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diff --git a/old/67520-0.txt b/old/67520-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 55ec8db..0000000 --- a/old/67520-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6342 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Conquest, by Henry Bedford-Jones - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Conquest - -Author: Henry Bedford-Jones - -Release Date: February 27, 2022 [eBook #67520] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Al Haines - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONQUEST *** - - - - - - - -[Illustration: Title page] - - - - - THE CONQUEST - - - _By_ - - H. BEDFORD-JONES - - - - Published by - - DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING COMPANY - - Elgin Chicago New York Boston - Publishing House and Mailing Rooms, -- Elgin, Illinois - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1914, - THE DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING COMPANY. - - - - - CONTENTS - - I. What We Found on the Moor - II. Gib o' Clarclach - III. The "Lass o' Dee" Sails - IV. The Man from the Sea - V. How the "Lass" Was Drifted - VI. Radisson the Great - VII. Grim Howls - VIII. Deserted - IX. The Great Adventure Begins - X. The Keeper and The Arrow - XI. In the Villages of the Crees - XII. The Moose of Mystery - XIII. The Raiders - XIV. The Pursuit - XV. Outgeneraled - XVI. A Voice in the Night - XVII. A Martyr of the Snows - XVIII. Hudson's End - XIX. The Mighty One - XX. How Pierre Radisson Slept - XXI. The Shadow of the Cross - XXII. The End of the Long Trail - - - - -FOREWORD - -The story of Pierre Radisson, which is herein related, has passed -into history. That he was the first white man to reach the -Mississippi, after De Soto, is now admitted. It was he who founded -the Hudson's Bay Company, and who opened up the great Northwest to -the world, receiving the basest of ingratitude in return. - -The materials and facts used in this narrative I owe in part to Agnes -C. Laut, who has rescued him from oblivion and given him his rightful -place in history. The manner of his death no man knows to this day, -but it is hard to imagine this world-wandered dying in his bed in -London town; one likes to think of him as finding the peace of his -"heart's desire" in the far land which he knew and loved and served -so well.--_H. Bedford-Jones_. - - - - - DEDICATED - - To my mother, whose picture is the - picture of Ruth MacDonald in these pages. - - - - -THE CONQUEST - -_By H. BEDFORD-JONES_ - - - -CHAPTER I. - -WHAT WE FOUND ON THE MOOR. - -My father cocked up one eye at the heavens and stroked his heavy -beard, and, as the storm was all but over, he growled assent in the -Gaelic tongue that we of the west used among ourselves. - -"Aye, come along, Davie. We'll have work to find the sheep and get -them together after this blow. Belike they are huddled up in some -corner of the moor--over beyond the Glowerie-gap, no doubt." - -So blithely enough I whistled to Grim, and the three of us set off -across the moors, while mother stood at the door and waved us a -cheery farewell. Little she thought what burden we would fetch back -with us that day! The great storm had blown itself out, and as we -went along I asked permission to go down by the cliffs that afternoon -and hunt for washed-up wonders of the ocean. - -"Not you, lad," replied my father in his stern fashion, yet kindly -enough. "There is work and to spare at home. Besides, the cliffs -are no place for you this day. There'll be wreckers out betwixt here -and Rathesby." - -So with that I fell silent, wishing with all my heart that I might -see the wreckers at work. For I was but a boy of nine and the life -of a wrecker seemed to me to be the greatest in all the world. -Little I knew of the sore work that was done along the west coast -that day! - -Years before, my great-grandfather, a MacDonald of the isles, had -come across to the mainland and settled on Ayrby farm, and on this -same stead I had spent my nine years. All my life had been one of -peace and quietness, but I knew full well that the old claymore -hanging beside the fireplace could not say as much. - -For my father, Fergus MacDonald, had married late in life and my -mother had come out of the south to wed him. I had heard strange -whispers of the manner of that wedding. It was said, and my father -never denied it, that he had been one of those who, many years -before, had hoisted the blue banner of the Covenant and ridden behind -the great prophet Cameron, even to the end. Then, when the Covenant -was shattered by the king's troops, he had fled into the hills of the -south, and when the hunting was done and a new King come to the -throne, he had brought home as his wife, the woman who had sheltered -and hidden him in her father's barn. - -How true these things were I never knew, but my father's fame had -spread afar. In this year of grace 1701 the days of the Covenant -were all but over. The order of things was shifting; rumors were -flying abroad that the Stuart was coming to his own ere long, and -that all wide Scotland would rise behind him to a man. - -Of this my thoughts were busy as we strode over the heather, side by -side. Grim following us sedately and inconspicuously, as a sheep dog -should when he has age and experience. I always respected Grim more -and liked him less than the younger brood of dogs, for he seemed to -have somewhat of the dour, silent, purposeful sternness of my father -in his nature, and was ever rebuking me for my very boyishness. - -"Come, Davie," said my father suddenly, "we'll cut off a mile by -going down beside the cliffs. Like enough we will strike on a few of -the lambs among the bowlders, where there would be shelter." - -This set my mind back on the sheep once more, and I followed him -meekly but happily to the cliff-path over the sea. Fifteen miles to -the north lay the little port of Rathesby, and on rare occasions I -would go thither with my father and enjoy myself hugely, watching the -fishermen and sailors swaggering through the cobbled streets, and -hearing strange tongues--English and Irish, and sometimes a snatch of -Dutch or French. I knew English well enough, and south-land English -at that, while my mother had taught me a good knowledge of French; -but the honest Gaelic was our home speech and this I knew best of -all, and loved best. - -Our path, to give it that distinction, followed the winding edge of -the cliff, where many a gully and ravine led down to the beach below. -I cast longing glances at these, and once saw a shattered spar -driving on the rocks, but was careful to betray naught of the -eagerness that was in me. When my father Fergus had once said a -thing, there was no naysaying it, which was a lesson I had learned -long before. - -Of a sudden Grim made a little dash around me and planted himself in -the path before us. He made no sound, but he was gazing across the -moors, and to avoid stepping on him we stopped perforce. It was an -old trick of his, thus to give us warning, and I have heard that in -the old days Grim and Grim's father had accompanied more than one -fleeing Covenanter safely through the hills to shelter. - -Now these tales leaped into my mind with full force at a muttered -exclamation from my father, and I saw a strange sight. The sun, in -the east, was just breaking through the storm clouds, lighting up the -rolling heather a quarter-mile beyond us. There, full in its gleam, -was a tiny splotch of scarlet. - -The old days must have returned on my father, for as I glanced at him -I saw his hand leap to his side. But the old claymore hung there no -longer, and his face relaxed. - -"What is it, Grim?" he said kindly. "Yon is a scarlet coat right -enough, lad, but scarlet coats hunt men no longer over the moors. -What make you of it, Davie?" - -"No more than you, father," I replied, proud that he had appealed to -me. The crimson dot was motionless, and no farther from the cliffs -than we. So, with a word to Grim, we walked along more hastily, the -sheep clear forgot in this new interest. Scarlet coats were uncommon -in these parts, and little liked. As we drew nearer we began to see -that this could be no man, as at first we had thought, nor yet a -