forehead until it hid +her dark, arched eyebrows. He turned up her deep fur +collar, and buttoned it in front until only her pretty +hazel eyes and straight white nose were to be seen. Then +he regarded her with critical gravity. + +"I wish I could hide those eyes of yours," he said, with +whimsical seriousness. "You mustn't let any young Johnny +Crapaud or Indian see them any more than you can help." + +They descended the bluff and walked silently together +for some little distance through the thicket of birch +and saskatoon bushes. They were now close to the garden +of the first straggling house, and they could see dark +figures moving about everywhere. He pointed out to her +the way she would have to take. + +"Now, au revoir," he said, "and good luck to you." + +They shook hands, and she wished him an equal luck. "You +have been very good to us," she added, "and I hope you +will believe that we are grateful." + +He took off his cap to her, and they went on their separate +ways. + +Now that the girl had gone so far that there was no +turning back, she rose to the occasion as she said she +would. She faced the ghastly sights with much of her +father's old spirit. + +She put her hands in her large side pockets and lounged +leisurely past the gable end of a house. A half-breed +woman, carrying a large armful of loot, met her on the +side-walk. In the moonlight the girl caught the glint of +the bold, black, almond-shaped eyes and the flushed face. +The woman was breathing hard, and her two arms encircled +the great bundle. She shot a quick glance at Dorothy. +She was more Indian than white. + +Only that the rebels that night did not see with their +normal eyesight, the girl realised that she would have +been detected and undone. + +Two drunken Indians came walking unsteadily towards her, +talking excitedly. Though quaking inwardly, she kept +straight on her way, imitating a man's gait as much as +she could, for with those long buffalo coats that reach +to the ground, it was impossible to tell a man from a +woman save by the walk. The moccasins made the difference +even less. But the Indians passed her, and she breathed +more freely. Several people crossed and recrossed her +path, but beyond a half-curious look of inquiry, they +did not trouble about her. She passed a store in flames, +and saw a number of breeds and Indians yelling and whooping +and encouraging an intoxicated metis to dash into it at +the imminent risk of his life to fetch out some article +of inconsiderable value as a proof of his prowess. As +she passed on she heard a dull thud; and, looking back, +realised by the vast shaft of sparks which rose into the +air that the roof had fallen in. Jean Ba'tiste had played +with Death once too often. + +Sick with horror, the girl hurried on. A few hundred +yards more, and she would be clear of that awesome Bedlam. +She had to pass between some, huts, one of which she +could see was in flames. Hard by she could hear the +sound of a fiddle, and the excited whoops of dancers. +The Red River jig was evidently in full blast. She turned +the corner of a corral and came full on it. Several people +were standing apart round a bare spot of ground. A +capering half-breed, with great red stockings reaching +above his knees, with blanket suit, long crimson sash, +and red tuque on his head, was capering about like a +madman. His partner had just retired exhausted. He caught +sight of Dorothy, and peered into her face. + +"My faith!" he exclaimed; "but we shall dance like +that--so? Bien!" + +He made a grotesque bow, and seizing her by the arm, +pulled her into the clear space facing him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DETECTED + +For the moment a horrible sickening fear took possession +of Dorothy when she found herself thrust into such a very +prominent position. It was quite bad enough to have to +pass through that scene of pillage and riot, but to pose +as the partner of an excitable half-breed in the execution +of the Red River jig was more than the girl had bargained +for. The fantastic shuffling and capering of the long-legged +metis were wonderful to behold. The tassel of his long +red tuque dangled and bobbed behind him like the pigtail +of a Chinaman trying to imitate a dancing Dervish. His +flushed face, long snaky black locks, and flashing eyes +all spoke of the wild fever in his blood and his Gallic +origin. Still, the girl noted he was not what might be +termed an ill-looking fellow; he did not look bad-natured, +nor was he in drink. He was merely an excited +irresponsible. + +The barbaric, musical rhyme on the cat-gut took a fresh +lease of life; the delighted spectators clapped their +hands in time, and supplemented the music with the +regulation dog-like yelps. The Red River jig consists of +two persons of opposite sex standing facing each other, +each possessed with the laudable ambition of dancing his +or her partner down. As may readily be imagined, it is +a dance necessitating considerable powers of endurance. +When one of the dancers sinks exhausted and vanquished, +another steps into the breach. When Dorothy had made her +appearance, a slim and by no means bad-looking half-breed +girl had been unwillingly obliged to drop out of the +dance. The bright eyes of the new arrival had caught +Pierre La Chene's fancy, and, after the manner of his +kind, he had made haste to secure her as a partner. Pierre +was a philanderer and an inconstant swain. The dark eyes +of Katie the Belle flushed with anger as she saw this +strange girl take her place. She noticed with jealous +eyes the elegant fur coat which the other wore, the dainty +silk-sewn moccasins, the natty beaver cap, and felt that +she, herself a leader of fashion among her people, had +yet much to learn. + +Dorothy stood stock still for a moment while her partner +and the spectators shouted to her to begin. A wrinkled +old dame remarked, in the flowery language of her people, +that, as the figure of the girl was slender as the willow, +and her feet small and light as those of the wood spirits +that return to the land in the spring, surely she could +out-dance Pierre La Chene, who had already out-worn the +light-footed Jeanette and the beautiful Katie. Pierre +shouted to his partner to make a start. Surely now she +must be discovered and undone! + +Then something that, when one comes to think of it, was +not strange, happened--Dorothy rose to the occasion. She +had danced the very same fantasia many a time out of +sheer exuberance of spirits, and the love of dancing +itself. She must dance and gain the sympathy of that +rough crowd, in the event of her identity being discovered. +There was nothing so terrible about this particular group +after all. They were merely dancing while the others were +going in for riot and pillage. There was something so +incongruous and ludicrous in the whole affair that the +odd, wayward, fun-loving spirit of the girl, of late held +in abeyance, asserted itself, and she forgot all else +save the fact that she must do her best to dance her +partner down. + +Her feet caught the rhythm of the "Arkansaw Traveller" +--that stirring, foot-catching melody without beginning +or ending--and in another minute Dorothy was dancing +opposite the delighted and capering half-breed, and almost +enjoying it. With hands on hips, with head thrown back, +and with feet tremulous with motion, she kept time to +the music. She was a good dancer, and realised what is +meant by the poetry of motion. The fiddler played fairly +well, and Pierre La Chene, if somewhat pronounced in his +movements, was at least a picturesque figure, whose soul +was in the dance. So amusing, were his antics that the +girl laughed heartily, despite the danger of her position. + +It was evident that Pierre was vastly taken with his +partner. He rolled his eyes about in a languishing and +alarming fashion; he twisted and wriggled like a +contortionist, and occasionally varied the lightning-like +shuffle of his own feet by kicking a good deal higher +than his own head. He called upon his partner to "stay +with it" in almost inarticulate gasps. "Whoop her up!" +he yelled. "Git thar, Jean! Bravo, ma belle! Whoo-sh!" + +It was a very nightmare of grotesqueness to Dorothy. The +moonlight night, the black houses and pines looming up +against the snowy landscape, the red glare in the immediate +foreground caused by the burning buildings, the +gesticulating figure of her half-breed partner, the +excited, picturesque onlookers, the vagaries of the +fiddler and the never-ceasing sound of the Indian drum, +all tinged with an air of unreality and a sense of the +danger that menaced, made up a situation that could not +easily be eclipsed. And she was dancing and trying to +make herself believe she was enjoying it, opposite a +crazy half-breed rebel! She recognised him now as the +dandy Pierre, the admiration of the fair sex in his own +particular world on the Saskatchewan. If only any of her +people could see her now, what would they think of her? + +But was this wild dance to go on for ever? Already she +was becoming warm in her fur coat, despite the lowness +of the temperature. There was a limit to her powers of +endurance, albeit she was stronger than the average girl. +The onlookers, charmed with the grace of this unknown +dancer, were noisy in their applause. She must feign +fatigue and drop out, letting some one else take her +place. + +With an inclination of her head to her partner she did +so, but he, doubtless captivated by the dark, laughing +eyes he saw gazing at him above the deep fur collar, did +not care to continue the dance with some one whose eyes +might not be so bewitching, and dropped out also. The +half-breed girl, his former partner, who up till now had +contented herself by gazing sulkily from lowering brows +upon this strange rival, was at last stirred by still +deeper feeling. She came close up to Dorothy, and gazed +searchingly into her face. At the same moment they +recognised each other, for often had Dorothy admired the +full, wildflower beauty, the delicate olive skin, and +the dark, soulful eyes of this part descendant of a noble +Gallic race and a barbaric people, and spoken kindly to +her. The half-savage Katie had looked upon her white +sister as a superior being from another world, and had +almost made up her mind that she loved her, but she loved +Pierre La Chene in a different way, and when that sort +of love comes into one's life, all else has to give place +to it With a quick movement she drew down Dorothy's fur +collar, exposing her face. + +"_Voila!_" she cried; "_one of the enemy--the daughter +of Douglas!_" + +It was as if the rebels had suddenly detected an embodied +spirit that had worked evil in their midst, for the music +stopped, and the excited crew rushed upon her. But Pierre +La Chene kept them back. Those proud, defiant eyes had +exercised a singular charm over him, and when he saw her +face he almost felt ready to fight the whole crowd--almost +ready, for, like a good many other lady-killers, Pierre +had a very tender regard for his own personal safety. +Still, he cried-- + +"_Prenez garde_--tek caar! _Ma foi_, but she can dance +it! Let us tek her to Louis Riel. He is at the chapel. +We may learn much." + +With her keen instincts, Katie saw the ruse. + +"She has the evil eye, and has bewitched Pierre!" she +cried, and made as if to lead her old lover away. + +But Pierre's response was to thrust her violently from +him. Katie would have fallen but that Dorothy caught her. + +"Oh, Katie, poor Katie!" was all she said. + +And then the half-breed girl realised the evil she had +wrought, and shrunk from the kindly arms of the sister +she had betrayed. + +"To Riel with her!--to Riel with her!" was the cry of +the fickle malcontents, and, with a yelling following at +her heels, Dorothy was led away. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +IN THE JUDGMENT HALL + +Now that Dorothy knew the worst was about to happen, she, +strangely enough, felt more self-possessed than she had +done before. These rebels might kill her, or not, just +as the mood swayed them, but she would let them see that +the daughter of a white man was not afraid. + +In that short walk to the chapel she reviewed her position. +She hoped that by this time the others had managed to +reach the Fort. If they had, then she could face with +comparative equanimity what might happen to herself. Her +only fear was what her father, in his distress on hearing +of her capture, might do. + +Fortunately it was not far to the chapel which Riel had +converted into his headquarters. Indeed, he was only +paying a hurried visit there to exhort the faithful and +long-suffering metis and Indians to prompt and decisive +action. He intended to go off again in a few hours to +Prince Albert to direct the siege against that town. Only +those who had witnessed the wantonness and the capture +of the "white witch" followed. Most of the rebels were +too busy improving the shining hour of unlimited loot. +A half-breed on one side and an Indian on the other, each +with a dirty mitt on Dorothy's shoulder, led her to the +Judgment Hall of the dusky prophet, Louis David Riel, +"stickit priest," and now malcontent and political agitator +by profession. This worthy gentleman had already cost +the Government a rebellion, but why he should have been +allowed to run to a second is one of those seeming +mysteries that can only be accounted for by the too +clement policy of a British Government. + +Dorothy and her captors entered the small porch of the +chapel and passed into the sacred edifice. For one like +Riel, who had been educated for the priesthood in Lower +Canada, it was a strange use to put such a place to. The +scene when they entered almost defies description. It +was crowded with breeds and Indians armed to the teeth +with all manner of antiquated weapons. Most of them wore +blue copotes and kept on their unplucked beaver caps or +long red tuques. Haranguing them close to the altar was +the great Riel himself, the terror of the Saskatchewan. + +He did not look the dangerous, religious fanatic that he +was in reality. He was about five feet seven in height, +with red hair and beard. His face was pale and flabby, +and his dark grey eyes, set close together, glowed when +he spoke and were very restless. His nose was slightly +aquiline, his neck long, and his lips thick. His voice, +though low and gentle in ordinary conversation, was loud +and abrupt now that he was excited. + +He was so carried away by the exuberance of his own +eloquence when Dorothy and her captors entered, that he +still kept on in a state of rapt ecstasy. His semi-mystical +oration was a weird jumble of religion and lawlessness, +devout exhortation, riot, plunder, prayer, and pillage. +He extolled the virtues of the murderous Poundmaker and +Big Bear. He said that Mistawasis and Chicastafasin, the +chiefs, and some others, were feeble of heart and +backsliders, for they had left their reserves to escape +being drawn into the trouble. Crowfoot, head chief of +the Blackfoot nation, was protesting his loyalty to the +Lieutenant-Governor, and his squaws would one day stone +him to death as a judgment. Fort Pitt, Battleford and +Prince Albert must shortly capitulate to them, and then +the squaws would receive the white women of those places +as their private prisoners to do with as their sweet +wills suggested. Already many of the accursed whites had +been slaughtered, as at Duck Lake, for instance, but many +more had yet to die. They must be utterly exterminated, +so that the elect might possess the land undisturbed. + +At this point he caught sight of the newcomers. At a +sign from him they approached. + +"Ha!" he said, with an unctuous accent in his voice, and +rubbing his hands like a miserable old Fagin, "Truly the +Lord is delivering them into our hands. What are you, +woman?" + +But beyond her name Dorothy would at first tell him +nothing. Her captors briefly stated the little they knew +concerning her presence in the town. The self-constituted +dictator tried bombast, threats and flattery to gain +information from her, but they were of no avail. His +authority being thus disputed by a woman, and his absurd +self-esteem ruffled, he gave way to a torrent of abuse, +but Dorothy was as if she heard it not. It was only when +Riel was about to give instructions to his "General," +Gabriel Dumont, and more of the members of his staff and +"government" to instantly cause a search to be made in +the camp for those who might have been with the girl, +that she said he might do so if he chose, but it would +be useless, as her friends must have entered the Fort an +hour ago. + +"Hear to her, hear to this shameless woman!" cried the +fanatical and self-constituted saviour of the metis, +gesticulating and trying, as he always did, to work upon +the easily-roused feelings of his semi-savage following. +"She convicts herself out of her own mouth; she must +suffer. She is young and fair to look upon, but she is +the daughter of Douglas, the great friend of the English, +and therefore evil of heart. Moreover, she defies me, +even me, to whom St Peter himself appeared in the Church +of St. James at Washington, Columbia! Take her hence and +keep her as a prisoner until we decide what fate shall +be hers. In the days of the old prophets the dogs licked +the blood of a woman from the stones--of a woman who +deserved better than she." + +With a wave of his hand the arch rebel, who was yet to +pay the penalty of his inordinate vanity and scheming +with his life, dismissed the prisoner and her captors. +He instructed an Irish renegade and member of his cabinet, +called Nolin, to see to it that the prisoner was kept +under close arrest until her fate was decided upon--which +would probably be before morning. Nolin told some of +Katie's relatives to take charge of Dorothy. He himself, +to tell the truth, did not particularly care what became +of her one way or the other. Already this gentleman was +trying to hunt with the hounds and run with the hare. + +Dorothy looked around the improvised court-house in the +vague hope of finding some one whom she might have known +in the days of peace, and whose intervention would count +for something. But alas! the vision of dark, cruel and +uncompromising faces that met her gaze, gave her no hope. +They had all been wrought up to such a high pitch of +excitement that murder itself was but an item in their +programme. Her heart sank within her, but still her mind +was active. She was not one of the sort who submit tamely +to what appears to be the inevitable. She came of a +fighting stock--of a race that had struggled much, and +prevailed. + +Katie's male kinsman, the huge half-breed and the officious +redskin, again seized Dorothy and hurried her away, +followed by the curious, straggling mob. Arrived, at +length, at a long, low log-house on the outskirts of the +town, they hammered on the closed door for admittance. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE DWARF AND THE BEAR + +Dorothy noticed that there was a light in the windows of +this house, and wondered how it was that the occupants +seemed to be quietly staying at home while evidently all +the half-breed inhabitants of the town were making a +night of it. She also noticed that when her guides had +knocked they drew somewhat back from the doorway, and +that the motley crowd which had been pressing close behind +followed their example. They also ceased their noisy talk +and laughter while they waited for the door to be opened. +Only Katie, the flouted belle who had been following them +up, did not seem to possess the same diffidence as the +others, but stood with one hand on the door, listening. +Dorothy became strangely curious as to the inmates of +this isolated house. + +A strange shuffling and peculiar deep breathing were +heard in the passage; a bolt was withdrawn, Katie drew +quickly back, and next moment the door was thrown open. +A flood of light streamed out, and two weird and startling +figures were outlined sharply against it. Instinctively +Dorothy shrank backwards with a sense of wonder and fear. +Standing on its hind legs in the doorway was a bear, and +by its side a dwarf with an immense head covered with a +great crop of hair, and with long arms and a broad chest +which indicated great strength. + +"Whur-r! What you want here and at this hour of night, +you cut-throats, you?" asked the outspoken manikin in a +voice of sufficient volume to have equipped half-a-dozen +men. + +"A sweetheart for you, Pepin. A sweetheart, _mon ami_" +answered the big breed, in a conciliatory voice. + +Dorothy nearly sank to the ground in horror when she +heard this rude jest. + +"Bah!" cried the manikin, "it is another female you will +want to foist off upon me, is it? Eh? What? But no, +_coquin_, Pepin has not been the catch of the Saskatchewan +all these years without learning wisdom. Who is she--a +prisoner? Eh? Is not that so?" + +"That is so, Pepin, she is preesonar, and Riel has ordered +her to be detained here. Your house is the only quiet +one in the town this night, and that is why we came. Tell +Antoine to be so good as to stand back." + +Antoine was the bear, which still stood swaying gently +from one side to the other with a comical expression of +inquiry and gravity on its old-fashioned face. + +Pepin surveyed the mob with no friendly scrutiny. + +"What you want here, you _canaille, sans-culottes?_" he +demanded. And then in no complimentary terms he bade them +begone. + +The crowd, however, still lingered, with that spirit of +curiosity peculiar to most crowds; so the dwarf brought +them to their senses. Suddenly poking Antoine in the +ribs, he brought him down on all fours, and then, brushing +past Dorothy and her captors, and still leading the bear, +he charged the mob with surprising agility, scattering +it right and left. It was evident that they stood in +wholesome dread of Pepin and his methods. Then, coming +back with the bear, he put one hand on his heart, and +with a bow of grotesque gallantry, bade Dorothy enter +the house. The Indian he promptly sent about his business +with a sudden blow over the chest that would probably +have injured a white man's bones. The red man looked +for a moment as if he meditated reprisals, but Pepin +merely blinked at the cudgel, and Man-of-might, with a +disgusted "Ough! ough!" changed his mind and incontinently +fled. Dorothy's captor, Pierre La Chene, and Katie, alone +entered the dwarf's abode. + +It suddenly occurred to Dorothy that this was the Pepin +Quesnelle of whom and of whose tame bear Rory was wont +to tell tales. Dorothy noticed that Katie had a brief +whispered conference with the truculent Pepin before +entering. The result of it was somewhat unexpected; the +half-breed girl took Dorothy by the arm and led her into +a low room, which was scrupulously clean, at the end of +the passage. There was no one in it. Katie seemed strangely +nervous as she shut the door, and the girl wondered what +was about to happen. Then the half-breed turned suddenly +and looked into her eyes, at the same time placing one +hand upon her wrist. + +"Listen," she said, "I thought I loved you, but you have +made me mad--so mad this night! Now tell me true--_verite +sans peur_--you shall--you must tell me--do you love +Pierre?" + +If it had not been for the tragic light in the poor girl's +eyes, Dorothy would have laughed in her face at the bare +idea. As it was, she answered in such an emphatic way +that Katie had no more doubts on that point. Then Dorothy +asked the latter to send Pierre to her and to be herself +present at the interview. + +Katie at first demurred. She was afraid that the interview +might prove too much for the susceptible frail one. But +she brought him in, and when Dorothy had spoken a few +words to him, the fickle swain was only too anxious to +make it up with his real love. This satisfactory part +of the programme completed, Katie packed him off into +the next room, and then, with the emotional and +demonstrative nature of her people, literally grovelled +in the dust before Dorothy. She stooped and kissed her +moccasined feet, and called on the girl to forgive her +for her treacherous conduct But Dorothy raised her from +the ground and comforted her as best she could. To her +she was as a child, although perhaps her passion was a +revelation that as yet she but imperfectly comprehended. +But Katie was to prove the sincerity of her regret in a +practical fashion. + +"Where are your friends?" she asked. "Tell me +everything--yes, you can trust me. By the Blessed Virgin, +I swear I will serve you faithfully!" She raised her +great dark tear-stained eyes to Dorothy's. + +The girl instinctively felt that Katie was to be trusted. +The only question was, could she count upon her discretion? +She felt that she could do that also; she knew that in +a matter of intrigue the dusky metis have no equals. The +chances were that the others had reached the Fort; if +so, no more harm could be done. Briefly she told Katie +about those who had started out with her to steal through +the rebel lines to the English garrison. + +"If Jacques and the women went in the direction you say," +said Katie, "the chances are they have got to the Fort. +It matters not about the Police and Rory--they can look +after themselves. I doubt, however, if your father and +the sergeant have got through. You will stay in this +house while I go and see. I have many friends among our +people; the hearts of some of them not being entirely +with Riel, they will help me. I shall take Pierre. Pepin +and his mother you need not fear--they are not of the +rebels; they have lived too long at Medicine Hat with +the whites." + +And then she went on briefly to explain how Pepin was a +man renowned for his great wisdom and his cunning, as +well as for the bodily strength which had once enabled +him to strangle a bear. Still, his one great weakness +was conceit of his personal appearance, and his belief +that every woman was making a dead set at him. He also +prided himself upon his manners, which were either absurdly +elaborate or rough to a startling degree, as the mood +seized him, and as Dorothy had seen for herself. His +mother, whom she would see in the next room, was rather +an amiable old soul, whose one providentially overpowering +delusion was that Pepin was all that he considered himself +to be. She regarded most young unengaged women with +suspicion, as she fancied they looked upon her son with +matrimonial designs. Katie knew that the old lady was +at heart a match-maker, but, with the exception of herself, +who, however, was engaged, she had found no one good or +beautiful enough to aspire to an alliance with the +Quesnelle family. + +Dorothy felt vastly relieved at hearing all this. Then +Katie took her by the hand, and, telling her to be of +good courage, as she had nothing to fear led her into +the next room. + +"A good daughter for you, mother," she said smilingly to +the dame who sat by the fire. + +The old white-haired woman, who was refreshingly clean +and tidy, turned her dark eyes sharply upon the new +arrival. Whether it was that Dorothy was prepossessed in +her favour and showed it, and that the old lady took it +as a personal compliment, or that the physical beauty of +the girl appealed to her, is immaterial; but the fact +remained that she in her turn was favourably impressed. +She motioned to a seat beside herself. + +"Sit hyar, honey," she said. "I will put the kettle on +the fire and give you to eat and drink." + +But the girl smilingly thanked her, and said that she +had not long since finished supper. In no way loth to do +so, she then went and sat down next the old dame, who +regarded her with considerable curiosity and undisguised +favour. Katie, seeing that she could safely leave her +charge there, spoke a few words in a strange patois of +Cree and French to Pepin, and, calling Pierre, left the +house. + +Dorothy glanced in wonder round the common sitting-room +of this singular family. It was a picturesque interior, +decorated with all kinds of odds and ends. There were +curios in the way of Indian war weapons, scalping knives, +gorgeously beaded moccasins and tobacco pouches, barbaric +plumed head-dresses, stuffed birds and rattlesnakes, +butterflies, strings of birds' eggs, and grinning and +truly hideous Indian masks for use in devil and give-away +dances. At the far end of the room was a rude cobbler's +bench and all the paraphernalia of one who works in boots, +moccasins, and harness. Thus was betrayed the calling +of Pepin Quesnelle. + +But it was the man himself, with his extraordinary +personality, who fascinated Dorothy. He was standing with +his hands behind his back and his legs apart, talking to +the sulky, uncompromising half-breed who had brought her +there. He was not more than three feet in height, and he +seemed all head and body. His arms were abnormally long +and muscular. He had a dark shock head of hair, and his +little black moustache was carefully waxed. His forehead +was low and broad, and his aquiline nose, like his +jet-black, almond-shaped eyes, betrayed an Indian ancestor. +His face betokened intelligence, conceit, and a keen +sense of sardonic humour; still, there was nothing in it +positively forbidding. To those whom he took a fancy to, +he was doubtless loyal and kind, albeit his temperament +was of a fiery and volatile nature. In this he showed +the Gallic side of his origin. It was very evident that, +despite his inconsiderable size, his hulking and sulky +neighbour stood in considerable awe of him. + +"Pshaw! Idiot! Pudding-head!" he was saying. "But it is +like to as many Muskymote dogs you are--let one get down +and all the others attack him. What, I ask, did your +Riel do for you in '70? Did he not show the soles of the +moccasins he had not paid for as soon as he heard that +the red-coats were close to Fort Garry, and make for the +States? Bah, you fools, and he will do so again--if he +gets the chance! But he will not, mark my words, Bastien +Lagrange; this time the red-coats will catch him, and he +and you--yes, you, you chuckle-head--will hang all in a +row at the end of long ropes in the square at Regina +until you are dead, dead, dead! Think of it, Lagrange, +what a great big ugly bloated corpse you'll make hanging +by the neck after your toes have stopped twitching, +twitching, and your face is a beautiful blue. Eh? _Bien!_ +is not that so, blockhead?" + +And the dwarf grinned and chuckled in such a bloodthirsty +and anticipating fashion that the girl shuddered. + +Bastien Lagrange did not seem to relish the prospect, +and his shifty eyes roamed round the walls. + +"But the red-coats, how can they come?" he weakly asked. +"Where are they, the soldiers of the Great Mother? Riel +has said that those stories of the cities over seas and +the many red-coats are all lies, and that the Lord will +smite the Police and those that are in the country with +the anthrax that kills the cattle in the spring. Riel +swears to that, for St. Peter appeared to him and told +him so. He said so himself!" + +"Bah, idiot!" retorted Pepin, "if it is that Riel is on +such friendly terms with St. Peter, and the Lord is going +to do such wonderful things for him, why does not the +Saint give his messengers enough in advance for them to +pay the poor men who make for them the moccasins they +wear? Why does he suffer them to steal from their own +people? Pshaw, it is the same old tale, the same old game +from all time, from Mahomet to the present down-at-heel! +But courage, _mon cher_ Bastien! I will come and see you +ch-chk, ch-chk!"--he elongated and twisted his neck, at +the same time turning his eyes upwards in a horrible +fashion--"while your feet go so ... so,"--he described +a species of _pas-seul_ with his toes. "Is that not so, +Antoine? Eh?--you beauty, you?" and here he gave the +great bear, that had been gravely sitting on its haunches +watching him like an attendant spirit, a sudden and +affectionate kick. + +To Dorothy's horror the great brute made a quick snap at +him, which, however, only served to intensely amuse Pepin, +for he skilfully evaded it, and, seizing his stick, at +once began to dance up and down. The cunning little black +eyes of the beast watched him apprehensively and +resentfully. + +"Aha, Antoine!" he cried. "Git up, you lazy one, and +dance! Houp-la!"--the huge brute stood up on its hind +legs--"Now, then, Bastien, pick up that fiddle and play. +That's it, piff-poum--piff-poum! Houp-la! piff-poum!" +and in another minute the man and the bear were dancing +opposite each other. It was a weird and uncanny sight, +the grotesque dwarf, with his face flushed and his hair +on end, capering about and kicking with his pigmy legs, +and the bear with uncouth waddles waltzing round and +round, its movements every now and again being accelerated +by a judicious dig in the ribs from Pepin's stick. +Bastien Lagrange fiddled away as if for dear life, and +the old dame, her face beaming with pride and admiration, +clapped her hands in time to the music. Every minute or +two she would glance from her son to Dorothy's face to +note what impression such a gallant sight had made. + +"Is it not _magnifique?_ Is he not splendid?" she asked +the girl. + +"He is indeed wonderful," replied Dorothy, truthfully +enough. + +Despite the suggestion of weirdness the goblin-like scene +created in her mind, the grimaces and antics of the +manikin, and the sulkily responsive movements of the +bear, were too absurd for anything. She thought of Rory's +story of how the "b'ar" resented being left out of its +share in Pepin's castor-oil; and was so tickled by the +contrast of their present occupation that, despite herself, +she broke out into a fit of laughter. Fearful of betraying +the reason of it, she began to clap her hands like the +old lady, which action, being attributed by the others +to her undisguised admiration, at once found favour in +their eyes. Dorothy began to imagine she was getting on +famously. + +"Honey," cried the old lady, raising her voice and stooping +towards the girl, "I like yer face. Barrin' Katie, you're +the only gal I'd like for Pepin. I reckon we'll just stow +you away quietly like, and then afterwards you kin be +his wife." + +But the prospect so alarmed Dorothy that her heart seemed +to stop beating again. At the same moment Pepin showed +signs of fatigue, and the music stopped abruptly. Antoine, +however, in a fit of absent-mindedness, kept on waltzing +around on his own account, until Pepin gave him a crack +over the head and brought him to his senses. + +"Come hyar, Pepin," cried the old dame. "Mam'selle is +took wid you. I think she'd make you a good wife, my +sweet one." + +Dorothy grew hot and cold at the very thought of it. She +really did not know what these people were capable of. + +Pepin approached her with what he evidently intended to +be dignified strides. For the first time he honoured her +with a searching scrutiny. Poor Dorothy felt as if the +black eyes of this self-important dwarf were reading her +inmost thoughts. She became sick with apprehension, and +her eyes fell before his, In another minute the oracle +spoke. + +"No, _ma mere_, <no," he said. "She is a nice girl upon +the whole; her hair, her figure, and her skin are good, +but her nose stops short too soon, and is inclined to be +saucy. Though her ways are sleek like a cotton-tail's, +I see devilry lurking away back in her eyes. Moreover, +her ways are those of a _grande dame_, and not our +ways--she would expect too much of us. She is a good girl +enough, but she will not do. _Voila tout!_" And with a +not unkindly bow the _petit maitre_ turned his attention +to Antoine, who, during the examination, had taken the +opportunity of seizing its master's cudgel and breaking +it into innumerable little bits. + +Dorothy breathed again, but, true to the nature of her +sex, she resented the disparaging allusions to her nose +and eyes--even from Pepin. What a conceited little freak +he was, to be sure! And to tell her that she _would not +do!_ At the same time she felt vastly relieved to think +that the dwarf had resolved not to annex her. The only +danger was that he might change his mind. His mother had +taken his decision with praiseworthy resignation, and +tried in a kindly fashion to lighten what she considered +must be the girl's disappointment. Meanwhile Lagrange, +judging by his lugubrious countenance, was evidently +pondering over the pleasant prospect Pepin had predicted +for him. The dwarf himself was engaged in trying to +force the fragments of the stick down Antoine's throat, +and the latter was angrily resenting the liberty. + +Dorothy was becoming sleepy, what with the fatigue she +had undergone during the day and the heat of the fire, +when suddenly there came three distinct taps at one of +the windows. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE UNEXPECTED + +It was fortunate for Antoine the bear that the taps at +the window came when they did, for Pepin with his great +arms had got it into such an extraordinary position +--doubtless the result of many experiments--that it would +most assuredly have had its digestion ruined by the sticks +which its irate master was administering in small sections. +To facilitate matters, he had drawn its tongue to one +side as a veterinary-surgeon does when he is administering +medicine to an animal. On hearing the taps the dwarf +relinquished his efforts and went to the door. The bear +sat up on its haunches, coughing and making wry faces, +at the same time looking around for moccasins or boots +or something that would enable it to pay its master out +with interest, and not be so difficult to swallow when +it came to the reckoning. + +The dwarf went to the door, and, putting one hand on it, +and his head to one side, cried-- + +"Hello, there! _Qui vive?_ Who are you, and what do you +want?" + +"All right, Pepin, it's me--Katie." + +The door was thrown open, and the half-breed woman entered. +At her heels came a man who was so muffled up as to be +almost unrecognisable. But Dorothy knew him, and the next +moment was in her father's arms. The dwarf hastened to +close the door, but before doing so he gazed out +apprehensively. + +"You are quite sure no one followed you?" he asked Katie, +on re-entering the room. + +"No one suspected," she replied shortly. "Jean Lagrange +has gone to look out for the others. I fear it will go +hard with the shermoganish unless you can do something, +Pepin." + +Dorothy had been talking to her father, but heard the +Indian word referring to the Police. + +"I wonder if Mr. Pasmore has got through to the Fort, +dad!" she said suddenly. + +"I was just about to tell you, my dear, what happened," +he replied. "I was going quietly along, trying to find +some trace of you, when a couple of breeds came up behind +and took me prisoner. I thought they were going to shoot +me at first, but they concluded to keep me until to-morrow, +when they would bring me before their government. So they +shut me up in a dug-out on the face of a bank, keeping +my capture as quiet as possible for fear of the mob taking +the law into its own hands and spoiling their projected +entertainment. I hadn't been there long before the door +was unbarred and Pasmore came in with Katie here. He told +me to go with her, and, when I had found you, to return +to where we had left the sleighs, and make back for the +ranche by the old trail as quickly as possible. He said +he'd come on later, but that we weren't to trouble about +him. Katie had made it right, it seems, with my jailers, +whom I am inclined to think are old friends of hers." + +"But why couldn't he come on, dad, with you?" + +There was something about the affair that she could not +understand. + +"I suppose he thought it would attract less attention to +go separately. I think the others must have got safely +into the Fort. It seems that since they have discovered +that some of the English are trying to get through their +lines they have strengthened the cordon round the Fort, +so that now it is impossible to reach it." + +"It's not pleasant, dad, to go back again and leave the +others, is it?" + +"It can't be helped, dear. I wish Pasmore would hurry up +and come. He said, however, we were not to wait for him. +That half-breed doesn't look too friendly, does he?" + +"Pepin Quesnelle is, so I fancy it doesn't matter about +the other," replied Dorothy. + +The rancher turned to the others, who had evidently just +finished a serious argument. + +"Pepin," he observed, "I'm glad to find you're not one +of those who forget their old friends." + +"Did you ever think I would? Eh? What?" asked the manikin +cynically, with his head on one side. + +"I don't suppose I ever thought about the matter in that +way," said Douglas, "but if I'd done so, I'm bound to +say that I should have had some measure of faith in you, +Pepin Quesnelle. You have known me for many years now, +and you know I never say what I do not mean." + +"So!... that is so. _Bien!_" remarked Pepin obviously +pleased. "But the question we have had to settle is this. +If we let your daughter go now, how is Bastien here to +account for his prisoner in the morning? He knows that +one day he will have to stand on the little trap-door in +the scaffold floor at Regina, and that he will twirl +round and round so--like to that so"--picking up a hobble +chain and spinning it round with his hand--"while his +eyes will stick out of his head like the eyes of a +flat-fish; but at the same time he does not want to be +shot by order of Riel or Gabriel Dumont to-morrow for +losing a prisoner." + +"Yees, they will shoot--shoot me mooch dead!" observed +Bastien feelingly. + +"So we have think," continued the dwarf, "that he should +disappear also; that he go with you. I will tell them +to-morrow that the girl here she was sit by the fire and +she go up the chimney like as smoke or a speerit, so, +and that Bastien he follow, and when I have go out I see +them both going up to the sky. They will believe, and +Bastien perhaps, if he keep away with you, or go hide +somewhere else, he may live yet to get drown, or get +shot, or be keel by a bear, and not die by the rope. You +follow?" + +"Where ees ze sleighs?" asked the breed, taking time by +the forelock. + +They told him and he rose with alacrity. + +"Zen come on quick, right now," he said. + +Douglas was pressing some gold into the old dame's hand, +but Pepin saw it. + +"Ah, non!" he said. "There are bad Engleesh and there +are good Engleesh, and there are bad French, but there +are also good French. The girl is a good girl, but if +Pepin cannot marry her he will at least not take her +gold." + +The old dame as usual, seconded him. + +"That is right, Pepin," she said, "I cannot take the +monies. Go, my child; you cannot help that my son will +not have you for a wife. Some day, perhaps, you may find +a hoosband who will console you. Adieu!" + +Dorothy had again put on her fur coat, and, bidding the +good old lady an affectionate farewell, and also thanking +Pepin, they prepared to set out again for the deserted +homestead in the bluffs. + +"You will send the sergeant on at once if he comes here, +won't you, Pepin?" said Douglas to the dwarf. "Perhaps +it is as well to take his advice and get back as quickly +as possible." + +"Come now," remarked Pepin, "you must go. If you wait +you may be caught Bastien will lead you safely there. +Adieu!" + +He opened the door and looked out Antoine moved to the +door with a moccasin in his mouth. Dorothy said good-bye +to Katie, who would have gone with her, only Pepin would +not allow it. As Dorothy passed the latter he was evidently +apprehensive lest she might be anxious to bid him a +demonstrative farewell, for he merely bowed with exaggerated +dignity and would not meet her eyes. + +"There are lots of other men nearly as good as myself, +my dear," he whispered by way of consolation. + +By this time the last of the frenzied mob was looking +for somewhere to lay its sore and weary head, so the open +spaces were comparatively clear of rebels. In a couple +of hours another dawn would break over that vast land of +frozen rivers and virgin snows to witness scenes of +bloodshed and pillage, the news of which would flash +throughout the civilised world, causing surprise and +horror, but which it would be powerless to prevent. By +this time the stores which had burned so brilliantly on +the previous night were dully glowing heaps of ashes. +The tom-toms had ceased their hollow-sounding monotones +so suggestive of disorder and rapine, and the wild yelpings +of the fiend-like crew had given place to the desultory +howling of some coyotes and timber-wolves that had ventured +right up to the outskirts of the village, attracted by +the late congenial uproar. They were now keeping it up +on their own account. Farther away to the east, in the +mysterious greyness of the dreary scene, lay the Fort, +while in the ribbed, sandy wastes around, and in the +clumps of timber, the cordon of rebels watched and waited. + +As the fugitives looked back at the edge of the bluffs +to catch one last glimpse of a scene that was to leave +its mark on Canadian history, a rocket shot high into +the heavens, leaving behind it a trail of glowing sparks +and exploding with a hollow boom, shedding blood-red +balls of fire all around, which speedily changed to a +dazzling whiteness as they fell. It was a signal of +distress from the beleaguered Fort to any relieving column +which might be on its way. Then away to the north, as if +to remind man of his littleness, the Aurora borealis +sprang into life. A great arc or fan-like glory radiated +from the throne of the great Ice-king, its living shafts +of pearly, silvery and rosy light flashing with bewildering +effect over one half of the great dome of the heavens, +flooding that vast snow-clad land with a vision of +colouring and beauty that brought home to one the +words--"How marvellous are Thy works." No wonder that +even the Indians should look beyond the narrow explanation +of natural phenomena and call such a soul-stirring sight +_the dance of the Spirits!_ + +But there was no time to lose, for should they be taken +now their lives would surely pay for their rashness. They +threaded their way among the wooded bluffs, avoiding the +homesteads, and once they nearly ran into a rebel outpost +standing under the trees near which two trails met. They +made a detour, and at last, on crossing over a low ridge, +they came upon the deserted homestead where they had left +the sleighs, horses and dogs. + +Everything seemed quiet as they silently approached, and +Bastien seemed considerably astonished when he caught +sight of the signs of occupation by the enemy. He, +however, felt considerably relieved, for Pepin's pleasant +prognostications were weighing somewhat heavily upon his +mind. As for Dorothy, she felt strangely disappointed +when she found that Sergeant Pasmore had not put in an +appearance, for somehow she realised that there was +something mysterious in his having stayed behind. They +were passing an open shed when suddenly a not unfamiliar +voice hailed them. + +"The top av the mornin' t'ye," it said, "an' shure an' +I thought I'd be here as soon as you." + +It was Rory, who, after many adventures in dodging about +the village, and seeing Jacques and the two women servants +safely past the lax cordon of rebels, without taking +advantage of the situation to take refuge in the Fort +himself, had come back to his beloved dogs with a +presentiment that something had gone wrong with the +others, and that his services might be required. He was +singularly right. + +Bastien nearly jumped out of his blanket suit with terror +when he heard this strange voice. He had seized poor +Dorothy with reckless temerity on the previous night when +he was surrounded by his own people, but now that he had +to deal with a white man he was not quite so brave. But +Douglas speedily reassured him, and he busied himself in +hitching up a team. + +The rancher and Rory speedily compared notes. + +"It will be light in another hour," said Douglas, not a +little impatiently, "and I can't make out why Pasmore +doesn't come on, unless he's got into trouble. As you +tell me, and as he would know himself, it would be useless +trying to get to the Fort. I don't like the idea of going +on ahead, as he told me to be sure and do, while he may +be in need of help." + +"It's mortal queer," observed Rory, "that he didn't come +on wid you." He turned and addressed Bastien, who, having +hitched up two teams, seemed in a great hurry to be off. +"Eh, mister, an' what may you be sayin' to it?" + +"I tink eet ees time to be what you call depart," was +the reply. "Eet ees mooch dead ze metis will shoot us if +zey come now." + +He glanced apprehensively around. + +"It's the other man who came with Katie to the place +where they had me prisoner, and who remained behind," +explained Douglas. "He told me he'd come on." + +The half-breed looked surprisedly and incredulously at +the rancher. Dorothy had now joined the group, and was +listening to what was being said. + +"_Mon Dieu!_" exclaimed Bastien, "but ees eet possible +that you not know! Katie she haf told all to me. Ze man +you declare of he will no more come back. Ze man who made +of you a preesonar, have to show one on ze morrow, but +eet matter not vich, and dey arrange to show _ze ozer +man!_ He take your place; he mooch good fellow, and zey +shoot him mooch dead to-morrow!" + +And all at once the truth--the self-sacrifice that Pasmore +had so quietly carried out--flashed upon them. It was a +revelation. + +Douglas understood now why it was the sergeant had told +him to hurry on, and not wait. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE RETREAT + +There was a dead silence for about thirty seconds after +the half-breed had revealed the truth regarding Pasmore's +non-appearance. Douglas wondered why he had not suspected +the real state of affairs before. Of course, Pasmore +knew that his guards had only consented to the exchange +on condition that he was handed over to the bloodthirsty +crew on the morrow! + +As for Dorothy, she realised at last how she had been +trying to keep the truth from herself. She thought of +how she had almost resented the fact of Pasmore having +more than once faced death in order to secure the safety +of her father and herself, although the man was modesty +itself and made it appear as if it were only a matter of +duty. True, she had thanked him in words, but her heart +upbraided her when she thought of how commonplace and +conventional those words must have sounded, no matter +what she might have felt She knew now that Katie must +have found and spoken to him, and that her father's +liberty probably meant his--Pasmore's--death. How noble +was the man! How true the words--"Greater love hath-no +man than this, that a man lay down his life for his +friend." + +It was Douglas who first broke the silence; he spoke like +a man who was determined on a certain line of action, +and whose resolve nothing should shake. + +"I feel that what this fellow tells us is true, Dorothy," +he said; "but it is utterly impossible that I can have +it so. Pasmore is a young man with all his life before +him, and I have no right to expect a sacrifice like this. +I am going back--back this very moment, and you must go +on with Rory. Pasmore can follow up. You must go on to +Child-of-Light, who will take you safely to some of the +settlers near Fort Pitt. As soon as the soldiers get here +they will crush this rebellion at once. After all, I +don't believe they will harm me. As for Pasmore, if they +discover that he is one of the Police, he is a dead man. +Good-bye!" + +The girl caught him by both hands, and kissed him. + +"You are right, father, you are only doing what is right," +she said, "but I am coming with you. I could not possibly +think of going on alone. We will return together. You +will go on and take Pasmore's place--it will be all one +to his guards so long as they produce a prisoner--and he +can make good his escape. Lagrange here, who had charge +of me before, can imprison me along with you, and the +chances are they will be content to keep us as prisoners. +It will also save Lagrange from getting into trouble +later on." + +"Ah! that ees mooch good," broke in the breed, who had +caught the drift of the last proposal. "_Oui_, that ees +good, and then they will not shoot me mooch dead." + +Old Rory gave a grunt and eyed the hulking fellow +disgustedly. "It's nary a fut ye'll be goin' back now, +an' I'm tellin' yees, so it's makin' what moind ye have +aisy, sez Oi." + +He turned to the rancher and there was grim determination +in his eyes. + +"An' as for you goin' back now, shure an' it's a gossoon +ye'll be takin' me for if ye think I'll be lettin' yees. +It's ten chances to wan them jokers'll have changed their +sentymints by the time ye git thar, and will hould on to +the sarjint as well as to you. It's mesilf as is goin' +back if ye juist tell me where the show is, for I knows +the whole caboodle, an' if I can't git him out o' that +before another hour, then Rory's not the name av me. You +juist--" + +But he never finished the sentence, for at that very +moment two or three shots rang out on the still night. +They came from the neighbourhood of the town. + +"Summat's up," exclaimed Rory. "Let's investigate." + +The three men seized their rifles and ran up the ridge +that overlooked the bend of the trail They peered into +the grey moonlit night in the direction of the township. + +At first they could see nothing, but a desultory shot or +two rang out, and it seemed to them that they were nearer +than before. At last, round a bend in the trail, they +caught sight of a dark figure running towards them. + +"It must be one of the Police or Pasmore," said the +rancher. + +At last they saw this man's pursuers. There were only +three of them, and one stopped at the turn, the other +two keeping on. Now and again one of them would stop, +kneel on the snow, and take aim at the flying figure. +But moonlight is terribly deceptive, and invariably makes +one fire high; moreover, when one's nerves are on the +jump, shooting is largely chance work. + +"'Pears to me," remarked Rory, "thet this 'ere ain't what +you'd 'xactly call a square game. Thet joker in the lead +is gettin' well nigh played out, an' them two coves +a-follerin' are gettin' the bulge on 'im. Shure an' I'm +thinkin' they're friends av yourn, Lagrange, but they +wants stoppin'. What d'ye say?" + +"_Oui, oui_--oh, yiss, stob 'em! If they see me ze--what +you call it--ze game is oop. Yiss, they friends--shoot +'em mooch dead." + +The tender-hearted Lagrange was a very Napoleon in the +advocating of extreme measures when the inviolability of +his own skin was concerned. + +"It's a bloodthirsty baste ye are wid yer own kith an' +kin," exclaimed Rory, disgustedly; "but I'm thinkin' the +less shootin' the better unless we wants to hev the whole +pack after us. No, we'll juist let thet joker in the lead +git past, an' then well pounce on thim two Johnnies before +they can draw a bead, an' take 'em prisoners." + +No sooner said than done. They ran down the shoulder of +the ridge, and, just where the trail rounded it, hid +themselves in the shadow of a great pine. In a few minutes +more a huge figure came puffing and blowing round the +bend. They could see he had no rifle. The moonlight was +shining full on his face, and they recognised Jacques. +He did not see them, so they allowed him to pass on. In +another minute his two pursuers also rounded the bend. +One of them was just in the act of stopping to fire when +Douglas and Rory rushed out. + +"Hands up!" they shouted. + +One of them let his rifle drop, and jerked his hands into +the air at the first sound of the strange voices. But +the other hesitated and wheeled, at the same moment +bringing his rifle to his shoulder. + +But Douglas and Rory had sprung on him simultaneously. +His rifle was struck to one side, and he received a rap +on the head that caused him to sit down on the snow +feeling sick and dizzy, and wondering vaguely what had +happened. + +On hearing the commotion behind him, Jacques also stopped, +and turned. He came up just in time to secure the better +of the two rifles. The gentleman who had sat down against +his own inclination on the snow, was hauled on one side, +and while Douglas, Jacques and Lagrange stood over the +prisoners, Rory again ascended the ridge to find out +whether or not any more of the enemy were following. + +In a few words Jacques told Douglas his adventures since +he had left them on the previous night He and the women +had reached the British lines in safety, and shortly +afterwards the Police also arrived. The Fort, however, +was most uncomfortable. There were about six hundred men, +women, and children all huddled together in the insufficient +barrack buildings. After waiting for a few hours, Jacques +began to wonder what was delaying the others, and to +think that something must have gone wrong. He was not +the sort to remain inactive if he knew his services might +be required, so he evaded the sentries and stole out of +the Fort again to find his missing friends. Luck had so +far favoured him, and he had wished many of the rebels +good-night without arousing any suspicion as to his +identity, when unexpectedly he stumbled against a picquet. +It had doubtless got about that there were spies and +strangers in the town, for when they challenged him his +response was not considered satisfactory, and they ordered +him to lay down his rifle and put up his hands. He made +off instead, and, by dodging and ducking, managed to +escape the bullets they sent after him. He had lost his +rifle by stumbling in the snow, but he was fleet of foot, +and soon managed to get ahead of his pursuers. He knew +where there was a rifle if only he could reach the sleighs. +He had hardly expected such good fortune as to fall in +with his party again, having feared that they had been +captured by the rebels. He advised Douglas to get back +to the ranche by a little-used circuitous trail, as now +it was pretty certain that the whole township was aroused, +and the rebels would be out scouring the countryside for +them in another hour or less. The only consolation that +lay in the situation to Jacques was that he would now +have an opportunity of seeking out and finally settling +his little difference with his _bete noire_, Leopold St. +Croix. + +Rory came down from the ridge and reported that it would +now be madness to attempt to carry out their programme +of going back, as the entire settlement was aroused, and +there was evidently some little fight going on amongst +the rebels themselves. Douglas, he said, could not return +to Pasmore's guards and offer to exchange himself, trusting +to their friendship for Katie, for every one now would +see them; they might only precipitate Pasmore's fate, +and probably get shot themselves. They must get back to +Child-of-Light. + +It was certainly a distressing thing to have to do after +all they had gone through, but the worst part of the +whole affair was the thought of having to return leaving +the man who had risked his life for them at the mercy of +the rebels. + +But it was folly on the face of it to go back to Battleford. +Still Douglas hesitated. + +"It's too much to expect one to do to leave him," he +said, "but I'm afraid we're too late to do anything else." + +As for Dorothy, she looked sick of it all, to say the +least of it. + +"It's too terrible, dad; too terrible for words, and I +hardly thanked him for what he had done!" + +"Nonsense, Dorothy! He knew we were people who didn't go +about wearing our hearts upon our sleeves. Besides, the +chances are that Pepin or Katie will stand him in good +stead yet. Besides, they may take it into their heads to +hold him as a hostage." + +"Pardon, _mon ami_," said Jacques. "I think it is this +of two ways. Either we go as Rory here says, or we stop +and go back. As for myself, it matters not which--see"--he +showed some ominous scars on his wrists--"that was +Big-bear's lot long time ago when they had me at the +stake, and I was not afraid then. But I think it is well +to go, for if Pasmore is not dead, then we live again to +fight, and we kill that idiot St. Croix and one or two +more. _Bien!_ Is not that so?" + +"Thet's the whole affair in a nutshell," said Rory. "Now +the question is, what we're going to do wid them beauties? +It would hardly do to leave 'em here, an' as for Lagrange, +he knows that them in Battleford won't be too friendly +disposed to him now, so 'e'd better come, too." + +"That's it," said the rancher, "we'll make these two +breeds drive in front of us with the spare sleighs--they +can't leave the trail the way the snow is--and anyhow +we've got arms and they haven't, so I fancy they'll keep +quiet. When we get some distance away we may send them +back as hostages for Pasmore. Let us get ready." + +The horses were speedily got into the sleighs, and in a +few minutes the procession was formed. As for Rory, he +had some little trouble in starting, for his dogs, in +their joy at seeing him, gave expression to it in their +own peculiar way. A big Muskymote knocked down a little +Corbeau and straightway began to worry it, while a Chocolat +did the same with a diminutive _tete-noire._ + +The order was given to pull out, and away they went again +in the early dawn. Rory had not gone far in his light +dog-sleigh before he pulled alongside the rancher. + +"I say, boss," he said, "I ain't juist agoin' wid you +yet awhile. I know iviry hole an' corner of them bluffs, +an' I'm juist makin' for a quiet place I knows of, close +by, where I'll be able to find out about Pasmore, and +p'rhaps help him. As for you, keep right on to +Child-o'-Light. I'll foller in a day or so if I kin, but +don't you trouble about Rory. I'se know my way about, +an' I'll be all right, you bet." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A MYSTERIOUS STAMPEDE + +Before Douglas could make any demur, Rory had switched +off on to another trail and was driving quickly away. + +"Rory is as wide awake as a fox," said Douglas to his +daughter. "He's off at full speed now, and I don't suppose +he'd turn for me anyhow, if I did overtake him." + +"Let him go, father," said the girl. "Rory would have +been dead long ago if there had been any killing him. +Besides, he may really be of some use to Mr. Pasmore--one +never can tell. Do you know, dad, I've got an idea that +somehow Mr. Pasmore is going to come out of this all +right I can't tell you why I think so, but somehow I feel +as if he were." + +The rancher's gaze seemed concentrated on the tiny +iridescent and diamond-like crystals floating in the air. +There was a very sober expression on his face. He only +wished he could have been honestly of the same opinion. + +The sun came out strong, and it was quite evident that +Jack Frost had not many more days to reign. Already he +was losing that iron-like grip he had so long maintained +over the face of Nature. The horses were actually steaming, +and the steel runners glided smoothly over the snow, much +more easily, indeed, than they would have done if the +frost had been more intense, as those accustomed to +sleighing very well know. + +There was a great silence all round them, and when on +the open prairie, where the dim horizon line and the cold +grey sky became one, they could almost have imagined that +they were passing over the face of some dead planet +whirling in space. Only occasionally, where the country +was broken and a few stunted bushes were to be met with, +a flock of twittering snow-birds were taking time by the +forelock, and rejoicing that the period of dried fruits +and short commons was drawing to a close. + +And now Dorothy saw that her father was struggling with +sleep. It was not to be wondered at, for it was the third +day since he had closed an eye. Without a word she took +the reins from his hands, and in a few minutes more had +the satisfaction of seeing him slumbering peacefully with +his head upon his breast. The high sides of the sleigh +kept him in position. When he awoke he found it was about +eleven o'clock, and that once more they were in the wooded +bluff country. + +"You have let me sleep too long, Dorothy," he said. "It's +time we called a halt for breakfast Besides, we must send +those breeds back." + +He whistled to Jacques, who called to Bastien, and in +another minute or two the sleighs were pulled up. The +prisoners were then provided with food, and told that +they were at liberty to depart By making a certain cut +across country they could easily reach the township before +nightfall. + +One would have naturally expected that the two moccasined +gentry would have been only too glad to do as they were +told; but they were truculent, surly fellows, both, and +had been fretting all morning over the simple way in +which they had been trapped, and so were inclined to make +themselves disagreeable. Bastien Lagrange, who had always +known them as two particularly tricky, unreliable customers, +had preserved a discreet silence during the long drive, +despite their endeavours to drag some information out of +him. From what they knew of Douglas they felt in no way +apprehensive of their personal safety, so, after the +manner of mean men, they determined to take advantage of +his magnanimity to work out their revenge. Of Jacques, +however, they stood in awe. They knew that if it were +not for the presence of the rancher and his daughter that +gentleman would very soon make short work of them. The +cunning wretches knew exactly how far they could go with +the British. + +They began by grumbling at having been forced to accompany +their captors so far, and asked for the fire-arms that +had been taken from them. One of them even supplemented +this modest request by pointing out that they were +destitute of ammunition. Jacques could stand their +impudence no longer, so, taking the speaker by the +shoulders, he gave him an unexpected and gratuitous start +along the trail. The two stayed no longer to argue, but +kept on their way, muttering ugly threats against their +late captors. In a few minutes more they had disappeared +round a turn of the trail. + +The party proceeded on its way again. After going a few +hundred yards they branched on to a side trail, which +led into hilly and wooded country. Passing through a +dense avenue of pines in a deep, narrow valley, they came +to a few log huts nestling in the shadow of a high cliff. +There was a corral [Footnote: Corral = yard.] hard by +with a stack of hay at one end. They approached it +cautiously. Having satisfied themselves that the huts +concealed no lurking foes, it was resolved that they +should unhitch, give the horses a rest, and continue +their journey a couple of hours later. + +Jacques put one of his great shoulders to the door of +the most habitable-looking log hut and burst it open. +Dorothy entered with him. The place had evidently belonged +to half-breeds. It was scrupulously clean, and in the +fairly commodious kitchen, with its open fire-place at +one end, they found a supply of fuel ready to their hand. + +Whilst Jacques assisted the rancher and Lagrange in +foddering the horses, Dorothy busied herself with +preparations for a meal. + +It was pleasant to be engaged with familiar objects and +duties after passing through all sorts of horrors, and +Dorothy entered cheerfully on her self-imposed tasks. +She quickly lit a fire, and then went out with a large +pitcher to the inevitable well found on all Canadian +homesteads. She had to draw the water up in the bucket +some forty or fifty feet, but she was no weakling, and +soon accomplished that. To fill and swing the camp-kettle +across the cheery fire was the work of a minute or two. +She then got the provisions out of the sleighs, and before +the three men returned from looking after the horses she +had laid out a meal on the well-kept deal table, which +she had Covered with an oilcloth. The tea had been made +by this time, and the four steaming pannikins filled with +the dark, amber-hued nectar looked truly tempting. The +rude benches were drawn close to the table, and the room +assumed anything but a deserted appearance. + +It would have been quite a festive repast only that the +thought of Sergeant Pasmore's probable fate would obtrude +itself. Certainly they could not count upon the security +of their own lives for one single moment. It was just as +likely as not that a party of rebels might drive up as +they sat there and either shoot them down or call upon +them to surrender. Dorothy, despite her endeavours to +banish all thoughts of the situation from her mind, could +not free herself from the atmosphere of tragedy and +mystery that shrouded the fate of the captured one. Her +reason told her it was ten chances to one that the rebels +would promptly shoot him as a dangerous enemy. Still, an +uncanny something that she could not define would not +allow her to believe that he was dead: rather was she +inclined to think that he was that very moment alive, +but in imminent peril of his life and thinking of her. +So strongly at times did this strange fancy move her that +once she fully believed she heard him call her by name. +She put down the pannikin of tea from her lips untasted, +and with difficulty suppressed an almost irresistible +impulse to cry out. But there was no sound to be heard +outside save the dull thud of some snow falling from the +eaves. + +They had just finished their meal when suddenly a terrible +din was heard outside. It seemed to come from the horse +corral. There was a thundering of hoofs, a few equine +snorts of fear, a straining and creaking of timber, a +loud crash, and then the drumming of a wild stampede. + +The men sprang to their feet and grasped their rifles. + +"The horses!" cried Douglas; "some one has stampeded +them! We must get them back at any cost." + +"Don't go out that way," remonstrated Dorothy, as they +made for the door. "You don't know who may be waiting +for you there. There is a back door leading out from the +next room, but you'd better look out carefully through +the window first." + +The wisdom of the girl's advice was so obvious that they +at once proceeded to put it into execution. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ROOFED! + +The back windows commanded a view of the horse corral, +and they could see that one side of it had been borne +down by the rush of horses. But what had frightened them +was a mystery. There was nothing whatever of a hostile +mature to be seen. They could detect no lurking foe +among the pines, and when they passed outside, and went +round the scattered huts, there was nothing to account +for the disastrous panic. + +"_Parbleu!_" exclaimed Jacques, looking around perplexedly. +"I think it must have been their own shadows of which +they were afraid. Do you not think that is so, m'sieur?" + +"It looks like it," said Douglas; but we must get those +horses or the rebels will get _us_ to-morrow; they can +hardly overtake us before then. If I remember rightly, +there's a snake-fence across the trail, about half-a-mile +or so up the valley, which may stop them. Now, if you, +Jacques, go to the right, and you, Lagrange, to the left, +while I take the trail--I'm not quite so young and nimble +as you two--I dare say we'll not be long before we have +them back. But I'd nearly forgotten about you, Dorothy. +It won't do to--" + +"Nonsense, dad! I'll be perfectly safe here. The sooner +you get the horses back, the sooner we will be able to +consider ourselves safe." + +This view of the case seemed to commend itself to Bastien, +for without further ado he strode away to the left among +the pines. + +"I'm afraid there's nothing else for it," said Douglas. +"I think you'd better go inside again, Dorothy, and wait +till we return." + +"And in the meantime I'll pack the sleighs," observed +the girl. "Leave me a gun, and I'll be all right" + +The rancher leant his gun against the window sill, and +then departed hastily. + +The deserted huts seemed very lonely indeed when they +had gone, but Dorothy was a healthy, prairie-bred girl, +and not given to torturing herself with vain imaginings. + +She went indoors, and, for the next few minutes busied +herself in cleaning up and stowing away the dinner things. +This done, she resolved to go outside, for a wonderful +change had come about in the weather. It was only too +obvious that a new Spring had been born, and already its +mild, quickening breath was weakening the grip of King +Frost. + +Dorothy walked over towards the pines. She could detect +a resinous, aromatic odour in the air. Here and there +a pile of snow on the flat boughs would lose its grip on +the roughened surface and slip to earth with a hollow +thud. She skirted the outhouses, and then made for the +long, low-roofed hut again. She was passing a large pile +of cord-wood which she noted was built in the form of a +square, when, happening to look into it, she saw something +that for the moment caused her heart to stop beating and +paralysed her with fear. It was a great gaunt cinnamon +bear, which, seated on its haunches, was watching her +with a look of comical surprise upon its preternaturally +shrewd, human-like face. + +Dorothy's heart was thumping like a steam-engine. Fear, +indeed, seemed to give her wings, for she gathered up +her skirts and ran towards the house as she had never +run in her life. + +But the bear had just an hour or so before risen from +his long winter's sleep, influenced, doubtless, by those +"blind motions of the earth that showed the year had +turned"; feeling uncommonly empty, and therefore uncommonly +hungry, he had left his cave in the hillside lower down +the valley to saunter upwards in search of a meal. The +horses had unfortunately scented him before he was aware +of their proximity, and, with that lively terror which +all animals evince in the neighbourhood of bears, had +broken madly away, to Bruin's great chagrin. If he had +not been half asleep, and therefore stupid, he would have +crawled upon them from the lee side, and been on the +back, or at the throat, of one before they could have +divined his presence. The noise of the men's voices had +startled him, and he had gone into the wood heap to +collect his thoughts and map out a new plan of campaign. +The voices had ceased, but there was a nice, fresh-looking +girl, who had walked right into his very arms, as it +were. It was not likely he was going to turn up his nose +at her. On the contrary, he would embrace the +opportunity--and the young lady. + +He must, indeed, have still been half asleep, for he had +given Dorothy time to make a start, and there was no +questioning the fact that she could run. Bruin gathered +himself together and made after her. Now, to look at a +bear running, one would not imagine he was going at any +great rate; his long, lumbering strides seem laboured, +to say the least of it, but in reality he covers the +ground so quickly that it takes a very fast horse indeed +to keep pace with him. + +Before Dorothy had got half-way to the hut, she knew she +was being closely pursued. She could hear the hungry +brute behind her breathing hard. At length she reached +the hut, but the door was shut. She threw herself against +it and wrenched at the handle, which must have been put +on upside down to suit some whim of the owners, for it +would not turn. The bear was close upon her, so with a +sob of despair she passed on round the house. Next moment +she found herself confronted with a log wall and in a +species of _cul-de-sac_. Oh! the horror of that moment! +But there was a barrel lying on its side against the wall +of the hut Afterwards she marvelled how she could have +done it, but she sprang on to it, and, gripping the bare +poles that constituted the eaves of the shanty, leapt +upwards. Her breast rested on the low sod roof; another +effort and she was on it. The barrel was pushed from her +on springing, and, rolling out of harm's way, she realised +that for her it had been a record jump. The vital question +now was, could the bear follow? + +She raised herself on hands and knees among the soft, +wet snow, and looked down apprehensively at the enemy. + +What she saw would at any other time have made her laugh +heartily, but the situation was still too serious to be +mirthful. There, a few paces from the hut, seated on his +haunches and looking up at her with a look of angry +remonstrance on his old-fashioned face, was Bruin. His +mouth was open, his under jaw was drooping with palpable +disappointment, and his small dark eyes were gleaming +with an evil purpose. That he had used up all his +superfluous fat in his long winter's sleep was obvious, +judging by his lanky, slab-like sides. His long hair +looked very bedraggled and dirty. He certainly seemed +remarkably hungry, even for a bear. There was no gainsaying +the fact that he was wide awake now. + +Dorothy rose to her feet and glanced quickly around. +Particularly she looked up the trail in the direction +taken by her father and the others, but the dark, close +pines, and a bluff prevented her from seeing any distance. +She could hear nothing save the twittering of some +snow-birds, and the deep breathing of Bruin, who seemed +sadly out of condition. The steep sides of the valley +and the dark woods close up all around and shut in that +desolate little homestead. There was no hiding the truth +from herself; she was very much alone, unless the bear +could be regarded as company. Bruin had her all to himself, +so much so, indeed, that he appeared to be taking matters +leisurely. He had the afternoon ahead of him, and, after +all, it was only a girl with whom he had to deal. As he +watched her there was even an apologetic expression upon +his face, as if he were half ashamed to be engaged in +such an ungentlemanly occupation and hoped it would be +understood that he was only acting thus in obedience to +the imperative demands of an empty stomach. + +Dorothy wondered why the bear did not at once begin to +clamber up after her. As a matter of fact, bears are not +much good at negotiating high jumps, particularly when +their joints have been stiffening during the greater part +of the winter. But they have a truly remarkable +intelligence, and this particular one was thinking the +matter over in quite a business-like way. + +Dorothy caught sight of a long sapling projecting from +the eaves. It was really a species of rafter on which +the sod roof rested. She cautiously lent over, and, +grasping it with her two bands, managed with some +considerable exercise of force to detach it. It was about +six feet long and nearly as thick as her arm, making a +formidable weapon. + +Bruin regarded her movements disapprovingly, and resolved +to begin operations. The barrel which had helped the girl +to gain the roof was naturally the first thing that +attracted him. With a mocking twinkle in his dark eyes, +he slouched towards it. He was in no hurry, for, being +an intelligent bear, he appreciated the pleasures of +anticipation. He placed his two fore feet on it, and +then, with a quick motion, jerked his cumbersome hind +quarters up after him. + +But the bear had never seen a circus, and his education, +so far as barrels were concerned, had been neglected. +The results were therefore disastrous. The barrel rolled +backwards while Bruin took a header forward. Never in +the days of his cubhood had he effected such a perfect +somersault In fact, if it had been an intentional +performance he could not have done it in better style. +It was such an unexpected and spontaneous feat that his +thoughts went wandering again, and he looked at the barrel +in a puzzled and aggrieved sort of way, as if he half +suspected it of having played him some sort of practical +joke. + +In spite of the peril of her situation Dorothy could not +restrain a peal of laughter. A town-bred girl would +doubtless have been still shaking with terror, but this +was a lass o' the prairie, accustomed to danger. Besides, +she saw now that to reach her would cost the bear more +skill and agility than he appeared to possess. + +The barrel, being in a species of hollow, rolled back +and rocked itself into its former position. + +The bear walked round it, sniffing and inspecting it in +quite a professional manner. Then, not without a certain +amount of side--also quite professional--he prepared to +have another try. + +He sprang more carefully this time, but he did it so as +to put the momentum the other way. The result was that +he rocked wildly backwards and forwards for about a +minute, and managed to stay on the barrel as a novice +might on a plunging horse, until the inevitable collapse +came. The barrel took a wilder lurch forward than it had +yet done, and Bruin dived backwards this time. He came +down with such a thud, and in such an awkward position, +that Dorothy made sure his neck was broken. To tell the +truth, Bruin thought so himself. He actually had not the +moral courage to move for a few moments, lest he should, +indeed, find this to be the case. Even when he did move, +he was not too sure of it, and looked the very sickest +bear imaginable. + +But a bear's head and neck are about the toughest things +going in anatomy, so after Bruin had carefully moved his +about for a little to make sure that nothing serious was +the matter, he again turned his attention to the girl. +His stock of patience was by this time nearly exhausted, +and he glared up at her in a peculiarly spiteful fashion. +Then, suddenly seized by a violent fit of energy, he +leapt upon the barrel again with the determination to +show this girl what he really could do when put to it +But, owing to the previous hard usage the barrel had +received, some of the staves had started, the result was +that it collapsed in a most thorough manner. + +In addition to the surprise and shock sustained by the +bear, his limbs got inextricably mixed up with the iron +hoops, and he looked for all the world as if he were +performing some juggling feat with them. One hoop had +somehow got round his neck and right fore leg at the same +time, while another had lodged on his hind quarters. He +fairly lost his temper and spun round and round, snapping +viciously at his encumbrances. The girl laughed as she +had not laughed for many a long day. To see the dignified +animal make such an exhibition of himself over a trifle +of this sort was too ludicrous. But at last he managed +to get rid of the hoops, stood erect on his hind legs, +and then waddled clumsily towards the hut. + +Dorothy was not a little alarmed now, for his huge forepaws +were on a level with the eaves, while his blunt, black +snout was quite several inches above the sod roof. What +if he could manage to spring on to it after all! He opened +his mouth, and she could see his cruel yellow jagged +teeth and the grey-ribbed roof of his mouth. He moved +his head about and seemed preparing for a spring. Dorothy +raised the stout pole high above her head with both hands, +and, with all the strength that was in her supple frame, +brought it down crash upon the brute's head. + +Bruin must assuredly have seen stars, and thought that +a small pine tree had fallen on him, for he dropped on +all-fours again with his ideas considerably mixed--so +mixed, indeed, that he had not even the sense to go round +to the other side of the house, where there was a huge +snowdrift by which he might possibly have reached the +roof. But, being a persevering bear, and having a tolerably +thick head, not to speak of a pressing appetite, he again +reared himself against the log wall with the intention +of scrambling up. On each occasion that he did this, +however, the girl brought the influence of the pole to +bear upon him, causing him to change his mind. Dorothy +began to wonder if it were possible that a blacksmith's +anvil could be as hard as a bear's skull. + +But at last Bruin grew as tired of the futile game as +Dorothy of whacking at him with the pole, and, disgusted +with his luck and with himself, withdrew to the +neighbourhood of the corral fence, either to wait until +the girl came down, or to think out a new plan of campaign. + +As for Dorothy, she seated herself as best she could on +an old tin that had once contained biscuits, and which, +with various other useless articles, littered the roof. +She was quite comfortable, and the sun was warm--in fact, +almost too much so. She was conscious, indeed, that her +moccasins were damp. In future she would wear leather +boots with goloshes over them during the day, and only +put on moccasins when it became cold in the evening. She +knew that in a few days the snow would have disappeared +as if by magic, and that a thousand green living things +would be rushing up from the brown, steaming earth, and +broidering with the promise of a still fuller beauty the +quickening boughs. + +But what was delaying her father and the others? Surely, +if the fence and slip-rails were across the trail where +they said they were, the rush of the horses must have +been checked, and they would be on their way back now. +But she could neither see nor hear anything of their +approach. It was stupid to be sitting up there on the +roof of a house with nothing save a bear--fortunately at +a respectable distance--for company, but perhaps under +the circumstances she ought to be very thankful for having +been able to reach such a haven at all. Besides, the day +was remarkably pleasant--almost summer-like--although +there was slush under-foot. Everywhere she could hear +the snow falling in great patches from the trees and the +rocks. The bare patches of earth were beginning to steam, +and lawn-like vapours were lazily sagging upwards among +the pines as the sun kissed the cold cheek of the snow +queen. + +Dorothy's head rested on her hands, and she began to feel +drowsy. The twittering of the snow-birds sounded like +the faint tinkling silver sleigh-bells far away; the bear +loomed up before her, assuming gigantic proportions, his +features at the same time taking a human semblance that +somehow reminded her of the face of Pepin Quesnelle, then +changing to that of some one whose identity she could +not exactly recall. Stranger still, the weird face was +making horrible grimaces and calling to her; her eyes +closed, her head dropped, and she lurched forward suddenly; +she had been indulging in a day dream and had nearly +fallen asleep. But surely there was some one calling, +for a voice was still ringing in her ears. + +She pulled herself together and tried to collect her +senses. The bear assumed his natural proportions, and +Dorothy realised that she was still seated on the roof +of the log hut And then a harsh voice--the voice of her +dream--broke in with unpleasant distinctness upon her +drowsily-tranquil state of mind. + +"Hi, you zere?" it said. "What for you not hear? Come +down quick, I zay." + +Dorothy turned, and, glancing down on the other side of +the hut, saw the two objectionable rebels whom her father +had released nearly a couple of hours before. There was +an ugly grin upon their faces, and the one who had +addressed her held in his hands the gun which Douglas +had placed against the wall so that it might be handy +for his daughter in any emergency. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A THREE-CORNERED GAME + +It was now a case of being between the devil and the deep +sea with a vengeance, and Dorothy, as she surveyed the +two vindictive rebels on one side and the hungry bear on +the other, was almost at a loss to determine which enemy +was the more to be dreaded. Upon the whole she thought +she would have the better chance of fair play with the +bear. If the latter succeeded in clambering on the roof, +at a pinch she could get down the wide chimney, a feat +which it was not likely the bear would care to emulate. +True, it would be a sooty and disagreeable experiment, +not to speak of the likelihood of being scorched on +reaching the fire-place, but then she could at once heap +more fuel on the fire, which would make it impossible +for Bruin to descend, and barricade herself in until the +others returned. + +It was fortunate that the girl's presence of mind did +not desert her. Her policy was to temporise and keep the +foe waiting until the others returned with the horses. +Moreover, she noticed that Bruin sat on his haunches, +listening, with his head to one side, as if this new +interruption were no affair of his. + +A brilliant idea occurred to her, and already she almost +began to look upon Bruin as an ally. As yet the half-breeds +were unaware of the bear's proximity. + +The girl, without rising, picked up the pole and placed +it across her knees. + +"What is the matter with you?" she asked the taller of +the two rebels. "Don't you want to return to Battleford?" + +"Eet is too late how, and we want you," explained the +first villain. "Come down queeck. Eet is no time we have +to waste. Eef we have to fetch you eet will be ver' bad +for you." + +"Dear me!" remarked Dorothy, outwardly keeping cool, but +not without serious misgivings. "I can't think what you +can want with me. But, as you're so anxious, I'll come +down--in a few minutes--when my father and the others +return." + +"Ze horses they in big snowdreeft stuck and ze man cannot +leaf. Come down now--we want you!" + +It was obvious to Dorothy that the two rebels, in taking +a circuitous route to the hut, had come upon the horses +stuck fast in a snowdrift, and that her father and Jacques +and Bastien were busily engaged in trying to extricate +them. Knowing that the girl must have been left alone +with the fire-arms, the two rebels had hurried back to +secure them, with wild, half-formed ideas of revenge +stirring their primitive natures. + +Dorothy's policy was to keep cool, in order not to +precipitate any action on their part. + +"Co-om," said the taller one, whose villainous appearance +was not lessened by a cast in his right eye, "we want +you to gif us to eat. Co-om down." + +"Goodness! have you eaten all we gave you already? You +must have wonderful appetites, to be sure. If you look +in the sleigh--" + +"Pshaw! co-om you down and get. What for you sit all +alone up there? Eet is not good to sit zere, and you will +catch cold." + +"Oh, don't trouble about me, thanks. I'm all right; I +don't catch cold easily--" + +What the cross-eyed one ejaculated at this point will +not bear repetition. He actually so far forgot himself +as to threaten Dorothy with bodily violence if she did +not at once obey him. But as the girl only remained +seated, with apparent unconcern, upon the biscuit tin, +and gazed mildly into his face, it became evident to the +big rebel that he was only wasting words in thus addressing +her. He prepared to ascend the snow bank, jump thence on +to the roof, and fetch her down by force. + +Dorothy, like Sister Ann of Bluebeard fame, gazed anxiously +around and listened with all the intensity born of her +desperate state; but there was nothing to be seen or +heard. Only Bruin had risen again and was coming slowly +towards the hut. A bright scheme suggested itself to the +girl; but she would wait until the cross-eyed one discovered +how utterly rotten and soft the snow-bank had become +before putting it into practice. She must gain all the +time she could. + +The rebel managed to reach the top of the drift, which +was nearly on a level with the roof of the hut, without +sinking more than an inch or two into the snow; but when +he braced himself preparatory to springing across the +intervening wind-cleared space, the crust gave and down +he went nearly up to the waist. The more he struggled, +the deeper he sank. His flow of language was so persistent +and abusive that even Bruin, on the other side of the +hut, stood still to listen and wonder. It was as much as +Dorothy could do to keep from laughing heartily at the +fellow's discomfiture, but she restrained herself, as +such a course might only drive him to some unpleasant +and desperate measure. She, however, thought it a pity +that only one of them should be struggling in the drift. +She must drive the other into it also. She therefore rose +and called to the second villain, on whose evil face +there was an unmistakable grin. Like Bastien, and most +of his kind, he had no objections to seeing his own +friends suffer so long as he himself came by no harm. + +"Ho, you there!" she cried in apparent indignation. "Don't +you see your friend in the drift? Why don't you give him +a hand out? Are you afraid?" + +But the second villain was too old a bird to be caught +with chaff, and replied by putting his mitted hand to +one side of his nose, at the same time closing his right +eye. He bore eloquent testimony to the universality of +the great sign language. + +"You are a coward!" she exclaimed, disgusted with the +man, and at the failure of her little scheme. + +"A nice comrade, you! I wonder you ever had the spirit +to rebel!" + +This was too much for the rogue's equanimity, and he +launched into such a torrent of abuse that the girl was +obliged to put her fingers in her ears. He, however, +went to the trouble of crawling over the snowdrift and +picking up the gun which his worthy mate had dropped when +he broke through the crust By this time the first villain +had managed to extricate himself, and had moved into the +clear space opposite the front door of the hut The eyes +of the two were now fairly glowing with rage, and they +prepared to storm the position. One of them was in the +act of giving a back to the other when. Dorothy appeared +on the scene with the sapling. + +"Don't be silly," she cried. "If you do anything of that +sort I shall use the pole. Go round to the back; there's +a barrel there, and if you can set it up on end against +the wall, I'll come down quietly." + +They looked up at her; they did not quite understand all +she said, but the girl's face seemed so innocent and +unconcerned that they strode round the hut, still keeping +their evil eyes upon Dorothy and her weapon of defence. +It must be confessed that Dorothy had some qualms of +conscience in thus introducing them to Bruin, but her +own life was perhaps at stake, and they had brought the +introduction on themselves. Still, they had a gun, and +there were two of them, so it would be a case of a fair +field and no favour. + +Bruin heard them coming and stood on his hind legs to +greet them. Next moment the three were face to face. It +would have been difficult to imagine a more undignified +encounter. The big breed's legs seemed to collapse under +him; the other, who carried the gun, and was therefore +the more self-possessed of the couple, brought it sharply +to his shoulder and fired. + +Bruin dropped on his knees, but speedily rose again, for +a bear, unless hit in a vital place, is one of the most +difficult animals to kill; and in this case the bullet +had merely glanced off one of his massive shoulder-blades. +Being ignorant of the resources of a magazine rifle, the +half-breed dropped it, and ran towards a deserted outhouse +close to the horse corral. + +Thoroughly infuriated now by the bullet-wound, the bear +made after him. As he could not annihilate the two men +at once, he confined his efforts with praiseworthy +singleness of purpose to the man who had fired the shot. +It was lucky for the fugitive that bullet had somewhat +lamed the great brute, otherwise it would not have needed +to run far before overtaking him. + +It was an exciting chase. The breed reached the hut, but, +as there was neither open door nor window, he was obliged +to scuttle round and round it, after the manner of a +small boy pursued by a big one. Sometimes the bear, with +almost human intelligence, would stop short and face the +other way, when the breed would all but run into him, +and then the route would be reversed. On the Countenance +of the hunted one was a look of mortal terror; his eyes +fairly started from his head, and his face streamed with +perspiration. It seemed like a judgment upon him for +breaking his word to the rancher and interfering with +the girl, when he might now have been well on his way to +Battleford. + +While this was going on, the cross-eyed ruffian endeavoured +to clamber on to the roof of the hut by jumping up and +catching the projecting sapling as Dorothy had done, but +the girl stopped him in this by tapping his knuckles with +the pole. + +"Pick up and hand me that gun," she said, pointing to +it. "When you have done so, I will allow you to come up." + +The cross-eyed one looked sadly astonished, but as he +did not know the moment when the bear might give up +chasing his worthy comrade to give him a turn, he did as +he was bid. The rifle would be of no use to the girl, +anyhow, and, besides, her father and the others must have +heard the shot and would be on their way back to see what +the matter was. It would therefore be as well to comply +with her request and try to explain that their seemingly +ungrateful conduct had only been the outcome of their +innate playfulness. If they had erred it was in carrying +a joke a trifle too far. + +As soon as Dorothy found herself in possession of the +rifle she knew that she was safe. She even laid the pole +flat on the roof, allowing one end of it to project a +foot or so beyond it so as to aid the cross-eyed one in +his unwonted gymnastic feat. In a few moments the +discomfited villain stood on the roof in front of her. + +Dorothy lowered the lever of the Winchester so that he +could see it and pumped another cartridge into the barrel. +The half-breed realised the extent of his folly, but saw +it was too late to do anything. + +"Now stand over in that far corner," said the girl to +him, "or I will shoot you." + +But the cross-eyed one was humility itself, and protested +that he could not for all the gold in the bed of the +Saskatchewan have lifted a finger to do the dear young +Mam'selle any harm. In his abject deference he was even +more nauseous than in his brazen brutality. He did as he +was bid all the same, and the two turned their attention +to the unlucky man who was having such a lively time with +Bruin. Dorothy, however, did not forget to keep a sharp +eye on the man near her. + +Had there not been such tragic possibilities in the temper +and strength of the bear, the situation might have been +eminently entertaining. The position of the two principals +in the absorbing game of life and death was not an uncommon +one. Bruin stood upright at one corner of the hut and +the half-breed stood at another: each was watching the +other intently as a cat and mouse might be expected to +do. The man's mitted hands rested against the angle of +the wall and his legs straddled out on either side so as +to be ready to start off in any direction at a moment's +notice. Whenever the bear made a move the half-breed +slightly lowered his body and dug his feet more securely +into the soft snow. They resembled two boys watching each +other in a game of French and English. After standing +still for a minute or two and regaining their wind, they +would start off to their positions at two other corners. +Sometimes the bear would be unseen by the man, and this +state of affairs was generally a very puzzling and +unsatisfactory one for the latter, as he never knew from +which direction Bruin might not come charging down upon +him. + +When the two spectators on the roof turned their attention +to the two actors, the latter were in the watching +attitude, but almost immediately the game of "tag" began +again. The pursued one was evidently in considerable +distress; his face matched the colour of his knitted +crimson tuque, at the end of which a long blue tassel +dangled in a fantastic fashion. His whole attitude was +that of one suffering from extreme physical and nervous +tension. Dorothy's first impulse was to try and shoot +the bear, but owing to the distance and its movements +she realised that this would be a matter of considerable +difficulty. Besides, unless the bear-hunted rogue were +fool enough to leave the friendly vantage of the hut, it +was obvious that he would be quite able to evade the +enemy until such time as her father and the others came. +This would serve the useful purpose of keeping him out +of mischief and rendering him a source of innocent +entertainment to his friend, for it must be admitted that +the latter, now that he was safe, or considered himself +so, adopted the undignified, not to say unchristian-like, +attitude of openly expressing a sporting interest in the +proceedings. + +But the fugitive had grown tired of the trying device of +dodging the bear round four corners, and, thinking that +if he could only get to the horse corral and squeeze +between the posts, he could, by keeping it between himself +and Bruin, gain the hut at the far end and mount on to +the roof. He determined to put his scheme to the test. +So, when for a moment he lost sight of Bruin behind the +other corner, he made a frantic bolt for the fence. But +his enemy happened to be making a dash round that side +of the house from which Leon reckoned he had no right to +make, one, and the result was that in another instant +the beast was close at his heels. It was an exciting +moment, and Dorothy, despite the fact that the hunted +one was a dangerous enemy, could not restrain a cry of +horror when she saw his imminent peril. She would have +shot at the bear if she could, but just at that moment +it happened to be going too fast for her. + +As for the cross-eyed one, it was indeed a treat to see +Leon, who had laughed at him when he sank into the +snowdrift, flying for his life with a look of ghastly +terror on his face. It was a case of retributive justice +with a vengeance. His sporting tendencies were again in +the ascendant, and he clapped his hands and yelled with +delight. + +The hunted half-breed managed to reach and squeeze through +the fence ahead of the bear, but the latter, to Leon's +dismay, succeeded in getting through after him, lifting +up the heavy rails with his strong snout and great back +as if they were so many pieces of cane. Then for the next +three minutes Leon only managed to save himself by a very +creditable acrobatic performance, which consisted of +passing from one side of the fence to the other after +the manner of a harlequin. He had lost his tuque, and +the bear had spared time to rend it to shreds with its +great jaws and one quick wrench of its forepaws. His +stout blue coat was ripped right down the back, and +altogether he was in a sorry plight. + +The cross-eyed one had never witnessed anything so funny +in all his life, and fairly danced about on the roof in +his glee. There was every chance that Leon would be clawed +up past all recognition in the next few minutes, so he +shouted encouragement to Bruin for all he was worth. + +Then to the girl's horror she saw the hunted half-breed +stumble in the snow, and the bear grab him by his short +blue coat just as he was wriggling under the fence. +Dorothy did not hesitate to act promptly now. If she +did not instantly put a bullet into the bear the man +would be torn to pieces before her eyes, and that would +be too horrible. True, she might just possibly kill the +man by firing, but better that than he should be killed +by Bruin. Fortunately she was accustomed to fire-arms, +and was a fairly good shot, so, putting the rifle to her +shoulder, she took aim and drew the trigger. + +It was a good shot, for the bullet penetrated a little +behind the left shoulder, in the neighbourhood of the +heart, and the bear, releasing his grip upon Leon, lurched +forward and lay still, while the breed crawled, in a very +dishevelled condition, into the horse corral. + +Dorothy was congratulating herself upon her success, and +was in the act of heaving a sigh of relief, when suddenly +the rifle, which for the moment she held loosely in her +right hand, was snatched from her grasp. At the same +moment an arm was thrust round her throat, and she was +thrown roughly on the snow. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +CHECKMATED + +For a minute or two Dorothy struggled to free herself +from her burly captor, but it was the struggle of the +gazelle with the tiger, and the tiger prevailed. He +laughed brutally, and put his knee upon her chest. + +Even then she managed to slide her hand down to her side, +where, after the manner of most people in that land, she +carried a sheath-knife. This she succeeded in drawing, +but the half-breed saw the gleam of the steel and caught +her wrist with his vice-like fingers. + +"Ho, Leon!" he yelled; "coom quick, and bring ze rope!" + +It was a wonderful change that had come over the cross-eyed +one. A few minutes before and he had been an abject +coward; now he was the blustering bully and villain, with +his worst passions roused, and ready to take any risks +to gratify his thirst for revenge. + +As for Dorothy, she saw the futility of struggling, and +lay still. What could have happened to her father and +Jacques that they did not come up? Surely they must be +near at hand. Was God going to allow these men, whose +lives she and her father had spared, to prevail? She did +not doubt that they meant to put her cruelly to death. +She breathed a prayer for Divine aid, and had a strange +presentiment that she was to be helped in some mysterious +way. + +In a minute or two Leon was also upon the roof. In his +hand he held some strips of undressed buck-skin and a +jack-knife. He seemed to have forgotten all about his +late peril in the paramount question of how they were to +revenge themselves upon the girl who a short time before +had outwitted them. The cross-eyed one hated her because +she had rapped him over the knuckles and given him a bad +five minutes when she had possession of the gun. Leon +was furious because she had brought about his introduction +to Bruin so cleverly, and given him beyond doubt the +worst ten minutes he ever had in his life. Like most +gentlemen of their stamp, they quite lost sight of the +fact that they themselves had been the aggressors, and +that, had it not been for the girl's goodness of heart, +they would in all probability have both been killed. + +Perhaps the strangest feature of the situation to Dorothy +was that Leon did not seem to resent his worthy mate's +late secession from the path of loyalty, or, to put it +more plainly, his cold-bloodedness in laying him the odds +in favour of the bear. Probably they knew each other so +well and were so accustomed to be kicked when down that +Leon took the affair as a matter of course. Dorothy +rightly concluded, however, that this seeming indifference +was merely the outcome of the cunning half-breed nature, +which never forgot an insult and never repaid it until +the handle end of the whip was assured. + +The first thing that the two villains proceeded to do +was to tie Dorothy's hands, not too closely, however, +behind her back. It was useless to attempt resistance, +as they were both powerful men, and they would only have +dealt with her more roughly had she done so. Then the +cross-eyed one proposed that they should take her into +the empty hut and tie her up. If they succeeded in getting +another rifle, as they expected they would, they could +wait inside and shoot the rancher and Jacques as they +unsuspiciously approached with the horses. Bastien Lagrange +could then be easily disposed of. It would be necessary +to put something in the girl's mouth--Leon suggested his +old woollen head-gear which the bear had chewed up--until +her friends were ambushed, as otherwise she might give +the alarm. Afterwards they could dispose of her at their +sweet leisure. This and more they discussed with such +candour and unreserve that had only the occasion and +necessity been different, the greatest credit would have +been reflected on them. + +"Oh, you fiends!" cried the girl as the horror of the +situation dawned upon her. "Would you murder the men in +cold blood who spared your lives when they had every +right to take them? You cowards! Why don't you shoot +me? Do you think I am afraid of being shot?" + +It was all like some horrible nightmare to her just then. +Brief time seemed such an eternity that she longed for +it to come to an end. She felt like one who, dreaming, +knows she dreams and struggles to awake. + +The cross-eyed one was evidently delighted to see that +he had at length aroused this hitherto wonderfully +self-possessed girl to such a display of emotion; she +looked ever so much handsomer now that she was angry. +His watery, awry eyes gleamed, and his thick underlip +drooped complacently. He would see if she had as much +grit as she laid claim to. It was all in the day's sport; +but he would have to hurry up. + +He seized the Winchester, and, holding it in front of +him, jerked down the lever as he had seen Dorothy do, so +as to eject the old and put a fresh cartridge into the +breech. But the old cartridge, in springing out, flew up +and hit him such a smart rap between the eyes that Leon +at once seized his little opportunity and laughed +ironically. + +"Good shot, Lucien!" he cried. "Encore, _mon ami!_" + +Lucien's eyes were watering and smarting, and he felt +quite like shooting his sympathetic friend on the spot, +but he kept his wrath bravely under, and resolved to show +Leon in a very practical fashion how he could shoot on +the first auspicious occasion. Yes, such a blessed +opportunity would be worth waiting and suffering for. + +And now they prepared to remove Dorothy from the roof, +and take her inside the hut. Leon was to descend first, +and then Lucien was to make her jump into the snowdrift, +where she would stick, and Leon would be waiting for her. + +Poor Dorothy knew that if help did not come speedily she +would be undone. She prayed for Divine aid. She could +not believe that God would look down from Heaven and see +these fiends prevail. God's ways, she was aware, were +sometimes inscrutable, and seemed to fall short of justice, +but she knew that sooner or later they invariably worked +out retributive justice more terrible than man's. This +was to be made plain to her sooner than she imagined, +and unexpectedly, as God's ways occasionally are. + +Leon descended, and his comrade, with an evil light in +his eyes and an oath on his lips, came towards Dorothy +to force her to jump on to the snowdrift; but villain +number two stopped him. + +"Ze gun, Lucien," he said, "hand me ze gun first time." + +The half-breed grasped the Winchester by the barrel and +handed it down to his comrade, but as he did so he was +unaware of the fact that the lever, in pumping up a fresh +cartridge, had also put the weapon on full cock. Leon, +in grasping it, did so clumsily, and inadvertently touched +the trigger. In an instant the death-fire spurted from +the muzzle, and Lucien fell forward with a bullet through +his brain. + +Not always slow are the ways of Him Who said, "Vengeance +is Mine." + +The girl sank back in horror at the sight. To see a man +sent to his account red-handed is a terrible thing. + +The fatal shot was still ringing in her ears when another +sound broke in upon the reverberating air. It was the +muffled drumming of hoofs and the hurried exclamations +of voices which she recognised. It was her father and +the others returning with the horses. She staggered to +her feet again as best she could, for her hands, being +tied behind her back, made rising a difficult matter. +She must have presented a strange sight to the party, +bound as she was, and with her long hair streaming behind +her. She heard her father's cry of apprehension, and the +next moment she caught sight of the remaining rebel +scuttling like a startled iguana towards the dense +plantation, where it would have been quite possible for +him to have eluded pursuit. But before he reached it +there was a sharp ping. He threw up his hands and fell +dead on his face. Douglas had made sure of him. + +"It's all right, dad, and I'm not hurt," said the girl +reassuringly, as her father ran towards her with a look +of anguish on his face. "You just came in the nick of +time; they were going to ambush you. Don't let the horses +go too near the corral, as they will be stampeded again. +A dead bear is lying there." + +In a few minutes she had told her father what had occurred, +and he had explained the delay. It had been as the two +rebels had said. The horses had gone off the trail into +a deep snowdrift, and it had required a great deal of +hard work to get them out. They had not heard the shot +which Dorothy had fired at the bear, for the very sufficient +reason that two bluffs intervened, and the fairly strong +chinook wind carried away all sound. They had not thought +there was any reason to be apprehensive about her, but +they had worked toilsomely to get back. Bastien had proved +a pleasant surprise in this respect--he had, doubtless, +by no means incorrect views regarding Riel's powers of +pursuit and revenge. That the two rebels should have come +back, and that a bear--a sure harbinger of spring--should +have made itself so intrusive were contingencies the +party could hardly have foreseen. As it was, Dorothy, +save for the fright, was little the worse for the rough +handling she had received, so they resolved to proceed +on their way in about an hour's time, when certain +necessary duties had been fulfilled. + +Before the ruddy sun began to go down behind the +pine-crested bluffs and far-stretching sea of white-robed +prairie in a fairy cloudland of crimson and gold and +keenest blue, the horses were hitched up into the sleighs, +and the fugitives were bowling merrily up the valley so +as to strike the main trail before nightfall. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FATE OF SERGEANT PASMORE + +When Sergeant Pasmore was left in the dug-out, or, to +explain more fully, the hut built into the side of a +hill, he sat down in the semi-darkness and calmly reviewed +the situation. It was plain enough. + +He was a prisoner, and would be shot within twelve hours; +but Douglas and Dorothy were probably now safe, and well +on their way to friends. This, at least, was a comforting +reflection. + +He heard the talking of the breeds at the door; then he +saw it open, and one looked in upon him with his rifle +resting upon his chest. These were two of the sober crowd. +There was no getting away from them. The leaders of the +rebels probably by this time knew they had a prisoner, +and if he were not forthcoming when they were asked to +produce him, the lives of his gaolers would more than +likely pay the penalty. True, for Katie's sake they had +made an exchange, but that did not matter--no one would +know. Yes, they were ready to shoot him like a dog if he +made the slightest attempt to escape. + +And she, Dorothy--well, he didn't mind dying for her. +Within the last twenty-four hours he had realised how +fully she had come into his life. And he had striven +against it, but it was written in the book. He could not +altogether understand her. At one moment she would be +kind and sympathetic, and then, when he unbent and tried +to come a step nearer to her, she seemed to freeze and +keep him at arm's length. And he thought he had known +women once upon a time, in the palmy days across the +seas. He wondered what she would think on finding out +the truth about her father's release. + +It was cold sitting on an upturned pail with his moccasins +resting on the frozen clay, and breathing an atmosphere +which was like that of a sepulchre. He wished the dawn +would break, even although it meant a resumption of that +awful riot and bloodshed. + +Yes, they would certainly shoot him when they discovered +that he was one of the hated red-coats who represented +the might and majesty of Great Britain. Why they should +now hate the Mounted Police, who had indeed always been +their best friends, was one of those problems that can +only be explained by the innate perversity of what men +call human nature. + +He was becoming drowsy, but he heard a strange scraping +on the low roof over his head, and that kept him awake +for some little time speculating as to whether or not it +could be a bear. It seemed a silly speculation, but then, +in wild regions, inconvenient prisoners have often been +quietly disposed of through roofs and windows during +their sleep. As he did not intend to be taken unawares +like that, he groped around and found the neck yoke of +a bullock. It would do to fell a man with, anyhow. + +He could hear the voices of his two guards at the door +only indistinctly, for, as has been said, it was a long, +narrow room. He wished it were a little lighter so that +he might see what he was doing. When the thing on the +roof once broke through, he would be in the shadow, while +it would be against the light That would give him the +advantage. + +At length the unseen intruder reached the straw that +covered the thin poles laid one alongside the other. The +straw was scraped aside, and then against the dark grey +sky Pasmore could see an uncertain shape, but whether +man or beast he could not make out To push aside the pole +would be an easy matter. He held his breath, and gripped +the neck yoke. + +"Hist!" and the figure was evidently trying to attract +his attention. + +Pasmore thought it as well to wait until he was surer of +his visitor. A Mounted Policeman knew better than to give +himself away so simply. + +"His-st, Sar-jean! Katie and Pepin she was send," said +the voice again. + +It flashed through Pasmore's brain that here now was the +explanation of this strange visit. The half-breed (and +it was Pierre La Chene himself) had been sent by his +sweetheart to effect his rescue. It was, of course, absurd +to suppose that Pierre was undertaking this hazardous +and philanthropical job on his own account. What else +save love could work such wonders? + +"Sar-jean, Sar-jean, you ready now?" asked Pierre, +impatiently, preparing to pull up the poles. + +But Pasmore hesitated. Was he not imperilling the safety +of Douglas and his daughter by following so soon after +them? For, should they not have got quite clear of the +settlement, the hue and cry would be raised and scouts +would be sent out all around to cut off their retreat. +He thought of Dorothy. No, he could not in his sober +senses risk such a thing. + +"Sar-jean, Sar-jean!" + +But just at that moment, somewhere over in the village, +there was a wild outbreak of noise, the sound of +rifle-firing being predominant. + +The straw was quickly pushed back over the poles and some +_debris_ and snow scooped over that At the same moment +the door was thrown open and his two guards entered; but +they came no farther than the doorway. One of them struck +a light, and immediately lit some hemp-like substance he +carried in his hand. It flared up instantly, illuminating +the long barn from end to end. + +"Hilloa! you thar?" cried one of them. + +But it was unnecessary to have asked such a question, +for the light disclosed the form of the sergeant re-seated +on the upturned pail, with his head resting on his hands. +He appeared to be asleep. + +Evidently satisfied with their scrutiny his guards again +turned towards the door to find out, if possible, the +reason of the firing. The whole settlement would be +aroused in a few minutes if it went on, or at least those +would who had not entered so fully as the others into +the orgie. What could it be? It was in reality Jacques +making good his escape, but Pasmore was not to know that. + +To the sergeant the uncertainty was painful. Could the +rancher and his daughter have been delayed until they +had been detected by some vigilant rebels? The idea was +terrible. But he noted that the grey wintry dawn was fast +creeping over the snow-bound earth, and he concluded that +the fugitives must have got through some considerable +time before. + +The firing ceased, and at last the thoroughly tired-out +man laid himself down on some old sacking, and fell fast +asleep. + +It was broad daylight when he was awakened by a kick from +a moccasined foot. + +"Ho, thar!" cried some one. "Git up and be shot!" + +The speaker did not repeat the kick, as he took good care +to stand well to one side when the sleeper awoke. + +Then the present, with all its lurid horror, crashed down +upon the soul of Pasmore. He was to be shot--yes, but +his heart glowed within him when he thought of Dorothy, +for whom he had made this sacrifice! + +He rose to his feet There was a group of dirty, bleary-eyed +breeds and Indians standing within the doorway. One or +two who had known him before looked on sulkily and +silently, for they knew that while he was a man whose +hand was iron and whose will was indomitable in the +carrying out of the law, he had ever a kindly word and +a helping hand for such as needed help. Those who only +knew him by the power he represented in the law, openly +jeered and crowed over this big "shermoganish" whom now +they had fairly in their grasp, and whom they must destroy +if the metis were to own and govern the land. They also, +however, kept well away from him, for had they not heard +how he had taken three bad Indians single-handed on the +Eagle Hills by wounding them in turn, and then driving +them before him, on foot, like sheep, into the Fort? + +The sun was shining brightly down on the scene of rapine +and lawlessness, which looked peaceful and fair enough, +in all truth, robed as it was in its snow-white vestments. +Only here and there a heap of black and smouldering ruins +spoke of the horrors of the previous night. From the +scattered houses on the flat, wreaths of smoke were rising +right cheerily into the sharp, clear air. Breeds and +Indians, men, women, and children, were moving about +everywhere, carrying with them, for purposes of display, +their ill-gotten goods. Some of the lounging figures at +the door even had resplendent new sashes, and odd-looking +articles that did duty for them, wound round their waists +and necks. At intervals Pasmore could hear an odd rifle +shot, and he guessed that the Fort must be closely +invested. His first thoughts, however, were for Dorothy +and her father, whom he hoped were now safely back under +the friendly protection of Child-of-Light. + +"Sar-jean," said a big half-breed whom he recognised as +one of his guards of the previous night, "will you haf +to eat and drink?" + +The fellow did not look such a callous fanatic as some +of the others, and although this promise of breakfast +was not particularly exhilarating, still, Pasmore had a +healthy appetite, and he answered in the affirmative. + +The big breed issued some orders, and in a few minutes, +to Pasmore's no little satisfaction, a lad brought a tin +of biscuits, a tin of salmon, a piece of cheese, and a +spoon, all obviously supplied by the Hudson Bay Company +on the previous evening free of charge--and against its +will. + +He sat down on the upturned pail once more and enjoyed +the simple fare. It was queer to think that this meal in +all probability would be his last on earth. His +surroundings seemed incongruous and unreal, and his mind +ran in a vein of whimsical speculation. It is strange +to think, but it is a fact, all the same, that certain +temperaments, when face to face with death, allow their +thoughts to take an oddly critical and retrospective view +of things in general. The fear of death does not affect +them, although, at the same time, they are fully conscious +of the momentous issues of their fate. + +The crowd gathered around the door of the long building, +and many were the uncouth jests made at the expense of +the prisoner. One or two still half-drunk Indians pushed +their way through and came close up to him, talking +volubly and shaking their fire-arms in his face. But the +big breed let out at them with his great fists, and sent +them away expostulating still more volubly. Pasmore could +easily have settled the matter himself under other +circumstances, but he did not wish to precipitate matters. +The crowd grew in numbers, and very soon he gathered +something in regard to what was on foot. + +He was to be taken to a certain little rise on the +outskirts of the village, where the Police had shot a +notorious malcontent and murderer some years before, and +there he was, in his turn, to be executed. This would be +retributive justice! Pasmore recollected with cynical +amusement how some of these very same rebels had lived +for years in dread of their lives from that desperado, +and how at the time nearly the whole population had +expressed their satisfaction and thanks to the Police +for getting rid of the outlaw, who had been killed in +resisting arrest. Now, when it suited their ends, the +latter was a martyr, and he was a malefactor. He wished +they would hurry up and shoot him out of hand, if he was +to be shot He did not know what horrible formality might +not be in store for him before they did that. But how +beautifully the sun was shining! He had hardly thought +that Battleford could be so fair to look upon. + +At last he saw several breeds approaching, and one of +them carried with him an axe and a quantity of rope. + +And behind the breeds, greeted by lusty acclamations from +the mob, came Louis Riel. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A CLOSE CALL + +As the would-be priest and originator of two rebellions +approached Pasmore, the ragged, wild-eyed, clamorous +crowd made way for him. It was ludicrous to note the air +of superiority and braggadocio that this inordinately +vain and ambitious man adopted. The prisoner was standing +surrounded by his now largely augmented guard, who, +forgetful of one another's contiguity, had their many +wonderfully and fearfully made blunderbusses levelled at +him, ready to blow him into little pieces at a moment's +notice if he made the slightest attempt to resist or +escape. Great would have been the slaughter amongst the +metis if this had happened. + +"Prisoner," said Riel, with a decided French accent, "you +are a spy." He fixed his dark grey eyes upon Pasmore +angrily, and jerked out what he had to say. + +"I fail to see how one who wears the Queen's uniform can +be a spy," said Pasmore, undoing the leather tags of his +long buffalo coat and showing a serge jacket with the +regimental brass button on it. + +"Ah, that is enough--one of the Mounted Police! What +are you doing in this camp?" + +"It is I who should be asking you that question. What +are _you_ doing under arms? Another rebellion? Be warned +by me, Monsieur Riel, and stop this bloodshed as you +value your immortal soul." + +He knew that through the fanatic's religion lay the only +way of reaching him at all. + +But the only effect these words had upon Riel was to +further incense the arch rebel. + +"Bind him, and search him," he cried. + +Pasmore knew that resistance was hopeless, so quietly +submitted. Their mode of tying him was unique. They put +a rope round his waist, leaving his arms free, while the +two ends were held on either side by a couple of men. +His late guard, the big breed, who could not have been +such a bad fellow, discovered his pipe, tobacco, and +matches in one pocket, but withdrew his hand quickly. + +"Nozing thar," he declared. + +Whether or not he thought the prisoner might soon require +them on his way to the Happy Hunting Grounds is a matter +of speculation. + +They took his pocket-knife and keys, and in the inner +pocket of his jacket they found the usual regimental +papers and weekly reports pertaining to the Police +Detachment. These are alike as peas throughout the +Territories, and not of the slightest value or interest, +save to those directly concerned, but to Riel it was a +great find. He spread them out, scanned a few lines here +and there, opened his eyes wide, pursed his lips, and +then, as if it were superfluous pursuing the matter +further, waved his hand in a melodramatic fashion, and +cried-- + +"It is enough! He is of the Police. He has also been +found spying in camp, and the penalty for that is death. +I hear he is one of the men who ran down and shot Heinault, +who was one of the people. Let him be taken to the same +spot and shot also. He took the blood of the metis--let +the metis now take his! Away with him!" + +Such a wild yelling, whooping, and brandishing of guns +took place at these words that Pasmore thought there +would be little necessity to take him to the spot where +"Wild Joe" of tender memory slept. When an antiquated +fowling-piece actually did go off, and shot an Indian in +the legs, the uproar was inconceivable. Pasmore thought +of Rory's dogs having a sporting five minutes, and smiled, +despite the gravity of the situation. But order was +restored, and with Riel and two of his so-called "generals" +in the lead, and a straggling crowd of human beings and +dogs following, the prisoner was led slowly towards the +spot fixed for his execution. + +Past the piles of smouldering ashes, and tracks strewn, +with all sorts of destroyed merchandise, they went. They +had looted the stores to their hearts' content, and were +now rioting in an excess of what to them was good living; +but where those short-sighted creatures expected to get +fresh supplies from is a question they probably never +once put to themselves. + +Silent and powerless in King Frost's embrace lay the +great river. How like beautiful filagree work some of +the pine-boughs looked against the snow banks and the +pale blue sky! How lovely seemed the whole world! Pasmore +was thinking about many things, but most he was thinking +of some one whom he hoped was now making her way over +the snow, and for whose sake he was now here. No, he did +not grudge his life, but it was a strange way to die +after all his hopes--mostly shattered ones; to be led +like a brute beast amongst a crowd of jeering half-breeds +who, only a few days before, were ready to doff their +caps at sight of him; and to be shot dead by them with +such short shrift, and because he had only done his +duty!... + +They were coming to the rise now. How like a gallows that +tall, dead, scraggy pine looked against the pale grey! +How the hound-like mob alongside yelled and jeered! One +of them--he knew him well--he of the evil Mongolian-like +eyes and snaky locks--whom he had spoken a timely word +to a year ago and saved from prison--from some little +distance took the opportunity of throwing a piece of +frozen snow at Pasmore. It struck the policeman behind +the ear, causing him to feel sick and dizzy. He felt the +hot blood trickling down his neck, and he heard one or +two of the pack laughing. + +"He will be plenty dead soon," said one. "What does it +matter?" + +But the big breed, with a touch of that humanity which +beats down prejudice and makes us all akin, turned upon +the now unpleasantly demonstrative rabble, and swore at +them roundly. In another moment Pasmore was himself again, +and he could see that gallows-like tree right in front +of him... And what was that hulking brute alongside +saying about skulking shermoganish? Was he going to his +death hearing the uniform he wore insulted by cowardly +brutes without making a resistance of some sort? He knew +he would be shot down instantly if he did, and they would +be glad of an excuse, but that would be only cutting +short the agony. The veins swelled on his forehead, and +he felt his limbs stiffen. He made a sudden movement, +but the big breed caught his arm and whispered in his +ear. It was an Indian saying which meant that until the +Great Spirit Himself called, it was folly to listen to +those who tempted. It was not so much the hope these few +words carried with them, as the spirit in which they were +uttered, that stayed Pasmore's precipitate action. He +knew that no help would come from the invested Fort, but +God at times brought about many wonderful things. + +As they led him up the rough, conical mound he breathed +a prayer for Divine aid. It would be nothing short of a +miracle now if in a few minutes he were not dead. They +faced him about and tied him to the tree; and now he +looked down upon the upturned faces of the wild-eyed, +fiery-natured rebels. + +Riel stepped forward with the papers in his hand. + +"Prisoner," he said, "you have been caught red-handed, +and the metis will it that you must die. Is it not so?" +He turned to the crowd. "On the spot where he now stands +he spilt the blood of the metis. What say you?" + +There was a hoarse yell of assent from the followers of +the fanatic. + +Riel turned to one of his generals, who cried to some +one in the crowd. It was the next of kin to Heinault, +who had been shot on that very spot, and in very truth +he looked a fit representative of the man who had perished +for his crimes. He was indeed an ill-looking scoundrel. +There was a gratified grin upon his evil face. He knew +Pasmore of old, and Pasmore had very good reason to know +him. Their eyes met. + +"Now you will nevare, nevare threaten me one, two, three +times again," he cried. + +Pasmore looked into the cruel, eager face of the breed, +and he knew that no hope lay there. Then he caught the +gleam of snow on the crest of the opposite ridge--it was +scintillating as if set with diamonds. How beautiful +was that bit of blue seen through the pillar-like stems +of the pines! + +Pasmore's thoughts were now elsewhere than with his +executioners, when unexpectedly there came an interruption. +There was a hurried scattering of the crowd at the foot +of the mound, and Pepin Quesnelle, leading his bear, +appeared upon the scene. That his short legs had been +sorely tried in reaching the spot there could be little +doubt, for his face was very red, and it was evident he +had wrought himself into something very nearly approaching +a passion. + +Riel, who had at first turned round with an angry +exclamation on his lips, seemed somewhat startled when +he saw the weird figures before him, for he, too, like +the breeds and Indians, was not without a species of +superstitious dread of the manikin and his strange +attendant. The executioner glared at the intruder angrily. + +"Wait, you just wait one bit--_coquin_, rascal, fool!" +gasped Pepin, pulling up within a few yards of him, and +shaking his stick. "You will not kill that man, I say +you will not! I know you, Leon Heinault; it is because +this man will stop you from doing as your vile cousin +did that you want to shoot him." He turned to Riel. "Tell +him to put down that gun!" + +But Riel had the dignity of his position to maintain +before the crowd, and although he would not meet the +black, bead-like eyes of the dwarf, with no little bluster, +he said-- + +"This man is a spy, and he must die. He is of the hated +English, and it is the will of the Lord that His people, +the metis, inherit the land." + +"And I say, Louis Riel, that it is the will of the Lord +that this man shall not die!" reiterated the dwarf, +emphasising his words with a flourish of his stick. + +Then an uncanny thing happened that to this day the metis +speak about with bated breath, and the Indians are afraid +to mention at all. Heinault, who during the wrangle had +concluded that his quarry was about to slip through his +hands, took the opportunity of raising his gun to the +shoulder. But ere he could pull the trigger there was +the whistle of a bullet, and he fell dead in the snow. +Then, somewhere from the wooded bluffs--for the echoes +deceived one--there came the distant ring of a rifle. + +The perspiration was standing in beads on Pasmore's +forehead, for he would have been more than human had not +the strain of the terrible ordeal told upon him. From +a dogged abandonment to his fate, a ray of hope lit up +the darkness that seemed to have closed over him. It +filtered through his being, but he feared to let it grow, +knowing the bitterness of hope's extinction. But the blue +through the pines seemed more beautiful, and the snow on +the crest of the ridge scintillated more cheerily. + +As the would-be executioner fell, something like a moan +of consternation ran through the crowd. The dwarf was +the only one who seemed to take the tragedy as a matter +of course. He was quick to seize the opportunity. + +"It is as the Lord has willed," he said simply, pointing +to the body. + +But Riel, visibly taken aback by this sudden _contretemps_, +knew only too well that his cause and influence would be +imperilled if he allowed this manikin, of whom his people +stood so much in awe, to get the better of him; and he +was too quick-witted not to know exactly what to do. He +turned to his officers, and immediately a number of breeds +started out to scour the bluffs. Then he called upon five +breeds and Indians by name to step forward, and to see +that their rifles were charged. Pepin waited quietly +until his arrangements were completed, and then, looking +round upon the crowd with his dark eyes, and finally +fixing them upon the arch rebel, he spoke with such +strength and earnestness that his hearers stood breathless +and spellbound. The file of men which had been drawn up +to act as executioners, and the condemned man himself, +hung upon his words. It was significant that, after the +fatal shot had been fired, no one seemed to be apprehensive +of a second. + +"Louis Riel," he began, "you are one bigger fool than I +did take you for!" + +Riel started forward angrily, and was about to speak when +the dwarf stopped him with a motion of his hand. + +"You are a fool because you cannot see where you are +going," he continued. + +"Can't I, Mr. Hop-o'-my-thumb?" broke out the rebel in +a white heat, shouldering his rifle. + +But the dwarf raised his stick warningly, and catching +Riel's shifty gaze, held it as if by some spell until +the rifle barrel sunk lower inch by inch. + +"If you do, Louis Riel, if you do, the Lord will give +you short shrift!" he said. "Now, I will tell you what +I see, and to you it ought to be plain, for you have been +in Montreal and Quebec, and know much more than is known +to the metis. I see--and it will come to pass long before +the ice that is in one great mass in this river is carried +down and melts in the big lakes, whose waters drain into +the Bay of Hudson--I see the soldiers of the great Queen +swarming all over the land in numbers like the gophers +on the prairie. They have wrested from you Battleford, +Prince Albert, and Batoche. I see a battlefield, and the +soldiers of the Queen have the great guns--as big as Red +River carts--that shoot high into the air as flies the +kite, and rain down bullets and jagged iron like unto +the hailstorms that sweep the land in summer time. I see +the bodies of the metis lying dead upon the ground as +thick as the sheaves of wheat upon the harvest-field. +Many I see that crawl away into the woods to die, like +to the timber-wolves when they have eaten of the poison. +I see the metis scattered and homeless. I see you, Louis +Riel, who have misled them, skulking alone in the woods +like a hunted coyote, without rest night and day, with +nothing to eat, and with no moccasins to your feet. But +the red-coats will catch you, for there is no trail too +long or too broken for the Riders of the Plains to follow. +And, above all, and take heed, Louis Riel, I see the +great beams of the gallows-tree looming up blackly against +the grey of a weary dawn; and that will be your portion +if you shoot this man. Put him in prison if you will, +and keep him as a hostage; but if you spill innocent +blood wantonly, as the Lord liveth, you shall swing in +mid-air. And now I have spoken, and you have all seen +how the hand of the Lord directed the bullet that laid +that thing low. Remember this--there are more bullets!" + +The dwarf paused, and there was a death-like stillness. +Riel stood motionless, glaring into space, as if he still +saw that picture of the gallows. While as for Pasmore, +his heart was thumping against his ribs, for the spark +of Hope within him had burst into flame, and he saw how +beautiful was the blue between the columns of the pines. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ACROSS THE ICE + +Pepin Quesnelle's weird speech had worked upon the +superstitious natures of the rebel leader and his followers +alike, for they unbound Pasmore from the tree and hurried +him away to a tenantless log hut, the big breed and two +others staying to guard him. Riel, with some of his +followers, started off on sleighs to Prince Albert, to +direct operations there, while the remainder stayed behind +to further harass the beleaguered garrison. Pasmore was +now glad that he had not offered a resistance that must +have proved futile when his life hung in the balance. He +offered up a silent prayer of thanksgiving for his +deliverance so far, and he mused over the strange little +being with a deformed body, to whom God had given powers +to see more clearly than his fellows. + +The big breed was remarkably attentive to his wants, +but strangely silent When night arrived, Pasmore was +placed in a little room which had a window much too small +for a man's body to pass through, and left to himself. +He could hear his guards talking in the only room that +led to it. Pasmore had slept during the afternoon, and +when he awoke late in the evening he was imbued with but +one idea, and that was to escape. The fickle natures of +the half-breeds might change at any moment. + +It was close on midnight, and there was not a sound in +the other room. Pasmore had, by standing on the rude +couch, begun operations on the roof with a long thatching +needle he had found on the wall-plate, when the door +silently opened and a flood of light streamed in. He +turned, and there stood the big breed silently watching. +Pasmore stared at him apprehensively, but the big breed +merely placed one finger on his lips to enjoin silence, +and beckoned him to descend. Wondering, Pasmore did so. +His gaoler took him by the arm, and stealthily they +entered the other room, their moccasined feet making no +noise. There, on the floor, lay the other two guards, +fast asleep. The big breed opened the door and they passed +out. Pasmore's brain almost refused to grasp the situation. +Was his gaoler going to assist him to escape? + +But so it was. There was no one about. Every one seemed +to be asleep after the orgie on the previous night. At +last they reached a large empty shed on the outskirts of +the village, and there his guide suddenly left him without +a word. Pasmore was about to pass out, and make good his +escape, when suddenly he was hailed by a voice that he +knew well. + +"Aha! villain, _coquin!_" it said, "and so you are here! +_Bien!_ This is a good day's work; is it not so?" + +"Pepin Quesnelle!" cried Pasmore, going towards him. "No +words can thank you for what you have done for me this +day." + +"And who wants your thanks?" asked the dwarf, +good-naturedly. "Come, the shake of a hand belonging to +an honest man is thanks enough for me. Put it thar, as +the Yanks say." + +And Pasmore felt, as he obeyed, that, despite his +extraordinary foibles, Pepin Quesnelle was a man whom he +could respect, and to whom he owed a debt of gratitude +that he could never repay. + +"Now, that is all right," observed Pepin, "and you will +come with me. Some friends of Katie's have found a friend +of yours to-day in the woods, and I will take you to +him." + +But Pepin would tell him no more; his short legs, indeed, +required all his energies. But after winding in and out +of the bluffs for an hour or more, Pasmore found out who +the friend was. Coming suddenly upon a couple of hay-stacks +in a hollow of the bluffs, the dwarf put his fingers to +his lips and whistled in a peculiar fashion. In another +moment a dark figure emerged from the shadow. + +"Top av the marnin' t'ye," it said. + +"Rory, by all that's wonderful!" exclaimed Pasmore as +they wrung each other's hands. + +"That's me," said Rory. "Now, here's a sleigh. I fancy +it was wance Dumont's, or some other gint's, but I'm +thinkin' it's ours now. It's bruk the heart av me thet +I couldn't bring them dogs along. If we have luck we'll +be back at the ranche before noon to-morrer. Jest ketch +hould av this rifle, and I'll drive." + +In the clear moonlight Pasmore could see a team standing +on an old trail not fifteen yards away. + +"But just let me say good-bye first to Pepin," said +Pasmore. + +But Pepin Quesnelle had vanished mysteriously into the +night. + +"Rory," asked Pasmore a little later, when the team of +spirited horses was bowling merrily along the by-trail, +"was it you who fired that shot to-day and saved my life?" + +"Young man," said Rory, solemnly, "hev yer got sich a +thing about yer as a match--me poipe's gone out?" + +And Pasmore knew that, so far as Rory was concerned, the +subject was closed. + +Next day about noon the two were to the north of the +valley, where lay the ranche. On rounding a bluff they +came unexpectedly upon three Indians in sleighs, who had +evidently just cut the trail. + +"Child-of-Light!" they cried, recognising the foremost. + +A wave of apprehension swept over Pasmore when he saw +the inscrutable expression on the face of the friendly +chief. Was it well with the rancher and his daughter? + +"Ough, ough!" ejaculated Child-of-Light, wonderingly, as +he caught sight of Pasmore. He pulled up, jumped out of +his sleigh, and shook hands cordially. "Child-of-Light's +heart lightens again to see you, brother," he said. "His +heart was heavy because he thought Poundmaker must have +stilled yours." + +"Child-of-Light is ever a friend," rejoined Pasmore. +"But what of Douglas and the others?" + +Then Child-of-Light told him how on the previous morning +Douglas and his daughter had reached the ranche. But as +Poundmaker's men were hovering in great strength in the +neighbourhood, he, Child-of-Light, had deemed it advisable +that they should take fresh horses and proceed in an +easterly direction towards Fort Pitt, and then in a +northerly, until they came to that secluded valley of +which he had previously told them. They had done this, +and gone on with hardly a pause. + +In the meantime Child-of-Light had sent some of his braves +to run off the rancher's herd of horses to a remote part +of the country, where they would be safe from the enemy, +while he and one or two others remained behind to cover +his retreat. But alarming news had just been brought him +by a runner. Big Bear had perpetrated a terrible massacre +at Frog Lake, near Fort Pitt. Ten persons had been shot +in the church, and two brave priests, Fathers Farfand +and Marchand, had been beaten to death. If Douglas and +the others kept on they must run right into their hands. +It was to catch them up, if possible, and fetch them back +before they crossed the Saskatchewan, that Child-of-Light +was on his way now. Better to fall into the hands of +Poundmaker and his braves, who probably now realised that +they had gone too far, than into those of Big Bear, who +was a fiend. Of course, he, Pasmore, would come with +them. + +"But are there no fresh horses for us, Child-of-Light?" +asked Pasmore. "If the others have got a good start and +fresh horses, can we catch them up?" + +"I have said I have sent all the horses of Douglas away +for safe keeping. We must overtake them with what we +have. The Great Spirit is good, and may do much for us." + +"Then let us push on, Child-of-Light, for it will be a +grievous thing if evil befall our friends now." + +For three days they travelled in a north-easterly direction, +but the sun had gained power, and spring had come with +a rush, as it does in that part of the world. The first +chinook wind that came from the west, through the passes +of the Rockies from warm southern seas, would render +travelling impossible--their sleighs would be useless. +The great danger was that Douglas and the others would +have passed over the Saskatchewan, and the ice breaking +up behind them would have cut off their retreat. + +In those three days the party was tortured with alternative +hopes and fears. Now it was a horse breaking through the +softening crust of snow and coming down, and then it +would be one playing out altogether. If in another day +those in front were not overtaken, it was pretty certain +they must run into Big Bear's band, and that would mean +wholesale massacre. In order to catch them up they walked +most of the night, leading their horses along the trail. +On the fourth day they sighted the broad Saskatchewan, +now with many blue trickling streams of water upon its +surface and cracking ominously. They scanned the opposite +shore in the neighbourhood of the trail anxiously. + +"Look, brother," cried Child-of-Light, "they are camped +on the opposite bank, and away over yonder, coming down +the plateau, are Indians who must belong to Big Bear's +band. But the river is not safe now to cross. I can hear +it breaking up and coming down at the speed of a young +broncho away up the reaches. Before the sun sets this +river will be as the Great Falls in the spring, when the +wind is from the west." + +It was as the keen-eyed and keen-eared Red man said. +There were the rancher and his party camped on the other +side, in all innocence of the Indians who, unseen, were +stringing over the plateau. There was no time to be lost. + +"You give me your jumper, Child-of-Light, and your +pony--they are the best," Pasmore cried. "I shall be back +with the others before long. In the meantime, look to +your guns." + +The others would fain have accompanied him, but Pasmore +knew that would only be aggravating the danger. Without +a moment's delay he jumped into the light box of wood +and urged the sure-footed pony across the now groaning +and creaking ice. And now there broke upon his ears what +before only the Indian had heard. It was the coming down +of the river in flood, miles away. It sounded like the +roar of a distant Niagara. Here and there his pony was +up to the fetlocks in water, and the ice heaved beneath +him. Every now and again there was a mighty crackle, +resembling the breaking of a thunderbolt, that sent his +heart into his mouth. He feared then that the end had +come and he would be too late. With rein and voice he +urged the sure-footed pony across the ice. Would he never +reach the opposite bank? But once there, would it be +possible for the party to recross? Surely it would be as +much as their lives were worth to try. + +Long before Pasmore had reached the landing, Douglas and +the others had seen him. It was no time for greetings, +and, indeed, their meeting was one too deep for words. +They merely wrung each other's hands, and something +suspiciously like moisture stood in the rancher's eyes. +As for Dorothy, she could not utter a word, but there +was something in her look that quickened Pasmore's +heart-beats even then. + +"You must be quick," cried Pasmore. "Big Bear will be +down upon you in ten minutes. Look! There they are now. +There is yet time to cross." + +And as he spoke there came a roar like thunder, travelling +from the higher reaches of the river towards them; it +passed them and was lost in the lower reaches. It was +the "back" of the ice being broken--the preliminary to +the grand chaos that was to come. The Indians had seen +them now, and were coming at a gallop not a mile away. + +Douglas, Jacques, and Bastien ran and hitched up the +horses into the sleighs. + +"You are not afraid to tackle it, are you?" asked Pasmore, +as he looked into the girl's face. + +"I'd tackle it now if it were moving down in pieces no +bigger than door-mats," she answered smilingly. + +"Then will you tackle it with me?" he asked. + +"Yes," she said. "Jump in, and I'll follow. Your sleigh +is empty, and father's is full of all sorts of things +--it's too heavy as it is. Here they come! Dad, I'm going +with Mr. Pasmore," she cried; and the sleighs raced +abreast of one another down the slope. + +"Spread out there," cried Pasmore, "and don't bunch +together, or--" + +He did not finish the sentence, for just at that moment +there came a _ping_ from the shore they had just left, +and a bullet sent up a jet of water into the air alongside +of them. There was another great rending sound from the +ice that struck terror into their hearts. Their horses +quivered with excitement as they darted forward. There +was a roar in their ears that sounded as if they were +close to a battery of artillery in action. _Ping, ping, +ping!_ and the bullets came whizzing over their heads or +skidding on the ice alongside. It was a lucky thing for +them that the Indians were too keen in the pursuit to +take proper aim. Separating, so as to minimise the danger, +each team dashed forward on its own account. + +"Stay with it, broncho! Stick to it, my son!" yelled +Pasmore. + +In the pauses of the thundering and rending there cut +clearly into the now mild air the clattering of the +horses' hoofs, the hum of the steel-shod runners, and +the _ping, ping_ of the rifles. It was a race for life +with a vengeance, with death ahead and alongside, and +with death at their heels. A gap in the ice, or a stumble, +and it would surely be all up with them. + +"Go it, my game little broncho!" and with rein and voice +Pasmore urged the brave "steed onwards. + +"Hello! there goes the breed's pony!" cried Pasmore. + +A bullet had struck Bastien's horse behind the ear and +brought it down all of a heap upon the ice. There was +an ear-splitting crack just at that moment which added +to the terror of the situation. But the rancher pulled +his horse up by a supreme effort, and Bastien, deserting +his sleigh, leapt in beside him. Then on again. + +Pasmore's pony was now somewhat behind the others, when +suddenly there was a mighty roar, and a great crevasse +opened up in front of them. It took all the strength that +Pasmore possessed to pull up on the brink. + +"We must get out and jump over this somehow," Pasmore +cried to Dorothy. "It's neck or nothing." + +So they sprang out of the sleigh, unhitched the plucky +pony, and prepared to cross the deadly-looking fissure. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CAPTURED BY POUNDMAKER + +The first thing that Pasmore did was to urge the pony to +leap the crevasse on its own account; after a very little +coaxing the intelligent animal gathered itself together, +and jumped clear of certain death. It then rushed on with +the others. + +"Now, give me your hand, and we'll see if we can't find +an easier place to cross," said Pasmore to Dorothy. + +"It's lucky we've got on moccasins instead, of boots, is +it not?" she said. She seemed to have dropped that old +tone of reserve as completely as she might a cloak from +her shoulders. + +She gave him her hand, and they ran up the river alongside +the jagged rent. Two or three bullets whizzed past them +perilously near their heads. + +"Why, there's Child-of-Light and Rory!" she cried. "I +suppose they've come to keep back the Indians."' + +It was indeed the case. The sight of the advancing Indians +had been too much, for them, and they had come out on +the ice so as to check the foe. Their fire was steadier +than the enemy's, for it did undoubted execution. + +Soon Pasmore and Dorothy came to a place that seemed +comparatively narrow, and here they essayed to cross. +The other side seemed a terribly difficult spot on which +to land, and the clear, blue water that ran between looked +deadly cold. Once in there and it would be a hundred +chances to one against getting out. + +"I'll jump across first," said Pasmore, "so as to be +ready to catch you on the other side." + +He jumped it with little effort, although he fell on the +other side, and then it was Dorothy's turn. + +There was a flush on her cheeks and her eyes were strangely +bright as she put one foot on the sharp corner of the +rent, fixed her eyes on him, and sprang. It was a +dangerous and difficult jump for a woman to take, but he +caught her in his strong arms just as she tottered on +the brink, in the act of falling backwards, and drew her +to him. + +"Well done!" he cried, "another time I wish you'd come +to me like that!" + +"Let us run," she said, ignoring his remark, but without +show of resentment. "Here is Jacques waiting for us with +his sleigh." + +And then a tragic thing occurred. The mighty waters of +the Saskatchewan had been gathering force beneath the +ice, and, pressing the great flooring upwards, at length +gained such irresistible power that the whole ice-field +shivered, and was broken up into gigantic slabs, until +it resembled a vast mosaic. The horse attached to Jacques' +sleigh was shot into a great rent, from which it was +impossible to extricate it. They dared not stay a moment +longer if they wished to escape with their lives. + +Then far five minutes they held their lives in their +hands, but they proceeded cautiously and surely, jumping +from berg to berg, the man encouraging the woman to fresh +endeavour, until at last they gained the southern bank. +Had they slipped or overbalanced themselves it would have +been good-bye to this world. Pasmore and Douglas had to +assist Dorothy up the steep banks, so great had been the +strain and so great was the reaction. Nor was it to be +wondered at, for it would have tried the nerves of most +men. They turned when they had reached a point of vantage +and looked around. An awe-inspiring but magnificent sight +met their gaze. + +Coming down the river like a great tidal wave they could +see a chaotic front of blue water and glistening bergs +advancing swiftly and surely. At its approach the huge +slabs of ice in the river were forced upwards, and shivered +into all manner of fanciful shapes. It was the dammed-up +current of the mighty river which at length had forced +the barrier of ice, and carried all in front of it, as +the mortar carries the shell. There was one continuous, +deafening roar, punctuated with a series of violent +explosions as huge blocks of ice were shivered and shot +into the air by that Titanic force. Nothing on earth +could live in that wild maelstrom. It was one vast, +pulsating, churning mass, and as the sun caught its +irregular, crystal-like crest, a lawn-like mist, that +glowed with every colour of the rainbow, hovered over +it. It was indeed a wondrously beautiful, but awe-inspiring +spectacle. + +But the most terrible feature of the scene was the human +life that was about to be sacrificed in that fierce flood. +The murderous members of Big Bear's band who had followed +them up, led away against their better judgment by the +sight of their human prey, had advanced farther over the +ice than they imagined, so that, when checked by the +deliberate and careful shooting of Rory and Child-of-Light, +they remained where they were instead of either rushing +on or beating a precipitate retreat. Thus thirty of them +realised that they were caught as in a trap. They saw +the towering bulk of that pitiless wave coming swiftly +towards them, and then they ran, panic-stricken, some +this way and some that. They ran as only men run when +fleeing for their lives. + +"It is too horrible!" cried the girl, turning away from +the gruesomeness of the spectacle. + +The Indians had flung their rifles from them and were +scattering in all directions over the ice, but that +gleaming wave, that Juggernaut of grinding bergs, was +swifter than they, and bore down upon them at the speed +of a racehorse. It shot them into the air like so many +playthings, caught them up again, and bore them away in +its ravenous maw like the insatiable Moloch that it was. +In another minute there was neither sign nor trace of +them. + +And now the party drew together to compare notes, and to +deliberate upon their future movements. Whatever was +said by Douglas to Pasmore about the sacrifice he had +made on his behalf none of the party knew, for the rancher +did not speak about it again, nor did the Police sergeant +ever refer to it. + +What they were going to do now was the matter that gave +them most concern. They could not go on, and to go back +meant running into Poundmaker's marauding hordes. They +came to the conclusion that the best thing they could do +was to camp where they were. They therefore drove the +sleighs over to a sunny, wooded slope that was now clear +of snow, and pitched Dorothy's tent in lee of the +cotton-wood trees. The air was wonderfully mild, a soft +chinook wind was blowing, and the snow was disappearing +from the high ground as if by magic. + +For three days they stayed in that sheltered spot, and +enjoyed a much-needed rest; and perhaps it was the +pleasantest three days that Pasmore had spent for many +a long year. + +"Don't you think we're understanding each other better +than we used to do?" he asked of Dorothy one day. + +"You don't insist on having quite so much of your own +way," she replied stooping to pick up something. He, +however, saw the smile upon her face. + +On the fourth day Child-of-Light had ascended the rise +behind the camp to look around before going back to his +people, and to reconnoitre in the neighbourhood of the +ranche, when, to his no little dismay, he saw a +far-stretching column of Indians coming towards them +across the plain. He cried to those in the camp to arm +themselves. In a few minutes more he was joined by Douglas, +Pasmore, and the others. To their consternation they saw +that they were gradually being hemmed in by a +crescent-shaped body of warriors, who must have numbered +at least several hundred. + +"It is Poundmaker's band," said Child-of-Light. "They +have been with the wolves worrying the sheep, and have +grown tired of that and are anxious to hide. But they +cannot cross the Kissaskatchewan for many days yet, so +they will turn and go back to their holes in the Eagle +Hills. The chances are they may be afraid to kill us, +but they will certainly make us prisoners. Shall we fight +them, my brothers, and then all journey together to the +Happy Hunting Grounds beyond the blood-red sunsets?" + +But there was Dorothy to be thought of, and they knew +that Poundmaker, though he might possibly put them to +death, would not practise any of those atrocities ascribed +to Big Bear. As the odds were a hundred to one against +them, and they would all inevitably be shot down, it +would be folly to resist, seeing that there was a chance +of eventually escaping with their lives. Discretion was +always the better part of valour, and in this case it +would be criminal to forget the fact. + +They laid down their arms, and Pasmore himself went +forward to meet them on foot, waving a branch over his +head. This, amongst the Indians on the North American +continent, is equivalent to a flag of truce. + +In five minutes more they were surrounded, marshalled in +a body, and marched into the presence of Poundmaker +himself. The chief sat on a rise that was clear of snow, +surrounded by his warriors. All the fire-arms the party +had possessed were taken from them. Douglas had slipped +his arm through his daughter's, and, no matter what the +girl may have felt, she certainly betrayed no fear. It +was Child-of-Light who first addressed Poundmaker. He +stood in front of the others, and said-- + +"Poundmaker, it is not for mercy, but for your protection +that we sue. If you have gone upon the war-path with the +metis against the white people, let not those who are +innocent of wrong suffer for those whose unwise doings +may have stirred you up to the giving of battle after +your own fashion. Thus will it be that the warriors of +the Great White Queen, who will surely swarm over all +this land in numbers as the white moths ere the roses on +the prairie are in bloom, when they hear from our lips +that you have been mindful of us, will be mindful of you. +Douglas and his daughter you know; they have ever been +the friends of the Red man. You remember the evil days +when there was nought to eat in the land, how they shared +all they had with us, and called us brothers and sisters? +Ill would it become Poundmaker and his Stonies to forget +that. As for the others, they but serve their masters as +these your braves serve you, and is that a crime? + +"As for myself, Poundmaker, I have not gone on the +war-path, because I believe this man, Louis Riel, to be +one who hearkens to a false Manitou. For him no friendly +knife or bullet awaits, but the gallows-tree, by which +no good Indian can ever hope to pass to the Happy Hunting +Grounds. + +"If it is that one of us must suffer to show that you +have the power of life and death over us, let it be me. +I am ready, O Poundmaker! Do with me as you will, but +spare these who have done no wrong. This is the only +thing that I ask of you, and I ask it because of those +days when we were as brothers, riding side by side after +the buffalo together, and fighting the Sarcees and the +Sioux. You have told me of old that you believed in the +Manitou--show your belief now. I have spoken, O chief!" + +It has been the fashion with those who have seen only +one or two contaminated specimens of the Red man to sneer +at that phrase, "the noble savage." This they do out of +the fullness of their ignorance. Child-of-Light was +indeed a noble savage, and looked it, every inch of him, +as he drew himself up to his full height and gazed +fearlessly into the face of his enemy. + +A chorus of "Ough! ough!" was heard from every side, +showing that not only had Child-of-Light himself +considerable personal influence, but that the fairness +of his speech had gone home. + +Then the wily Poundmaker spoke. He was an imposing figure +with his great head-dress of eagles' feathers, and clad +in a suit of red flannel on which was wrought a rich +mosaic of coloured beadwork. White ermine tails dangled +from his shoulders, arms, and breast. He was in reality +cruel and vindictive, but his cunning and worldly wisdom +made him a master in expediency. He had intelligence +above the average, but lacked the good qualities of such +as the loyal Crowfoot, the Chief of the Blackfoot nation, +who also had the benefit of Pere Lacombe, that great +missionary's, sound counsel. + +"Child-of-Light has spoken fairly," he said, "but it +remains to be shown how much of what he has said is true, +and how much like the ghost-waters that deceive the +traveller in autumn, in places where nought but the +sage-bush grows, and the ground is parched and dry. +Douglas and the others must come with us. We shall return +to the strong lodges in the Eagle Hills and await what +time may bring. If the warriors of the Great Queen come +to the land and molest us, then shall you all be put to +death. But if they come and stay their hand, then we +shall let you return to your own homes. As for the white +maiden, the daughter of Douglas, nothing that belongs to +her shall be touched, and she shall have a squaw to wait +upon her. I have spoken." + +He was a far-seeing redskin, and meditated grim reprisals +when the time was ripe. + +In a few days, when the snow had completely gone, they +started back to the Eagle Hills. It was heavy travelling, +and the men had to walk, but the Indians got a light Red +River cart for Dorothy, and in this, attended by a squaw, +she made the greater part of the journey. Their goods +were not interfered with, for the Indians had a plethora +of loot from the Battleford stores. But still the +uncertainty of their ultimate fate was ever hanging over +them. They knew that if Poundmaker thought the British +were not coming, or that they were not strong enough to +vanquish him, he was capable of any devilry. + +They passed into the wild, broken country of the Eagle +Hills, the "Bad Lands," as they were called, and there, +in a great grassy hollow surrounded by precipices, gullies, +and terraces of wonderfully-coloured clays, they camped. + +It was now the end of April, and the prisoners were +beginning to get uneasy. Had anything happened to the +British, or had they been left to their fate? The situation +was more critical than they cared to admit But one day +all was bustle in the camp, and the warriors stood to +their arms. + +The British column had moved out from Battleford, and +was advancing to give battle to Poundmaker. + +The critical moment had come. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE BATTLE OF CUT-KNIFE + +When the Indians discovered that bright May morning that +a British column had unexpectedly moved right up to their +position, there was a scene approaching confusion for a +few minutes. But they had studied the ground for days +and knew every inch of it, so that each individual had +his allotted post, and needed no orders to go there. +Luckily for the prisoners, however, Poundmaker had not +time to put into operation the elaborate plans he had +contemplated. Moreover, the chief saw, to his no little +consternation, that, as Child-of-Light had said, the +soldiers of the White Queen were in numbers beyond anything +he had expected. He therefore hurried the prisoners up +a narrow terrace to a high headland from which it would +be impossible to escape, and where a couple of Indians +could effectually take charge of them. The latter followed +close at their heels with loaded rifles. To the no little +satisfaction of Pasmore and the others, the headland, or +bluff, which must have been some two hundred feet high, +commanded a splendid view of the operations. The British +were approaching right across a species of scarred +amphitheatre, while the Indians, and such half-breeds as +had recently fled from Battleford on the approach of the +British and joined them, occupied the deep ravines and +wildly irregular country in their immediate neighbourhood. +They were protected by the rocks from rifle and shell-fire; +the only danger would be in the event of a shrapnel +bursting over them. + +Dorothy's face was lit up with animation as she watched +the stirring spectacle. The sight of British troops, with +the promise of speedy release after weeks of continuous +danger and apprehension, was surely something to gladden +the heart. And now they were about to witness that +grandest, if most terrible, of all sights, a great battle. + +"Look," Dorothy was saying to Pasmore, who crouched beside +her amongst the rocks, "there come the Police--" + +"Down all," cried Pasmore. + +He had seen a flash and a puff of smoke from one of the +guns. There was a dead silence for the space of a few +moments, and then a screech and a peculiar whirring sound, +as a shell hurried through the air over their heads. + +Following this there was a loud report and a puff of +smoke high in the air; a few moments later and there came +a pattering all round as a shower of iron descended. It +was indeed a marvel that none of the party were hit. The +two Indians who guarded them were evidently considerably +astonished, and skipped nimbly behind convenient rocks. + +"It will be more lively than pleasant directly if they +keep on like that," remarked Pasmore. "Look, there are +the Queen's Own extending on the crest of the gully to +protect the left flank, and there are the Canadian Infantry +and Ottawa Sharpshooters on the right. I don't know who +those chaps are protecting the rear, but--" + +His words were drowned in the furious fusillade that +broke out everywhere as if at a given signal. There was +one continuous roar and rattle from the battery of +artillery, and from the Gatling guns, as they opened +fire, and a sharp, steady crackle from the skirmishers +in the firing line and from the gullies and ridges in +which the Indians had taken up their position. Everywhere +one could see the lurid flashes and the smoke wreaths +sagging upwards. + +"What a glorious sight!" exclaimed the girl, her eyes +sparkling and her face glowing. "If I were a man I'd give +anything to be there--I'd like to be there as it is." + +"You're very much there as it is," remarked Pasmore, +soberly. "If you expose yourself as you're doing, something +is bound to hit you. There's not much fun or glory in +being killed by a stray bullet. Move just a little this +way--there's room enough for us both--and you'll be able +to see just as well with a great deal less danger." + +She smiled, and a slight flush dyed her cheeks, but it +was significant to note that she obeyed him unhesitatingly. +A month ago she would have remained where she was. + +And now the battle had begun in grim earnest. The Indians, +dreading the destructiveness of the guns and the Gatlings, +had made up their minds to capture them. As if by a +preconcerted signal a large number of them leapt from +their cover, and with wild, piercing whoops and war-cries, +made a rush on the battery. Some of them were on horseback, +and actually had their steeds smeared with dun-coloured +clay so as to resemble the background and the rocks. It +was indeed exceedingly difficult to distinguish them. +Those on foot ran in a zigzag fashion, holding their +blankets in front, so as to spoil the aim of the rifle-men. + +"They will capture the guns," cried Dorothy, trembling +with excitement, "look, they are nearly up to them now!" + +Indeed, for the moment it seemed extremely likely, for +the Indians rushed in such a way that those on the flanks +were unable to render the gunners or the Mounted Police +any assistance. If Poundmaker succeeded in capturing the +guns, the flankers would soon be cut to pieces. It was +a moment of the keenest anxiety for the prisoners, not +only for the safety of the brave Canadian troops, but +also because they realised that if Poundmaker prevailed +their lives were not worth a moment's purchase. + +"Well done, Herchmer!" cried Pasmore. "See how he is +handling the Police!" + +And in all truth the coolness and steadiness of the Police +were admirable. They lay flat on their faces while the +guns delivered a telling broadside over them on the +approaching foe that mowed them down, and sent them +staggering backwards. Then, with a wild cheer, the troopers +rose, and, like one man, charged the wavering mass of +redskins, firing a volley and fixing their bayonets. The +sight of the cold steel was too much for the Indians, +who turned and fled. The guns were saved. + +But those precipitous gullies were filled with plucky +savages, and not a few half-breeds, who, while they could +effectively pick off and check the advance of the British, +were themselves screened from the enemy's fire. For two +hours and more the fight went on with little gain on +either side. The day was hot, and it must have been +terribly trying work for those in the open. The guns +contented themselves with sending an odd shell into likely +places, but owing to the nature of the ground, which +presented a wall-like front, their practice was only +guess work. + +Suddenly the girl caught Pasmore by the wrist "Look over +there," she cried. "Do you see that body of Indians going +down that gully? They are going to attack the column in +the rear, and our people don't know it. Is there no way +of letting them know?" + +"There is," cried Pasmore, "and it's worth trying. Our +fellows are not more than a thousand yards away now, and +I can signal to them. It's just possible they may see +me. Give me that stick, Rory. Jacques, I saw you with +your towel an hour or so ago. Have you still got it?" + +In a few seconds he had fastened the towel to the stick +and was about to crawl out on to the other side of the +ledge in full view of the British, who had been steadily +advancing. + +"Do take care," cried Dorothy, "if any of the Indians +should see you--" + +"They won't be looking this way," he said, adding, "There's +sure to be a signaller with Otter or Herchmer. They'll +think it a queer thing to get a message from the enemy's +lines"--he laughed light-heartedly at the idea. "Now, do +keep out of sight, for there's just a chance of a bullet +or two being sent in this direction." + +Fortune favoured Pasmore when a shell came screeching +over their heads just at that moment, for the two guards, +who might otherwise have seen him, both dodged behind +rocks. When they looked again in the direction of their +prisoners they did not know that one of them was apprising +the British leader of the fact that a body of the enemy +was at that moment skirting his right flank in cover of +an old watercourse, so as to attack his rear. + +When the British signaller wonderingly read the message, +and repeated it to the Colonel, the latter, before giving +his troops any definite order, inquired of the sender of +the message as to his identity, and Pasmore signalled in +reply. Then the order was given to fix bayonets and charge +the enemy in the watercourse. Silently and swiftly the +regular Canadian Infantry bore down on it. Completely +taken by surprise, and at a disadvantage, the redskins +were completely routed. + +But an ambush was being prepared for the British of which +they did not dream. At a certain point the redskins fell +back, but in a hollow of the broken country through which +the British would in all probability pass to follow up +their supposed advantage, were two or three hundred +warriors mounted and awaiting their opportunity. If only +the British could bring their artillery to bear upon that +spot, and drop a few shells amongst them, great would be +their confusion. + +Pasmore rose to his feet again from behind the rock where +he had crouched, for one or two bullets, either by design +or accident, had come very near him indeed. Quickly the +towel at the end of the stick waved the message to the +officer in command. Just as he was going to supplement +it, a bullet passed clean through his impromptu flag and +grazed his serge. He went on with his message as if +nothing had happened. But the moment he had finished, +and was still standing erect to catch the glint of the +British signaller's flag, a voice hailed him. It was +Dorothy's. + +"Mr. Pasmore," she cried, "if you have done, why don't +you take cover? The Indians have seen you, and you'll be +shot in another minute." + +"For goodness' sake, get down!" he cried, as he turned +round and saw that the girl, unseen by the others, had +come towards him, and was also exposed to the enemy's +fire. + +She looked him steadily in the eyes, but did not move, +although the bullets were beginning to whistle in grim +earnest all around them. + +"Not unless you do," she said. "Oh, why don't you take +shelter?" + +Immediately he resumed his crouching attitude by her +side, and then he turned to her, and there was an unwonted +light in his eyes. + +"Did you really care as much as that?" he asked. + +"You are the stupidest man I know," she replied, looking +away. "Do you think I'd have stood there if I didn't!" + +There was a great joy in his heart as he took her hand. + +"If we get out of this alive, will you say that again?" +he asked. + +"That you are the stupidest man I know?" she queried, +with that perversity inseparable from the daughters of +Eve from all time. + +"No--that you care for me?" + +And at this she looked into his eyes with a simple +earnestness, and said, "Yes." + +What more they might have said was cut short by the +furious outburst of firing from the guns, which dropped +shell after shell into the projected ambuscade. + +And now the British were forcing the natural stronghold +of the Indians in many places, and their guards looked +as if they were undecided what to do with their prisoners. + +"If we don't collar those chaps," said Douglas, "they'll +be wanting to account for us before they go off on their +own. They look dangerous. Stand by me, Jacques, and we'll +crawl up behind them when the next shell comes. They're +too busily engaged below to pay much attention to us +now." + +The words were hardly out of his mouth before their ears +caught the eerie sound of a shrapnel shell coming towards +them. The two Indians got down on their faces behind a +rock. The next moment, regardless of consequences, the +rancher was on the top of one and Jacques had secured +the other. To take their rifles, and tie their hands and +feet with belts, was short work, and then Rory told them +that if they remained quiet all would be well with them. +They were sensible redskins, and did as they were bid. + +And now it was time for the prisoners to again make their +presence known to the British, for should the Indians +and breeds succeed in holding the gully beneath them +against the invading force, it was tolerably certain they +would discover how Pasmore and his companions had +overpowered their guards, and swift vengeance was sure +to follow. As they looked down the precipitous sides of +the ravine they could see that only four men--two breeds +and two Indians held the narrow pass. These men, while +they themselves were comparatively safe, could easily +hold a large number of troops at bay. + +"_Mon Dieu!_ it ees ze metis, and it ees _mon ami_, +Leopold St Croix, I can see," exclaimed Lagrange, as he +peered anxiously over the brink. "Ah! I tink it ees one +leetle rock will keel him mooch dead." + +He did not wait for any one to express assent, but began +at once to assist the British with dire effect. Lagrange +never did things by halves. When he realised that he was +compromised with the enemy, he at once started in to +annihilate his old friends with the utmost cheerfulness. + +No sooner had Jacques heard that Leopold St. Croix was +below than he rushed down the terrace, rifle in hand, to +have it out with him. There was no holding him back; he +was regardless of consequences. + +The others remained where they were. With one rifle they +could command the terrace until the troops came to their +relief. Lagrange continued to roll down rocks, to the +great discomfiture of the holders of the pass, who kept +dodging about from one side to the other in imminent fear +of their lives. When one Indian was effectually quieted +by a huge boulder that Lagrange had sent down on the top +of him, the others saw that it was impossible to remain +there any longer, so incontinently fled. Leopold St. +Croix, being somewhat stout, was left behind in the +headlong flight that ensued. + +When Jacques reached the bottom of the terrace, he found +that the Indians had left the coast clear for him. He +was rounding the bluff amongst the rocks when he met his +old enemy face to face. + +"Ha! _coquin!_" cried Jacques; "and so, _mon ami_, I have +found you! _Bien!_ Now we shall fight, like that, so!" + +And putting his rifle to his shoulder, he sent a bullet +through Leopold St. Croix's badger-skin cap. St. Croix +returned the compliment by shaving a lock of hair off +Jacques' right temple. Both men got behind rocks, and +for three minutes they carried on a spirited duel. At +length, after both had had several narrow shaves of +annihilation, Jacques succeeded in sending a bullet +through St. Croix's shoulder, and that settled the matter. + +The prisoners had now descended the terrace, and were +every moment expecting to find themselves once more face +to face with British troops, when something occurred +which is always occurring when a civilised force, with +its time-honoured precedent, is dealing with a savage +race that acts on its own initiative--the unexpected +happened--the inevitable slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. +The British, thinking that their work was over, left +their cover and rushed towards the various inlets in a +careless, disorganised fashion. Quick as thought the +rebels seized their opportunity. They rallied and poured +in a withering fire upon the scattered troops. The +unprotected guns were rushed by a mere handful of Indians +who had been hiding in the watercourse, and the retreat +was sounded to protect them. At the same moment Poundmaker +found himself with one of his head men, who bore the +picturesque name of Young-Man-Who-Jumps-Like-a-Frog, and +these two, with a strong following at their heels, appeared +round the corner of a bluff. A few seconds later Jacques +was seized from behind, and the other prisoners were once +more secured. It all happened so suddenly that there was +no time to escape or make any resistance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +BACK TO CAPTIVITY + +It was as well for the prisoners that Poundmaker was not +aware of the fact that they had overpowered their guard +and had been in the act of escaping when he came round +the corner. It is only probable to suppose that he was +surprised to find them all alive and unscathed by the +shell-fire, and that he imagined some natural mishap had +occurred to the escort during the progress of the fight +Lucky it was for that same escort that it was the British +troops, and not Poundmaker's men, who afterwards found +them bound hand and foot, for it is safe to say that in +the latter case they would never have had an opportunity +of being surprised again. They would have dangled by +their heels from the bough of some tree while a slow fire +underneath saved them the necessity of ever after requiring +to braid their raven locks. + +In point of fact, Poundmaker was in rather a good humour +than otherwise, for the British were now withdrawing to +take up a position on the open prairie, where they knew +the Red men and metis would not attack them. True, the +rebels had suffered severely, but so had the Government +troops. Before the British could make another attack, he +would be off into the wild, inaccessible fastnesses of +the Eagle Hills, where they would have to catch him who +could. He had sense enough to know that the British must +catch him in the long run, but he would have a high old +time till then. Civilisation was a very tame affair, and +a rebellion was a heaven-sent opportunity for resuscitating +a picturesque past with lots of loot and scalps thrown +in. His meditated revenge on the prisoners would keep--there +was nothing like having a card up one's sleeve. + +He straightway broke up the party. With a certain rude +sense of the fitness of things, he put Douglas and Pasmore +together. He assured the former that the same young squaw +who had been in attendance on his daughter would continue +to wait upon her in the future. His lieutenant, +"Young-Man-Who-Jumps-Like-a-Frog," a very promising young +man indeed, would be responsible to him for her safety. +If anything happened to her, or she escaped, then Young-Man, +etc., would no longer have eyes to see how he jumped. + +It would have been madness for the party to have made +any serious attempt to resist arrest, for they were simply +covered by the muzzles of fire-arms. Still, Pasmore sent +two Indians reeling backwards with two right and left +blows, which made them look so stupid that Poundmaker +was secretly amused, and therefore stopped the pulling +of the trigger of the blunderbuss that an Indian placed +close to the police sergeant's head in order to effect +a thorough and equal distribution of his brains. The grim +and politic chief, who was not without a sense of humour, +ordered that a rope be tied round the waist of the wild +cat--as he was pleased to term Pasmore--and that to the +two braves who had been so stupid as to allow him to +punch their heads, should be allotted the task of leading +him about like a bear. He hinted that if Pasmore +occasionally amused himself by testing the powers of +resistance of their skulls with his hammer-like fists, +no difficulties would be thrown in his way by the others. + +Douglas had begged to be allowed to accompany his daughter, +but Poundmaker said that was impossible, and assured him +that no harm would come to her. Dorothy went over to +her father and said good-bye, and then they were forced +apart. To Pasmore she said-- + +"You need not fear for me. I feel sure that, now they +know the strength of the British, they will take care of +us so as to save themselves. It is madness for you to +resist. If you wish to help me, go quietly with them." + +"Yes, you are right," he said. "But it is so hard. Still, +I feel that we shall pull through yet. Good-bye!" + +He was too much a man of action and of thought to be +prodigal of words. And she knew that a facility in making +pretty speeches is in nine cases out of ten merely the +refuge of those who desire to conceal indifference or +shallowness of heart. + +In another minute the men were hurried away. An Indian +pony with a saddle was brought for Dorothy, and she was +told to mount. The young squaw who had her in charge, +and who was called "The Star that Falls by Night," mounted +another pony and took over a leading-rein from Dorothy's. +Poundmaker, after giving a few instructions, rode off to +direct operations and to see that his sharpshooters were +posted in such a way that it would be impossible for the +British to advance until his main body had made good +their retreat into the more inaccessible country. Of +course, it was only a matter of time before they would +be starved out of those hills, but much might occur before +then. + +The middle-aged brave who was handicapped with a name +that suggested froggy agility, proudly took his place at +the head of the little cavalcade, and a few minutes later +they were threading their way through deep, narrow gullies, +crossing from the head of one little creek on to the +source of another, and choosing such places generally +that the first shower of rain would gather there and wash +out their tracks. When they passed the main camp, Dorothy +saw that the lodges had been pulled down, and were being +packed on _travois_, [Footnote: Two crossed poles with +cross pieces trailing from the back of a pony.] preparatory +to a forced march. She noted that the sleighs had been +abandoned, as, of course, there were no wheels there to +take the place of the runners. Her own slender belongings +were secured on the back of a pack-horse, and the squaw +saw to it that she had her full complement of provisions +and camp paraphernalia such as suited the importance of +her prisoner. + +Poor Dorothy! There would, however, be no more tea or +sugar, or other things she had been accustomed to, for +many a long day, but, after all, that was of no particular +moment There was pure water in the streams, and there +would soon be any amount of luscious wild berries in the +woods, and plants by the loamy banks of creeks that made +delicious salads and spinaches, and they would bring such +a measure of health with them that she would experience +what the spoilt children of fortune, and the dwellers in +cities, can know little about--the mere physical joy of +being alive--the glorious pulsing of the human machine. + +They kept steadily on their way till dusk, and then halted +for a brief space. The party was a small one now, only +some half-dozen braves and a few squaws. Dorothy wandered +with her jailer, whom she had for shortness called the +Falling Star, to a little rise, and looked down upon the +great desolate, purpling land in which evidently Nature +had been amusing herself. There were huge, pillar-like +rocks streaked with every colour of the rainbow, from +pale pink and crimson to slate-blue. There were yawning +canyons, on the scarped sides of which Nature had been +fashioning all manner of grotesqueries--gargoyles and +griffins, suggestions of many-spired cathedrals, the +profile of a face which was that of an angel, and of +another which was so weirdly and horribly ugly--suggesting +as it did all that was evil and sinister--that one shivered +and looked away. All these showed themselves like +phantasmagoria, and startled one with a suggestion of +intelligent design. But it was not with the face of the +cliff alone that Nature had trifled. + +The gigantic boulders of coloured clays, strewn about +all higgledy-piggledy, resolved themselves into uncouth +antediluvian monsters, with faces so suggestive of +something human and malign that they were more like the +weird imaginings of some evil dream than inanimate things +of clay. And over all brooded the mysterious dusk and +the silence--the silence as of death that had been from +the beginning, and which haunted one like a living +presence. Only perhaps now and again there was a peculiar +and clearly-defined, trumpet-toned sound caused by the +outstretched wing of a great hawk as it swooped down to +seize its prey. It was the very embodiment of desolation. +It might well have been some dead lunar landscape in +which for aeons no living thing had stirred. + +But Dorothy had other things to think of. Her position +was now seemingly more perilous than before. It was so +hard to think that they had all been so near deliverance, +and, in fact, had given themselves over entirely to hope, +and then had been so ruthlessly disappointed. + +But there had been compensations. Putting on one side +the shedding of blood, for which nothing could compensate, +there was that new interest which had sprung into glorious +life within her, and had become part of her being--her +love for the man who had more than once put himself in +the power of the enemy so that she and her father might +be saved. Yes, that was something very wonderful and +beautiful indeed. + +When the moon got up the party was reformed, and they +started out again. In the pale moonlight the freaks of +Nature's handiwork were more fantastic than ever, and +here and there tall, strangely-fashioned boulders of clay +took on the semblance of threatening, half-human monsters +meditating an attack. + +Dorothy had noticed by the stars that the party had +changed its direction. They were now heading due north. +With the exception of one short halt they travelled all +through the night, and in the early grey dawn of the +morning came out upon a great plain of drifting sand that +looked for all the world like an old ocean bed stretching +on and on interminably. It was the dangerous shifting +sands, which the Indians generally avoided, as it contained +spots where, it was said, both man and horse disappeared +if they dared to put foot on it. But Poundmaker's lieutenant +was not without some measure of skill and daring, and +piloted them between the troughs of the waste with unerring +skill. + +When the sun gained power in the heavens and a light +breeze sprang up, a strange thing took place. The face +of the wave-like heights and hollows began to move. The +tiny grains of sand were everywhere in motion, and actually +gave out a peculiar singing sound, somewhat resembling +the noise of grain when it falls from the spout of a +winnowing machine into a sack. It was as if the sand were +on the boil. There was no stopping now unless they wanted +to be swallowed up in the quicksand. Dorothy noticed that +the squaws, and even the braves, looked not a little +anxious. But their leader kept steadily on. The sand +was hard enough and offered sufficient resistance to the +broad hoof of a horse, but if one stood still for a minute +or so, it began gradually to silt up and bury it. It was +a horrible place. When at noon that devil's slough resolved +itself into a comparatively narrow strip, and Dorothy +saw that they could easily have left it, she began to +understand their reason for keeping on such dangerous +ground--_they did not wish to leave any tracks behind +them_. In all truth there was absolutely nothing to show +that they had ever been in that part of the country. At +last they came to what looked like a high hill with a +wall-like cliff surmounting it. They stepped on to the +firm clayey soil where the sage-bush waved, and had their +midday meal. As soon as that had been disposed of, they +resumed their journey. + +They now went on foot, and steadily climbed the steep +hillside by the bed of an old watercourse. Dorothy +wondered what was behind the sharply-cut outline of the +cliffs, for it gave the impression that nothing lay beyond +save infinite space. They entered a narrow ravine, and +then suddenly it was as if they had reached the jumping-off +place of the world, for they passed, as it were, into +another land. Immediately beneath them lay a broken +shelf of ground shaped like a horseshoe, the sides of +which were sheer cliffs, the gloomy base of which, many +hundred feet below, were swept by the coldly gleaming, +blue waters of the mighty Saskatchewan. Beyond that, +drowsing in a pale blue haze, lay the broad valley, and +beyond that again the vast purpling panorama of rolling +prairie and black pinewoods until earth and sky were +merged in indistinctness and became one. It resembled a +perch on the side of the world, a huge eyrie with cliffs +above and cliffs below, with apparently only that little +passage, the old creek bed, by which one might get there. +Dorothy realised that people might pass and repass at +the foot of the hill on the other side and never dream +there was such a place behind it. Still less would they +imagine that there was a narrow cleft by which one could +get through. Moreover, a couple of Indians stationed at +the narrow track could easily keep two hundred foe-men +at bay. Dorothy realised that she was now as effectually +a prisoner as if she had been hidden away in an impregnable +fortress. + +The party descended a gentle slope, and there, in a +saucer-shaped piece of low-lying ground fringed with +saskatoon and choke-cherry trees, they pitched their +camp. + +For the first three days Dorothy was almost inclined to +give way to the depression of spirits which her surroundings +and the enforced inaction naturally encouraged. Though +the Red folk were not actually unkind to her, still, +their ways were not such as commended themselves to a +well-brought-up white girl. Fortunately, the Falling Star +was well disposed to her, and did all she could to make +Dorothy feel her captivity as little as possible. The +two would sit together in a shady place on the edge of +the great cliff for hours, gazing out upon the magnificent +prospect that outspread itself far beneath them, and the +Indian girl, to try and woo the spirit of her white sister +from communing too much within itself, would tell her many +of the quaint, beautiful legends of the Indian Long Ago. + +On the third day, just as Dorothy was beginning to wonder +if it were not possible to steal out of the wigwam one +night when Falling Star slept soundly, and, by evading +the sentries--who might also chance to be asleep--make +her way out through the narrow pass and so back to freedom, +there was an arrival in camp that exceedingly astonished +her. She was sitting some little distance back from the +edge of the great cliff with Falling Star near at hand, +when some one behind her spoke. + +"Ah, Mam'selle," said the voice, "it ees ze good +how-do-you-do I will be wish you." + +Dorothy turned, and to her surprise Bastien Lagrange +stood before her. + +Despite the jauntiness of his speech, and the evident +desire he evinced to appear perfectly at his ease, Dorothy +at once detected an under-current of shame-facedness and +apprehension in Bastien's manner. His presence urged that +he was no longer a prisoner with Poundmaker's band. What +did it portend? + +In her eagerness to learn something of her father, Pasmore, +and the others, Dorothy sprang to her feet and ran towards +Lagrange. But that gentleman gave her such a significant +look of warning that she stopped short. He glanced +meaningly at the Indian woman, Falling Star. Dorothy +understood, and a presentiment that she was about to be +disappointed in the feeble-hearted half-breed took +possession of her. + +"You can speak, Bastien," Dorothy said. "Falling Star +will not understand a word. I can see you have come with +a message to Jumping Frog, but first, tell me--what about +my father and the others?" + +"_Helas_, I know not!" said Bastien, feeling vastly +relieved that it had not been a more awkward question. +"They haf go 'way South branch of Saskatchewan. They all +right. I tink Poundmaker mooch 'fraid keel them. They--" + +"But how is it you are here? Have you joined the enemy +again?" + +It had come at last, and Bastien, shrugging his high +shoulders, spread his hands out deprecatingly. + +"_Helas_, Mam'selle! What was there for to do? I say I +Eenglish, and they go for to shoot me mooch dead. I say +'Vive Riel!' and they say, 'Zat ees all right, Bastien +Lagrange, you mooch good man.' I tell them that I nevare +lof ze Eenglish, that your father and shermoganish peleece +she was took me pressonar, and I was not able to get +'way, and that I plenty hate the Eenglish, oh! yees, and +haf keel as many as three, four, fife, plenty times. So +they say, 'Bully for you, pardner! and you can go tell +Man-Who-Jumps-Like-a-Frog to sit down here more long and +ozer tings.' _Comprenez?_" + +The peculiar and delicate line of policy the unstable +breed was pursuing was obvious. Lagrange was one of those +who wanted to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds +simply because he did not particularly care for either, +and it was incumbent upon him that he should do one or +the other. When the proper time came he certainly wanted +to be with the side that got the best of it, and he had +a shrewd suspicion that that would be the English. He +was delightfully immune from any moral prejudice in the +matter, and already a brilliant scheme was developing in +his plastic brain that promised both safety and +entertainment. He, however, resolved to do whatever lay +in his power to assist this charming young lady and her +father. + +"Bastien," observed the girl, after a pause, "you'd better +take good care what you do. Take my word for it that all +the rebels, both half-breeds and Indians, who have done +wrong will have to answer for it. I do not ask you what +message you carry to the Indians here, but it is unlikely +that you will stay with us. Now, I know that Battleford +is not so very far away; will you go and tell Pepin +Quesnelle to come to me? The Indians are all afraid of him, +so he will suffer no harm. See, give him this from me." + +She turned and plucked a little bunch of blue flowers +that grew close at hand, which in the Indian language +signify "Come to me." Then she produced a little brooch +which she had worn at her throat that night she had met +the dwarf, and wrapping both In a small piece of silk, +gave them to the half-breed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ANTOINE IN TROUBLE + +Four nights later Pepin Quesnelle and his mother were +having their supper in the large common sitting-room, +which also did duty as kitchen and workshop. The tidy, +silver-haired old dame had set out a place for Pepin at +the well-scrubbed table, but the _petit maitre_, much to +her regret, would not sit down at it as was his wont He +insisted on having his supper placed on the long, low +bench, covered with tools and harness, at which he was +working. He had a Government job on hand, and knew that +if he sat down to the table in state, there would be much +good time wasted in useless formality. His mother therefore +brought some bread and a large steaming plate of some +kind of stew, and placed them within reach of his long +arms. + +"Pepin," she said, with a hint of fond remonstrance, "it +is not like you to eat so. If any one should happen to +come and catch you, my sweet one, eating like a common +Indian, what would they think? Take care, apple of my +eye, it is ver' hot!" + +She hastily put down the steaming bowl, from which a +savoury steam ascended, and Antoine the bear, who was +sitting on his haunches in evident meditation behind the +bench, deliberately looked in another direction. What +mattered the master's dinner to a bear of his high-class +principles! + +"Thank you, my mother," said Pepin, without lifting his +eyes, and sewing away with both hands as if for dear +life. "What you say is true, ver' true, but the General +he will want this harness, and the troops go to-morrow +to catch Poundmaker. And, after all, what matters it +where I sit--am I not Pepin Quesnelle?" + +Antoine, still looking vacantly in another direction, +moved meditatively nearer the steaming dish. Why had they +not given him his supper? He had been out for quite a +long walk that day, his appetite was excellent. + +"Mother," said Pepin again, "that young female Douglas, +who was here some time ago, I wonder where she may be +now? Since then I have been many times think that, after +all, she was, what the soldier-officers call it, not +half-bad." + +"Ah, Pepin!" and the old lady sighed, "she was a sweet +child, and some day might even have done as wife for you. +But you are so particular, my son. Of course, I do not +mean to say she was good enough for you, but at least +she was more better than those other women who would try +and steal you from me. _Mon Dieu_, how they do conspire!" + +"So, that is so," commented Pepin resignedly, but at the +same time not without a hint of satisfaction in his voice; +"they _will_ do it, you know, mother. Bah! if the +shameless females only knew how Pepin Quesnelle sees +through their little ways, how they would be +confounded--astonished, and go hide themselves for the +shame of it! But this girl, that is the thing, she was +nice girl, I think, and if perhaps she had the airs of +a _grande dame_ and would expect much--well, after all, +there was myself to set against that Eh? What? Don't you +think that is so, my mother?" + +"Yes, Pepin, yes, of course that is so, my sweet one, +and what more could any woman want? And that girl, I +think, she was took wid you, for I see her two, three +times look at you so out of the corners of the eyes." + +While this conversation was proceeding, Antoine had more +than once glanced at his master without turning his head. +The plate of stew was now within easy reach of his short +grizzled snout, and really it looked as if it had been +put there on purpose for him to help himself. + +When Pepin happened to look round, he thought his mother, +in a fit of absent-mindedness, must have put down an +empty plate--it was so clean, so beautifully clean. But +when he looked at Antoine, who was now sitting quite out +of reach of the plate, and observed the Sunday-school +expression on the bear's old-fashioned face, he understood +matters. He knew Antoine of old. + +"Mother," he said, in his natural voice and quite quietly, +"my dear mother, don't let the old beast know that you +suspect anything. Take up that plate, and don't look at +him, or he will find out we have discovered all. What +have you got left in the pot, my mother?" + +"Two pigeons, my sweet one, but--" + +"That will do, mother. Do not excite yourself. Your +Pepin will be avenged. The b'ar shall have the lot, _ma +foi!_ the whole lot, and he will wish that he had waited +until his betters were finished. Take down the mustard +tin, and the pepper-pot, and yes, those little red peppers +that make the mouth as the heat of the pit below, and +put them all in the insides of one pigeon. Do you hear +me, my mother dear? Now, do not let him see you do it, +for his sense is as that of the Evil One himself, and he +would not eat that pigeon." + +"Oh, my poor wronged one, and to think that that--" + +"Hush hush, my mother! Can you not do as I have told you? +Pick up the plate quietly. _Bien_, that is right! Now, +do not look at him, but fill the pigeon up. So ... that +is so, mother dear. O, Antoine, you sweet, infernal b'ar, +but I will make you wish as how the whole Saskatchewan +were running down your crater of a throat in two, three +minutes more. But there will be no Saskatchewan--_non_, +not one leetle drop of water to cool your thieving tongue!" + +And despite the lively state of affairs he predicted for +his four-footed friend, he never once looked at it, but +kept tinkering at the harness as if nothing particular +were exciting him. + +The good old lady was filled with concern for Antoine, +for whom, as sharing the companionship of her well-beloved, +she had quite a friendly regard. Still, had not the +traitorous animal robbed her darling--her Pepin--of his +supper? It was a hard, a very hard thing to do, but he +must be taught a lesson. With many misgivings she stuffed +the cavernous fowl with the fiery condiments. + +"Now, mother dear, just wipe it clean so that the fire +and brimstone does not show on the outside, and pour over +it some gravy. That is right, _ma mere_. I will reward +you--later. Now, just place it on the bench and take away +the other plate. Do not let the cunning malefactor think +you notice him at all. He will think it is the second +course. _Bien!_" + +He turned his head sharply and looked at the bear with +one of his quick, bird-like movements, just at the same +moment as the bear looked at him. But there was nothing +on the artless Antoine's face but mild, sentimental +inquiry. + +"Ha! he is cunning!" muttered Pepin. "Do you remember, +my mother, how--_Mon Dieu!_ he's got it!" + +That was very apparent. Antoine had nipped up the fowl, +and with one or two silent crunches was in the act of +swallowing it. So pressed was he for time that at first +he did not detect the fiery horrors he was swallowing. +But in a minute or two he realised that something unlooked +for had occurred, that there was a young volcano in his +mouth that had to be quenched at any cost So he sprang +to his feet and rushed at a bucket of water that stood +in a corner of the room, and went so hastily that he +knocked the bucket over and then fell on it. The burning +pain inside him made him snap and growl and fall to +worrying the unfortunate bucket. + +As for Pepin, he evinced the liveliest joy. He threw the +harness from him, leapt from the bench, and seizing his +long stick, danced out on the floor in front of the bear. +The good old dame stood with clasped hands in a far corner +of the room, looking with considerable apprehension upon +this fresh domestic development. + +"Aha, Antoine, _mon enfant!_" cried the dwarf, "and so +my supper you will steal, will you? And how you like it, +_mon ami?_ Now, for to digest it, a dance, that is good. +So--get up, get up and dance, my sweet innocence! Houp-la!" + +But just at that moment there came a knock at the door. +It was pushed open, and the unstable breed, Bastien +Lagrange, entered. Antoine, beside himself with internal +discomfort and rage, eyed the intruder with a fiery, +ominous light in his eyes. Here surely was a heaven-sent +opportunity for letting off steam. Before his master +could prevent him he had rushed open-mouthed at Lagrange +and thrown him upon his back. Quicker than it takes to +write it, he had ripped the clothing from his body with +his great claws and was at his victim's throat. The dwarf, +with a strange, hoarse cry, threw himself upon the bear. +With his powerful arms and huge hands he caught it by +the throat, and compressed the windpipe, until the +astonished animal loosed its hold and opened its mouth +to gasp for breath. Then, bracing himself, Pepin threw +it backwards with as much seeming ease as when, on one +occasion, he had strangled a young cinnamon in the woods. +Bastien Lagrange lay back with the blood oozing from his +mouth, the whites of his eyes turned upwards. He tried +to speak, but the words came indistinctly from his lips. +He put one hand to his breast, and a small packet fell +to the ground. + +"From the daughter of Douglas," he gasped. And then he +lay still. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE DEPARTURE OF PEPIN + +After all, Bastien Lagrange had been more frightened than +hurt by Antoine the bear. When Pepin Quesnelle had +satisfied himself that there were no bones broken, and +that the wound from which the blood flowed was a mere +scratch, he, as usual, became ashamed of his late display +of feeling and concern, and again assumed his old truculent +attitude. He gave the breed time to recover his breath, +then roughly asked him whom he thought he was that he +should make such a noisy and ostentatious entry into his +house. + +"It ees me, Pepin, your ver' dear friend, Bastien Lagrange," +whined the big breed, with an aggrieved look at the dwarf +and an apprehensive one at Antoine. + +"What, villain, _coquin_, _I_ your ver' dear friend? +--may the good Lord forbid! But sit up, and let me once +more look upon your ugly face. Idiot, _entrez!_ Sit up, +and take this for to drink." So spoke Pepin as he handed +Bastien a dipper of water. + +In all truth the shifty breed had an expression on his +face as he tried to put his torn garments to rights that +savoured not a little of idiocy. He had been for the last +three hours working himself into a mood of unconcern and +even defiance, so that he might be able to repel the +attacks of the outspoken Pepin. But now, at the very +first words this terrible manikin uttered, he felt his +heart sinking down into his boots. Still, he bore news +which he fancied would rather stagger the dwarf. + +"And so, _mon ami_--" + +"_Tenez vous la_, villain! You will pardon me, but I am +not the friend of a turncoat and traitor! _Dis donc_, +you will bear this in mind. Now what is it you have for +to say? _Bien?_" + +"_Parbleu!_ what ees ze matter wit' Antoine?" exclaimed +the breed uneasily. "What for he look at me so? Make him +for to go 'way, Pepin." + +Pepin caught up his stick and changed the trend of +Antoine's aggressive thoughts. The big brute slunk to +the far end of the room, sat upon his haunches, and +blinked at the party in a disconcerting fashion. Then +Pepin again turned upon Bastien with such a quick, fierce +movement that the latter started involuntarily. + +"Bah! blockhead, pudding-head!" cried Pepin impatiently. +"Antoine has only that fire in his mouth that you will +have in the pit below before two, three days when you +have been hanged by the neck or been shot by the soldiers +of the great Queen. Proceed!" + +"Aha! you ver' funny man, Pepin, but do you know that +Poundmaker has been catch what zey call ze convoy--sixteen +wagons wit' ze drivers and ze soldiers belongin' to your +great Queen, and now zey haf no more food and zey perish? +Haf you heard that, _mon_--M'sieur Pepin?" + +Pepin had not heard it, but then he had heard some awkward +things about Bastien Lagrange, and he immediately proceeded +to let him know that he was acquainted with them. The +soldiers, with their great guns, were now swarming up +the Saskatchewan, and it was only a matter of a few weeks +before Poundmaker and Big Bear would be suing for mercy. +This and more of a disquieting nature did the dwarf tell +the unstable one, so that by the time he had finished +there was no hesitation in Bastien's mind as to which +side he must once and for all definitely espouse. So he +told of the capture of the Douglas party by Poundmaker +and of the fight at Cut-Knife. Then he called Pepin's +attention to the packet he had dropped, and explained +how it had been entrusted to him. + +The manikin examined it in silence. A strange look of +intelligence came into his face. He shot a half-shy, +suspicious glance at the breed, but that gentleman, with +an awe-stricken expression, was watching Antoine, as with +sinister design that intelligent animal was piling up +quite a collection of boots, moccasins, and odds and ends +in a corner preparatory to having a grand revenge for +the trick that had been played upon him. He would chew +up every scrap of that leather and buckskin if he wore +his teeth out in the attempt The old lady, fortunately +for him, had left the room. + +Pepin opened the packet, and the sight of that plain +little gold brooch and the bunch of prairie forget-me-nots +moved him strangely. After all, his heart was not adamant +where youth and beauty were concerned--he only realised +the immense gulf that was fixed between a man of his +great parts and graces and the average female. + +He abruptly ordered Bastien into the summer kitchen to +look for his mother and get something to eat, and then, +when he realised he had the room to himself, he literally +let himself go. He sprang to his feet, and, waving the +flowers and the brooch over his head, advanced a few +paces into the middle of the room, struck a melodramatic +attitude, and, with one hand pressed to his heart, carried +Dorothy's tokens to his lips. + +Then he turned and observed Antoine. This somewhat +absent-minded follower had already begun operations on +his little pile; but he had been so taken aback by the +unwonted jubilation of his master, that he stopped work +to gaze upon him in astonishment, and quite forgot to +remove the half-torn moccasin from his mouth. When he +saw he was caught red-handed, he dropped the spoil as he +had dropped the hot potato, and crouched apprehensively. +His master made a fierce rush at him. + +"What ho! Antoine, you pig, you!" he cried; "and so you +would have revenge, you chuckle-pate!" And then he punched +Antoine's head. + +Just at that moment his mother and Bastien re-entered +the room; the former set Lagrange down at a small table +in a far corner with some food before him. The dwarf +lounged towards the fire-place with an assumed air of +indifference and boredom, and, leaning against the +chimney-piece, stroked his black moustache. + +"What is it, Pepin, my son?" asked the old lady anxiously. + +"Oh, nothing--nothing, my mother; only that they are at +it again!" + +"The shameless wretches!" she exclaimed; "will they never +cease? Who is it this time, Pepin?" + +"Only that young Douglas female we have spoke about"--he +tried hard to infuse contempt into his voice--"she wants +me to go to her! Just think of it mother! But she is a +preesonar, and, perhaps, it is also my help she wants. +And she was a nice girl, was it not so, _ma mere?_" + +Between them they came to the conclusion that Pepin must +go with Bastien to where Dorothy was kept a prisoner and +see what could be done. They also wisely decided that it +was no use notifying or trying to lead the Imperial troops +to the spot, for that might only force the Indians to +some atrocity. + +Later on, when the moon arose, Pepin took Lagrange out +and showed him the British camp with its apparently +countless tents, and its battery of guns. It appeared +to the unstable one as if all the armies of the earth +must be camped on that spot. When the dwarf told him that +there were other camps further up the river, to which +the one before him was as nothing, Bastien fairly trembled +in his moccasins. When a sentry challenged them, the +now thoroughly disillusioned breed begged piteously that +they should return to Pepin's house and set out early on +the following morning for the place where Dorothy was +imprisoned up the Saskatchewan, before that army of +soldiers, who surely swarmed like a colony of ants, was +afoot. + +Pepin knew that the approach of an army would only be +the means of preventing him from finding Dorothy. He +must go to her himself. He would also, for the sake of +the proprieties, take his mother along in a Red River +cart; his mind was quite made up upon that point. If he +did not do so, who could tell that the Douglas female, +with the cunning of her sex, would not lay some awkward +trap for him? The girl had plainly said, "Come to me," +and he was secretly elated, but his conviction of old +growth, that all women were "after" him, made him cautious. + +So next morning, before break of day, the Red River cart +was packed up and at the door. Pepin and his mother got +into it, Antoine was led behind by means of a rope, and +Bastien rode alongside on a sturdy little Indian pony. +It was indeed an _outre_ and extraordinary little procession +that started out. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE INDIANS' AWAKENING + +Little Running Cropped-eared Dog of the Stonies sat +smoking his red clay calumet at the narrow entrance of +the gorge that looked out upon the wooded hillside, the +only means of ingress to the shelf which constituted +Dorothy's prison-house. He was keeping watch and ward +with his good friend "Black Bull Pup," who also sat +smoking opposite him. Their rifles lay alongside; they +had finished a _recherche_ repast of roasted dog, and +were both very sleepy. It was a horrible nuisance having +to keep awake such a warm afternoon. No one was going to +intrude upon their privacy, for they had heard that the +British General, Middleton, was in hot pursuit after +Poundmaker, and it was unlikely that Jumping Frog, who +was over them, would trouble about visiting the sentries. + +Little Running Cropped-eared Dog laid down his pipe and +folded his arms. + +"Brother," he said to Black Bull Pup, with that easy +assumption of authority which characterised him, "there +is no necessity for us both to be awake. I would woo the +god of pleasant dreams, so oblige me by keeping watch +while my eyelids droop." + +Bull Pup, who was a choleric little Indian, and, judging +by his finery, a tip-top swell in Indian upper circles, +looked up with an air of surprise and angry remonstrance. + +"Brother," he replied, "the modest expression of your +gracious pleasure is only equalled by the impudence of +the prairie dog who wags his tail in the face of the +hunter before hastening to the privacy of his tepee +underground. You slept all this morning, O Cropped-eared +one! It is my turn now." + +But Little Running Dog was renowned among the Stonies +for his wide knowledge of men and things. Moreover, he +loved ease above all, so, by reason of his imperturbability +and honeyed words, he invariably disarmed opposition and +had his own way. On the present occasion he said-- + +"Black Bull Pup will pardon me; he speaks with his +accustomed truthfulness and fairness of thought I had +for the moment forgotten how, when he took Black Plume +of the Sarcees prisoner, and was leading him back for +the enlivening knife and burning tallow, he watched by +him for four days and four nights without closing an eye, +thus earning for himself the distinction of being called +the 'Sleepless One.' There is no such necessity for his +keeping awake now. Let his dreams waft him in spirit to +the Happy Hunting Grounds. As for me, I am getting an +old man, whose arrow-hand lacks strength to pull back +the string of the bow. It can be but a few short years +before I enter upon the long, last sleep, so it matters +not Sleep, brother." + +But Black Bull Pup, as is often the case, was tender of +heart as well as choleric, and hastened to say that his +venerable comrade must take some much-needed rest, so +that within five minutes the ugly Cropped-eared one was +making the sweet hush of the summer noon hideous with +his snores, whilst Black Bull Pup was beginning to wonder +if, after all, he had not been "got at" again by his +Machiavelian friend. It was not a pleasant reflection, +and it really was a very drowsy sort of afternoon. Four +minutes later he was sound asleep himself. + +Slowly toiling up the stony, sun-dried bed of the tarn +came Pepin the dwarf, and alongside him, showing unusual +signs of animation--he had scented brother bears--came +Antoine. Behind them walked the unstable breed, Bastien +Lagrange, with a huge pack upon his back. The pack was +heavy and the hill was steep, so that the human beast of +burden perspired and groaned considerably. He also showed +much imagination and ingenuity in the construction of +strange words suitable to the occasion. Pepin's ears had +just been assailed by some extra powerful ones when he +turned to remonstrate. + +"Grumbler and discontented one," he said, "have your long +legs grown weak at the knees because you are asked to +carry a few pennyweights on your back?"--the breed was +resting his several hundred pounds pack upon a rock--"Bah! +it is nothing compared to the load of things you will +have to carry and answer for when you have to appear +before the Great Court, when the bolt has been drawn and +you are launched into space through the prison trap-door, +and your toes go jumpety-jumpety-jump. Blockhead!" + +"_Parbleu, M'sieur_ Pepin, _mais_ eet ees mooch dead +would be more better than this, I tink it! _Helas!_ how +my heart eet does go for to break! I would for to rest, +Pepin, my ver' dear frient." + +"Then rest, weak-kneed one, and be sure afterwards to +come on. It is good I did leave the good mother with the +Croisettes down the river! _Au revoir_, pudding-head!" + +Pepin held Antoine by the neck while he surveyed the +slumbering forms of Little Running Crop-eared Dog and +Black Bull Pup. + +"_Mais_, they are beautiful children of the tepees," he +murmured. "It would be easy to kill, but that would not +be of the commandments. 'He who lives by the sword shall +perish by the sword.' No; no man's blood shall stain the +hands of Pepin Quesnelle. Ah! now I have it. So!" + +If the dwarf drew the line at killing, he was still as +full of mischief as a human being could well be. He had +an impish turn of mind, and hastened to gratify the same. +He took the two rifles and at once proceeded to draw the +charges, then with a smartness and lightness of touch +that was surprising, he possessed himself of their +sheath-knives. He placed Antoine on its haunches between +them, and threatened him with dire vengeance if he moved. +He himself clambered on to a rock over their heads, at +the same time not forgetting to take a few stones in his +pockets. His eyes gleamed and rolled in his head, and +he chuckled in a truly alarming fashion. Then he dropped +a stone on to the pit of Black Bull Pup's stomach, and +the other on to the head of the Crop-eared one. Antoine +watched the proceedings with much interest. + +Black Bull Pup sat up and was about to remonstrate angrily +with his comrade for having roused him so unceremoniously, +when the latter also raised himself full of the same +matter. + +Their eyes fairly started from their heads and they were +nearly paralysed with horror when they beheld a huge bear +sitting within a few feet of them. It must be a very ogre +of a bear when it could sit there so calmly waiting for +them to awake before beginning operations. Pepin, unseen +on the rock above them, fairly doubled himself up with +delight. But they were both Indians who had borne +themselves with credit in former encounters with bears, +so, snatching up their rifles, they both fired at Antoine +at the same moment with a touching and supreme disregard +to the other's proximity. Antoine seemed interested. +There were two flashes in the pan, and two hearts sank +simultaneously. They searched for their knives in vain. +Antoine appeared amused and looked encouragement. It was +a very nightmare to the two warriors. Then, from the rock +over their heads, they heard a deep bass voice of such +volume that it sounded like half-a-dozen ordinary voices +rolled into one. + +"_Canaille!_" it cried, "cut-throats! villains! +block-heads! pudding-heads! _mais_ you are nice men to +sleep at your posts; truly, that is so! Shall I make this +bear for to devour you? Eh? What?" + +When the two men looked up and beheld the weird form of +Pepin perched on the rock, it nearly finished them. They +had heard of many strange monsters, but here was something +beyond their very wildest imaginings. Of course, this +bear was his attendant evil spirit, and it was a judgment +upon them. The Crop-eared one and the Black Bull Pup +grovelled in an agony of terror. Pepin never had such a +time. What would have happened it is hard to say had +not Bastien Lagrange appeared upon the scene. For Antoine, +imagining that the movements of the Indians were generously +intended as an invitation for him to indulge in frivolity, +at once reared himself on his hind legs preparatory to +dancing all over them. Pepin slid from the rock and called +his absent-minded friend to attention. Bastien came +forward wiping his forehead, declaring that he was all +but dead, and the two worthy savages rose wonderingly to +their feet The unstable breed, who at once took in the +situation, and, as usual, derived a secret pleasure from +observing the abject discomfiture of the Indians, at once +proceeded to explain to them that the strange gentleman +before them, whom they had mistaken for a celebrity from +the ghost world, was no other than the celebrated Pepin +Quesnelle, of whom they must have heard, and that the +bear, whose magnanimity and playfulness they had just +been witnesses of, was his equally distinguished friend +and counsellor. He also explained that, of course, no +one in the land ever questioned Pepin's right to do what +he liked or to go where he chose. There was no doubt +that, in a different sphere of life, Bastien would have +risen to eminence in diplomatic circles. The two warriors +having been handed back their knives, swore by the ghosts +of their illustrious grandfathers and grandmothers, that, +so far at least as they were concerned, the little but +mighty man, with his servant the bear, might go or come +just as he pleased. Pepin and Bastien left the two now +sleepless sentries at their posts, and passed through to +the great wide terrace that overlooked the Saskatchewan, +which, here describing a great half-circle, rushed like +a mill-race between vast gloomy walls of rock. + +When they reached the camp in the hollow, Jumping Frog +came forward to meet them. Pepin he had heard of, but +had not seen before. It was quite evident he resented +his presence there. He turned angrily upon the breed, +whose joy at now having come to the end of his journey +received a decided check from the reception he met with +from the head man. Jumping Frog looked at Bastien +scornfully, and asked-- + +"Brother, did I not send you on a mission? and what is +this thing you have brought back?" + +The unstable breed, whose mercurial condition was influenced +by every breath of wind, shook with apprehension, but +Pepin came to the rescue. To be called "a thing" by an +Indian was an insult that cut into the quick of his +nature. He had taken off his slouch hat, and was leaning +forward with his two hands grasping the long stick he +usually carried. Antoine was squatted meditatively on +his haunches alongside him. Pepin now drew himself up; +his face became transfigured with rage; he took a step +or two towards the head man, and shook his stick +threateningly. + +"Black-hearted and cross-eyed dog of a Stony!" he fairly +screamed; "by the ghost of the old grey wolf that bore +you, and which now wanders round the tepees of the outcasts +in the land of lost spirits picking up carrion, would +you dare to speak of me thus! I have a mind to take the +maiden whom you now hold as a prisoner away from you, +but the time is not yet ripe. But I swear it, if you +molest her in any way, or speak of me again as you have +done, or interfere with my coming or going, you shall +swing by the neck on a rope, and your body shall be given +to the dogs. Moreover, your spirit shall wander for ever +in the Bad Lands, and the Happy Hunting Grounds shall +know you not." + +"Ough! ough!" exclaimed Jumping Frog uneasily; "but you +use big words, little man! Still, there is something +about you that savours of big medicine, and I do not wish +to offend the spirits, so peace with you until this matter +rights itself." He turned to Lagrange. "And you, O one +of seemingly weak purpose, tell me what news of Poundmaker +and Thunderchild?" + +What Bastien had to tell was not calculated to encourage +Jumping Frog in his high-handed policy. His face fell +considerably, and Pepin, taking advantage of his +preoccupation, walked off with Antoine to find Dorothy. + +When the dwarf was looking into one of the tepees, Antoine +created quite a flutter of excitement by looking into +another on his own account When the four Indians who were +solemnly seated therein, handing round the festive pipe, +beheld a huge cinnamon bear standing in the doorway, +evidently eyeing them with a view to annexing the one in +best condition, they bolted indiscriminately through the +sides of the lodge, leaving Antoine in possession. But +when they gathered themselves together outside, they were +confronted by Pepin, whom they took to be some terrible +monster from the ghost world, and the last state of them +was worse than the first Pepin enjoyed their discomfiture +for a brief space, and then explained who he was and why +he came to honour them with his presence. Calling Antoine +off, he left them in a still more dubious and confused +state of mind. + +He had wandered almost half-a-mile from the camp on to +the broken edge of the great canyon, where, nearly a +thousand feet below, the ice-cold waters of the mighty +Saskatchewan showed like a blue ribbon shot with white. +Right in front of him was infinite space, and the earth +fell away as if from the roof of the world. It seemed to +Pepin that he had never before so fully realised the +majesty of Nature. Standing on the edge of the nightmarish +abyss, with the Indian girl near her, he saw Dorothy. +Neither of them observed him, and he stood still for a +minute to watch them. + +As he gazed at the slim, graceful figure of the white +prisoner in her neat but faded black dress, it seemed to +him that he had never realised how beautiful and perfect +a thing was the human form. He had only in a crude way +imagined possibilities in the somewhat squat figures of +the Indian girls. There was a distinction in the poise +of Dorothy's proud shapely head that he had never seen +before in any woman. When she turned and saw him, her +face lighting up with welcome and her hands going out in +front of her, he experienced something that came in the +light of a revelation. He wondered how it was he could +have ever said, "she will not do." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A PROPOSAL FROM PEPIN + +Dorothy approached Pepin as if to shake hands, but the +dwarf artfully pretended that there was something the +matter with Antoine's leading-rein, and ignored her. He +had never before realised how really dangerous a despised +female could he. + +"Pepin Quesnelle," said Dorothy, "it was asking a great +deal when I sent for you, but I knew you would come. You +saved the life of Sergeant Pasmore when Riel was going +to shoot him, and I want to--" + +"Bah, Mam'selle! But it is nonsense you talk like that, +so! The right--that is the thing. What is goodness after +all if one can only be good when there is nothing that +pulls the other way--no temptations, no dangers? It is +good to pray to God, but what good is prayer without the +desire deep down in the heart to do, and the doing? The +good deed--that is the thing. So! As for that Pasmore, +villain that he is--" + +"He is a good man. Why do you say such a thing?" + +"Bah! he is _coquin_ blockhead, pudding-head; still, I +love him much"--Dorothy visibly relented--"and he is +brave man, and to be brave is not to be afraid of the +devil, and that is much, _nest ce pas?_ But what is it +you want me for to do? The good mother is down at Croisettes +and sends her love--Bah! what a foolish thing it is +that women send!" + +"Your mother is a good woman, Pepin, and I am glad to +have her love; as for you--" + +"Mam'selle, Mam'selle! Pardon! but I am not loving--you +will please confine your remarks to my mother"--there +was visible alarm in Pepin's face; he did not know what +this forward girl might not be tempted to say--"What I +can do for to serve you, that is the question? I have +hear that your father and Sergeant Pasmore--that +pudding-head--and the others are all right. The thing is +for you to get 'way." + +Pepin, who in reality had a sincere regard for Sergeant +Pasmore, had merely spoken of him in an uncomplimentary +fashion because he saw it would annoy Dorothy. He must +use any weapon he could to repel the attacks of the enemy. +As for Dorothy, the delusion that the dwarf was labouring +under was now obvious, and she hardly knew whether to be +amused or annoyed; it was such an absurd situation. She +must hasten to disillusion him. + +"I don't think anything very serious can happen to me +here, Pepin. They will be too afraid to harm me, seeing +that they must know the British are so near. It is my +father and the others that I am concerned about And +Sergeant Pasmore--" + +The girl hesitated. Could she bring herself to speak +about it, and to this dwarf? But she realised that she +must hesitate at nothing when the lives of those who were +dear to her hung in the balance; and she knew that he +was chivalrous. Pepin tilted his head to one side, and, +looking up suspiciously, asked-- + +"_Bien!_ and this Sergeant Pasmore, have you also designs +on him? Eh? What?" + +"Designs! The idea!--but, of course, how can you know? +No, and I will tell you, Pepin Quesnelle, for I believe +you are a good man, and you have been our friend, and we +are in your debt--" + +"Bah! Debt! What is that? I am a man, Mam'selle, and beg +you will not talk about debt! Pouf!" He shrugged his +shoulders and spread out his great hands. + +"Very well, this Sergeant Pasmore, I love him, and I have +promised to be his wife." + +She drew herself up proudly now, and felt that she could +have said so before the whole world. + +"_Parbleu!_" exclaimed Pepin, who did not seem to hail +the news with any particular satisfaction. "You are quite +sure it was not any one else you wanted to marry? What? +You are quite sure?" + +"Of course, who could there be?" + +"Perhaps Mam'selle aspired. But who can tell? After all, +a woman must take whom she can get I dare say that he +will do just as well as another." + +Pepin Quesnelle, now that his own safety was assured, +did not seem to value it as he thought he would. After +all, if the girl's nose did "stop short too soon," it +was by no means an unpretty one; its sauciness was +decidedly taking, and if he saw mischief lurking away +back in her eyes, he admitted it was an uncommonly lovable +sort of mischief. Being only human, he now began to wish +for what he had despised. + +As for Dorothy, she could have rated Pepin roundly for +his conceit and his sentiments. But it was all too absurd, +and she must bear with him. She continued-- + +"Pepin Quesnelle, you have a good heart, I know, and you +can understand how it is. If I had not known that you +were not like other men, I would hardly have dared to +ask you to come all this long distance to me. I know what +you do is not for reward, so I am not afraid to ask you. +Will you find out about my father and Mr. Pasmore and +the others, and will you do what you can to save them? +I feel sure there is no man on the Saskatchewan can do +more than you." + +Pepin drew himself up to his full height, smiled +complacently, and stroked his black moustache. His dark +eyes twinkled as he turned to gaze encouragingly at +Antoine, who with his tongue out was seated on his hind +quarters, watching him meditatively. + +"Mam'selle has spoken the truth. I would be sorry to be +like other men--particularly your Pasmore"--he grinned +impishly as he saw the indignation on Dorothy's face--"but +that is not the thing. Pasmore is all right--in his own +way. He is even, what you might call, goodfellow. But +why is it you should fret for him? He is all right. And +even if anything should happen to him, it is not Pepin +that has the hard heart--he might even console Mam'selle. +He will not exactly promise that, but he may come to it. +Perhaps Mam'selle will remember in the house when the +good mother told how you would like to marry Pepin, and +he said you would not do. Well, Pepin has considered well +since then, and he has thought that if you tried to suit +him, you might" + +"It is too great an honour, Pepin. If you expect any one +in this world to be as good and kind to you as your +mother, you will find you have made a great mistake. +Believe me, Pepin Quesnelle. I am a woman, and I know." + +"_Bien! Oui_, the mother she is good, ver' good, and I +know there is right in what you say. So! Still, I think +you have improved since we first met, and the mother +likes you, so you need not think too much of that you +are not good enough, and if you should think better of +it--all may yet be well." + +But Dorothy assured him that, seeing she had given her +word to Pasmore, and, moreover, seeing she loved him, it +would be a mistake to change her mind upon the subject. + +This, however, was not exactly clear to Pepin, who could +not understand how any woman could be foolish enough to +stand in her own light when he, the great Pepin, who had +been so long the catch of the Saskatchewan, had graciously +signified his intention to accept her homage. Perhaps +she was one of those coy creatures who must have something +more than mere conventionalism put into an offer of +marriage, so under the circumstances it might be as well +for him to go through with the matter to the bitter end. + +"Mam'selle," he said, "the honour Pepin does you is +stupendous; he is prepared to accept you--to make the +great sacrifice. He lays his heart at your feet--he +means you have laid your heart at his feet, and he stoops +to pick--" + +"You'd better do nothing of the kind, Pepin Quesnelle. +It's all a mistake!--You utterly misunderstand--" + +But Dorothy could say no more, for, despite her alarm, +the situation was too ludicrous for words. What further +complications might have arisen, it is difficult to say, +had not just then the astute Antoine come to the conclusion +that his master was developing some peculiar form of +madness and wanted a little brotherly attention. He +therefore came noiselessly behind him and with a show of +absent-mindedness poked his snout between his legs. + +In another moment Pepin had landed on his back on top of +his four-footed friend, wherefrom he rolled helplessly +to earth. Dorothy ran forward to help him up, but the +dwarf could not see her proffered hand now--it was +Antoine he had to do business with. He was already creeping +on all-fours towards the interrupter. Dorothy's heart +was in her mouth when Pepin, with an unexpected movement, +threw his arms round the bear's neck and proceeded to +force its jaws apart with his powerful hands. He had no +twigs or old boots handy, but he meant to try the teeth +in its inside by administering earth or young rocks or +anything of a nature that could not exactly be called +nourishing. To add to the confusion, the Indian girl +fearful that something terrible was about to happen, at +once began to indulge in a weird uproar. + +What would have happened it is difficult to say had not +their attention been suddenly claimed by a couple of +shots which rang out from the direction of the gorge. +Pepin released his hold on Antoine, and that resourceful +creature took the opportunity of revenging himself by +picking up his master's hat and trotting off with it in +his mouth. He meant to put it where Pepin intended to +put the little rocks. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A BOLD BID FOR LIBERTY + +It was midnight, and Poundmaker's prisoners, Douglas, +Pasmore, Jacques, and Rory, were lying in their tepee +under the charge of their armed guards. They knew the +latter were asleep, and in answer to some proposition +that Rory had just whispered to Jacques, the latter said-- + +"So, that is so. Keel him not, but to make that he cry +not. The knife to the throat, not to cut, but to silence, +that is the thing." + +"S-sh! or by the powers it's your throat the knife'll be +at. Now, you to the man at your feet, and I'll to the +man beyant... Ow, slape, ye gory babes!" + +If the wind had not been whistling round the tepees just +then, causing some of the loosely-laced hides to flap +spasmodically, it is extremely unlikely that either of +the two men would have ventured even to whisper. But the +tepee was dark, and Rory had managed to tell his +fellow-prisoners that, if they wanted to put their +much-discussed scheme of overcoming their guards and +making their escape into execution, now was their time. +They might never have such another chance. Rory, by reason +of his experience of such matters in the past, had insisted +on leading off with the work. He had also intimated his +intention of securing the arms of some of the other +Indians after their guards had been overpowered. + +Rory rolled over on his right side and looked at the +Indians. He could only see two dark, prostrate forms +outlined blackly against the grey of the doorway. Luckily +the moon was rising, and that would somewhat assist their +movements. + +One of the Indians turned over and drew a long, throaty +breath. He had indeed been asleep, and perhaps he was +going to awake. The thought of the contingency was too +much for the backwoodsman. He crawled forward as stealthily +as a panther, and next moment one sinewy hand was on the +Indian's throat, the other was across the mouth, and a +knee was planted on his chest Simultaneously Jacques was +on top of the other Indian; Pasmore and Douglas jumped +to their feet. In less time than it takes to write it, +the hands of the Indians were secured behind their backs, +gags were placed upon their mouths, their fire-arms and +knives were secured, and the latter were flashed before +their eyes. They were told that if they remained still +no harm would come to them, but if they showed the +slightest intention of alarming the camp their earthly +careers would be speedily closed. Neither of them being +prepared to die, they lay still, like sensible redskins. +Then Rory left the tepee and in two minutes more returned +with two rifles, which he had managed to purloin in some +mysterious way. + +Pasmore took the lead, then came Rory, and immediately +after him Douglas and Jacques. + +It was a miserable mongrel of an Indian dog that +precipitated matters. They came full upon it as it stood +close to a Red River cart, with cocked ears and tail in +air. The inopportune brute threw up its sharp snout and +gave tongue to a series of weird, discordant yelps after +the manner of dogs which are half coyotes. + +"Come on!" cried Pasmore, "we've got to run for it now. +Let's make a bee-line straight up the valley!" + +With rifles at the ready they rushed between the tepees. +It was run for it now with a vengeance. Next moment the +startled Indians came pouring out of their lodges. Red +spurts of fire flashed out in all directions, and the +deafening roar of antiquated weapons made night hideous. +Luckily for the escaping party they had cleared the +encampment, so the result was that the Indians, imagining +that they were being attacked by the Blackfeet or the +British, at once began to blaze away indiscriminately. +The results were disastrous to small groups of their own +people who were foolish enough to leave their doorways. +It would have been music in the ears of the fleeing ones +had not three or four shots whizzed perilously close to +their heads, thus somewhat interfering with their +appreciation of the _contretemps_. + +But their detection was inevitable. Before they had gone +two hundred yards a score of angry redskins were at their +heels. It seemed a futile race, for the Indians numbered +some hundreds, and it was a moral certainty it could be +only a question of time before they were run down. They +knew that under the circumstances there would be no +prisoners taken. It was not long before the pace began +to tell on them. + +"I'm afraid I'm played out," gasped Douglas, "go on, my +friends, for I can't go any farther. I'll be able to keep +them back for a few minutes while you make your way up +the valley. Now then, good-bye, and get on!" + +He plumped down behind a rock, and waited for the advancing +foe. + +Pasmore caught him by the arm and dragged him to his +feet. The others had stopped also. It was not likely they +were going to allow their friend and master to sacrifice +himself in such a fashion. + +"Let's make up this ravine, sir," cried Pasmore. "Come, +give me your arm; we may be able to fool them yet. There's +lots of big rocks lying about that will be good cover. +There's no man going to be left behind this trip." + +High walls of clay rose up on either side, so that at +least the Indians could not outflank them. At first the +latter, thinking that the troublesome escapers were +effectually cornered, essayed an injudicious rush in upon +them, but the result was a volley that dropped three and +made the remainder seek convenient rocks. Taking what +cover they could the white men retired up the narrow +valley. It was becoming lighter now, and they could +distinctly see the skulking, shadowy forms of the redskins +as they stole from rock to rock. Suddenly they made a +discovery that filled them with consternation. They had +come to the end of the valley and were literally in a +_cul-de-sac!_ They were indeed caught like rats in a +trap. + +"I'm afraid we're cornered," exclaimed Douglas, "but +we've got some powder and shot left yet." + +"Yes," remarked Pasmore, "we'll keep them off as long as +we can. I can't understand why the troops are not following +those fellows up. There's no getting out of this, I +fear,"--he looked at the crescent of unscalable cliff--"but +I don't believe in throwing up the sponge. I've always +found that when things seemed at their worst they were +just on the mend." + +He did not say that there was a very powerful incentive +in his heart just then that in itself was more than +sufficient to make him cling to life. It was the thought +of Dorothy. + +Half-an-hour more and the Indians had crawled up to within +fifty yards, and might rush in upon them at any moment, +and then all would be over. As yet, thanks to their +excellent cover, none of the little party had been wounded, +though the redskins had suffered severely. There were +few words spoken now; only four determined men waited +courageously for the end. And then something happened +that paled their cheeks, causing them to look at one +another with startled, questioning eyes. There was a +growing fusillade of rifle fire over their heads and the +sound of British cheers! + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Douglas. "It's the troops at last +They've come up overnight to attack the camp, and they +haven't come a minute too soon." + +"So, that is so," said Jacques, as he took deliberate +aim at his late enemies, who, realising the situation, +were scuttling in confusion down the ravine. "_Mais_, it +is the long road that knows not the turn." + +But as for Pasmore, as on one occasion when he had been +snatched from the Valley of the Shadow, and realised how +beautiful was the blue between the columns of the pines, +he now saw the sweet face of a woman smiling on him +through the mists of the uncertain future. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AN ONLY WAY + +When Antoine the bear so far forgot himself as to interfere +in his master's affairs, he, as usual, had occasion for +after regret--Pepin saw to that. + +The Indians seized their rifles and ran up the slope to +the narrow slit in the cliff that led to their eyrie, +and which on the other side looked out upon the +far-stretching prairie. Pepin, calling Antoine all the +unpleasant names he could think of, told him to follow, +and waddled uphill after the redskins as fast as his late +exertions and his short legs would allow him. The Indians +did not attempt to interfere with his movements. Once +there, he immediately saw the reason of the interruption. +Hurriedly retiring down the hill were three or four men, +but whether whites or breeds it was difficult to determine. +He rather thought he recognised one burly form, and +determined to make sure of the fact that very night. He +thought, however, it was quite excusable for any small +party to retire. Twenty men could have been picked off +by one before they got half-way up. It was as well for +the strangers that the Indians had opened fire so soon, +otherwise some of them might have been left behind. + +That night Pepin disappeared without saying a word to +any one. The strange thing was that none of the Indians +saw him go. Two days passed and there was no sign or +trace of him. On the afternoon of the third day, when +the two Indians on guard at the entrance of the Pass were +busily engaged in quarrelling over some sort of rodent, +nearly as large as a rat, Pepin suddenly rose up before +them as if from the earth. They flattened themselves +against the sides of the cliff in order to allow him and +Antoine to continue their royal progress. + +Pepin sought out Dorothy. She was at her usual place on +the edge of the precipice that looked down upon the deep, +divided channels of the great river. She turned on +hearing the deep breathing of Pepin and the shambling of +Antoine as they passed over some loose gravel behind her. +She rose to her feet with a little cry of welcome. There +was something in the dwarfs face that spoke of a settled +purpose and hope. Their late awkward meeting was quite +forgotten. + +There was a by no means unkindly look on the dwarfs face +as he seated himself beside Dorothy, and told her how he +had slipped out of the Indian camp unobserved three nights +before, and how, going back to Croisettes down the river, +where he had left his mother, he had fallen in with her +friends, who had been rescued by British troops from +Poundmaker's clutches and sent to stay there out of harm's +way while the soldiers pursued the scattered and flying +Indians. Pepin having told them that Dorothy was for the +time being safe, though in Jumping Frog's hands, they of +course wanted to start out at once to rescue her, but +that was promptly negatived by Pepin. Such an attempt +might only precipitate her fate. It had come to his ears +that Poundmaker's scattered band was at that very moment +making back to the strange hiding-place in the cliff, +and that as it would be impossible for them--Douglas and +party--to force the position, they must get Dorothy away +by strategy. He had been to that wild place years before. +There was a steep footpath at the extreme western end, +close to the cliff, which led directly down to the water's +edge. If a canoe could be brought overland on the other +side of the river to that spot, and hidden there, it +would be possible for him and Dorothy to get into it and +escape. They could drift down with the current and land +just above Croisettes. They would, however, have to take +care to get into the proper channel, as one of them was +a certain death-trap. It led through a horrible narrow +canyon, which for some considerable distance was nothing +more than a subterraneous passage. There were rapids in +it, through which nothing could hope to pass in safety. +To be brief, the canoe had been taken to the desired +spot, but Pepin had been enjoined not to resort to it +unless things became desperate. Jacques and Rory had gone +off in search of the British troops, while Douglas and +Pasmore remained where they were in case they would be +required. + +Dorothy was jubilant over the scheme and would have +started off at once, could she have got her own way, but +Pepin told her she must retire as usual to her tepee, +where he would come for her if necessity arose. + +One hour before dawn and a hundred horrible, pealing +echoes rang out from the mouth of the Pass. The British +had attacked without considering what results might follow +their precipitancy. In point of fact, Bastien Lagrange, +the unstable breed, alarmed by Pepin's unpleasant +prognostications, had developed a sudden fit of loyalty +to the British, and gone off ostensibly to carry a message +to Poundmaker, while in reality he went to search for +the former in order that he might lead them to Dorothy's +prison. Hence the present attack. + +Dorothy heard the firing and rose quietly from her couch +of skins. For five minutes she waited in a condition of +painful uncertainty as to the true state of affairs. Then +some one lifted aside the flap of the doorway and Pepin +entered with Antoine close at his heels. He was evidently +perturbed. + +"Mam'selle, Mam'selle," he cried, "you must come with me +now. I have hear that Jumping Frog say something to two +of his cut-throats of redskins! Come quickly!" + +Without any interruption the dwarf and the girl headed +down the gulley that sloped westward. It was terribly +rough travelling, and, but for following an old and +tortuous path, it would hardly have been possible to +steer clear of the rocks and undergrowth. Suddenly the +gully stopped abruptly on the brink of the terrace, +looking down which brought a thrill of terror to Dorothy's +heart. It was as if a great water-spout had burst on the +hillside and washed out for itself an almost precipitous +channel. A wan dawn-light was creeping on apace, and +Dorothy could see that it was at least six hundred feet +to the bottom of this appalling chute. Pepin muttered +something to himself as he regarded it. + +"Have we to go down there?" Dorothy asked, with white +lips. + +"So, that is so!" observed Pepin soberly. "If we go back +there is the death that is of hell. If we go on, there +is the death we know or the life which means your father +or your Pasmore for you, and the good mother and the home +for me. There is the canoe at the foot of this hill, and +those we have spoken of down the river at Croisettes. It +is for you to make up your mind and choose." + +"Come, Pepin, let us go down," she cried. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW + +The dwarf seized her hand, and, stepping over the brink, +they began their perilous descent. They lay on their +sides, feet downwards, and at once the loose sand and +fine pebbles began to move with their bodies. Down the +long slope they slid at a terrific pace that fairly took +their breath away. To Dorothy it was as if she were +falling from an immense height. The earth rushed past +her, and for one horrible moment she feared she was losing +her senses. It was a nightmare in which she was tumbling +headlong from some dizzy cliff, knowing that she would +be dashed to pieces at its foot. + +"Courage, my dear." + +It was Pepin's voice that brought her to her senses. +She felt the grasp of his strong hand upon her arm. Soon +she became conscious that their rocket-like flight was +somewhat checked, and noted the reason. Pepin who lay +on his back, had got his long stick wedged under his +arms, and, with the weight of his body practically upon +it, made it serve as a drag on their progress. Dorothy +felt as if her clothes must be brushed from her body. +She hardly dared look down to see how much of the fearful +journey there was yet to accomplish. Suddenly the sand +and gravel became of a heavier nature. Their pace slackened; +Pepin threw all his weight on to the stick, and they +pulled up. Dorothy saw that they were now about half-way +down--they must have dropped about three hundred feet in +a matter of seconds. Then something that to Dorothy seemed +to presage the end of all things happened. There was a +roar as of thunder over their heads. Looking up as they +still lay prone they beheld a terrifying spectacle. A +huge rock was bounding down upon them from the heights +above. It gathered force as it came, rising high in the +air in a series of wild leaps. _Debris_ and dust marked +its path. It set other stones in motion, and the noise +was as if a 15-pounder and a Vicker's Maxim gun were +playing a duet. For the moment a species of panic seized +Dorothy, but Pepin retained his presence of mind. + +"Bah!" he exclaimed. "It is that cut-throat and blockhead, +Jumping Frog, who has been throw down that stone! But +what need to worry! Either it will squeeze us like to +the jelly-fish or the flat-fish, or it will jump over +our heads and do no harm--" + +He pressed her to earth with one strong hand as the great +rock struck the ground a few feet short of them and +bounded over their heads. A warm, sulphurous odour came +from the place of concussion. An avalanche of small +stones rattled all around them. It was a narrow escape +truly, and the very thought of it almost turned Dorothy +sick. She saw the rock ricochet down the steep slope and +plunge with a mighty splash into the blue waters far +below. + +How they got to the bottom Dorothy was never able to +determine. She only knew that when she got there her +boots were torn to pieces, and any respectable dealer in +rags would hardly have demeaned himself by bidding for +her clothes. Pepin was a curious sight, for his garments +looked like so many tattered signals of distress. + +The two found themselves in a great gloomy canyon with +frowning sides and a broad, leaden-hued river surging at +its foot. + +But the canoe, where was it? Had it been sunk by the rock +from above? If so, they had absolutely no hope of escape. + +But Pepin's sharp eyes saw it riding securely in a little +bay under a jutting rock. Dorothy and he hurried down to +it. There was a narrow strip of sand, and the water was +shallow just there. The painter was wound round a sharp +rock, and they pulled the canoe to them. Just at that +moment a shower of rocks and _debris_ passed within a +few feet of them and plunged into the water, throwing up +a snow-white geyser. + +"Jump in, my dear," cried Pepin, "we will escape them +yet, and that fool of a Jumping Frog will swing at the +end of a long rope or die like a coyote with a bullet +through his stupid head." + +Dorothy got in, and Pepin rolled in bodily after her. +He seized the paddle, seated himself near the bow, and +dipped his blade into the eddying flood. "Now then, +Mam'selle, have the big heart of courage and the good +God will help. One, two!" + +The canoe shot out into the stream. Like a child's paper +boat or a withered leaf it was caught up and whirled +away. There was a look of exultation on the dwarfs face; +his dark eyes flashed with excitement. + +"Courage, my dear!" he cried again. "Move not, and do +not be afraid. Think of the good father and the sweetheart +who will meet you at the Croisettes lower down. Think of +them, dear heart, the father and the lover!" + +Dorothy did think, and breathed a prayer that God would +nerve the arm of Pepin and give them both faith and +courage. + +But the river was in flood, and the current rushed like +a mill-race. Dorothy fairly held her breath as the canoe +rode over the surging waters. The river seemed to narrow, +and great black walls of rock wet with spray and streaked +with patches of orange and green closed in upon them. +They came to a bend where the water roared and boiled +angrily, its surface being broken with great blue +silver-crested furrows. Suddenly Pepin uttered a strange, +hoarse cry. There had been an immense landslide, and the +entire channel had been altered. Right in their path lay +a broad whirlpool. Pepin paddled for dear life, while +the perspiration stood out in beads upon his forehead. +His face was set and there was a strained look in his +eyes. Dorothy clasped her hands, praying aloud, but +uttering no word of fear. + +"Courage, courage," Pepin cried. "The good Lord will not +forsake. Courage!" + +The muscles stood out like knots on his great arms. His +body inclined forward and his paddle flashed and dipped +with lightning, unerring strokes. + +The canoe leapt out of the water, and then shot out of +that swirling, awful ring into the headlong stream again. + +"Houp-la, Hooray!" cried Pepin. "Thanks be to the good +God! Courage, _mon ami!_" + +And then the words died on his lips, and Dorothy perceived +a sickly grey overspread his face as he stared ahead. +She looked and saw a great mass of rock right in the +centre of the stream, as if a portion of the cliff had +fallen into it, dividing the passage. Pepin, who had +somewhat relaxed his efforts, now began to ply his paddle +again with redoubled vigour. His hair stood on end, the +veins swelled on his forehead, and his body was hunched +forward in a grotesque fashion. Once he turned and, +looking swiftly over his shoulder, cried something to +Dorothy. But the thundering of the waters was now so +great that his voice was drowned. The canoe was heading +straight for the rock, as an arrow speeds from the bow. +Dorothy closed her eyes and prayed. There was a lurch, +the canoe heeled over until the water poured in, she +opened her eyes and clung to the sides for dear life, +and then it shot past the menacing death, just missing +it by a hand's breadth. + +But what was the matter with the river? It had contracted +until it was not more than twenty yards in width. It +flowed between smooth slimy walls of rock, the vasty +heights of which shut out the light of coming day. There +was no roaring now, only the rapid, deep, tremulous flow +of the sea-green waters. Dorothy looked upwards, but +all she could see was the black, pitiless cliffs, and a +narrow ribbon of sky. Pepin had ceased to ply his paddle, +and was gazing fixedly down stream. A presentiment that +something was wrong took possession of Dorothy. When the +dwarf turned round, and she saw the look of pity for her +upon his face, she knew he had something ghastly to tell. +His expression was not that of fear; it was that of one +who, seeing death ahead, is not afraid for himself, but +is strangely apprehensive about breaking the news to +another. And all the time the thin ribbon of sky was +getting narrower. + +The girl looked at the dwarf keenly. + +"Pepin Quesnelle," she said, "you have been a good, dear +friend to me, and now you have lost your life in trying +to save mine--" + +"Pardon, Mam'selle, my dear, what is it you know? You +say we go for to meet the death. How you know that, eh? +What?" + +Despite the tragedy of the situation, and the great pity +for her that filled his heart, he would not have been +Pepin had he not posed as the _petit maitre_ in this the +hour of the shadow. + +She pointed to the great black archway looming up ahead +under which their canoe must shoot in another minute. It +was the dread subterranean passage, which meant for them +the end of all things. It was a tragic ending to all her +hopes and dreams, the trials and the triumphs of her +young life. It was, indeed, bitter to think that just +when love, the crowning experience of womanhood, had come +to her, its sweetness should have been untasted. Even +the lover's kiss--that seal upon the compact of souls--had +been denied her. Her fate had been a hard one, but Dorothy +was no fair-weather Christian. Was it not a great triumph +that in the dark end she should have bowed to the higher +will, and been strong? And her love, if it had experienced +no earthly close, might it not live again in the mysterious +Hereafter? She thanked God for the comfort of the thought. +She had been face to face with death before, but now here +surely was the end. She would be brave and true to all +that was best and truest in her, and she felt that somehow +those who were left behind must know. + +The dwarf faced her, and his hands were clasped as in +prayer. His face was transfigured. There was no fear +there--only a look of trust in a higher power, and of +compassion. + +"Pepin," cried Dorothy, "you have been a good, dear friend +to me, and I want to thank you before--" + +"Bah !" interrupted the dwarf. "What foolishness is it +you will talk about thanks! But, my dear, I will say this +to you now, although you are a woman, there is no one in +this wide world--save, of course, the good mother--that +I would more gladly have laid down my life to serve than +you! I am sure your Pasmore would forgive me if he heard +that Good-bye, my dear child, and if it is the Lord's +will that together we go to knock at the gates of the +great Beyond, then I will thank Heaven that I have been +sent in such good company. Now, let us thank the good +God that He has put the love of Him in our hearts." + +And then the darkness swallowed them up. + +Back from the land of dreams and shadows--back from the +Valley of the Shadow and the realms of unconsciousness. + +Dorothy opened her eyes. At first she could see nothing. +Then there fell upon her view the shadowy form of a human +figure bending over her, and a slimy roof of rock that +seemed to rush past at racehorse speed. It seemed to grow +lighter. The canoe swayed; she heard the rush of water; +then there was darkness again. + +It was the splash of cold water on her face from a little +wave that dashed over the side of the canoe that roused +her. She opened her eyes. In the bow she could see Pepin +kneeling; his hands were clasped before him; his deep +voice ran above the surge of the current, and she knew +that he was praying aloud. + +The roof over her head seemed to recede. It grew higher. +Pepin turned and seized the paddle. He dipped it into +the water and headed the canoe into the centre of the +stream. + +"Mam'selle, my dear," he cried, "the good God has heard +our prayer. He has guided us through. Have heart of +courage, and all will be well." + +Dorothy raised herself on to her hands and knees. It was +as if she had been dead and had come to life again. The +stream opened out. Suddenly there came a break in the +roof. + +"Courage, _mon ami!_" cried Pepin, and he was just in +time to turn them from a rock that threatened destruction. + +Then all at once they shot out into the great isle-studded +bosom of the broad river, and the sweet sunshine of the +coming day. + +Half-an-hour later, and the canoe was gliding past the +banks where the ash and the wolf-willow grew, and the +great cliffs were left behind. They knew that they were +safe, and in their hearts was thanksgiving. Suddenly +Pepin cried-- + +"Ah, Mam'selle, you Douglas female, look--don't you see +it? There it is--Croisettes, and look--look, there is +the good mother, and your father, and there your Pasmore, +your pudding-head, Pasmore! Look, they run. Do not you +see them?" + +But Dorothy could not see, for her eyes were full of +tears--like Pepin's. + + +END + + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Rising of the Red Man, by John Mackie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RISING OF THE RED MAN *** + +***** This file should be named 12827.txt or 12827.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/2/12827/ + +This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/old/12827.zip b/old/12827.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a830ca --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12827.zip |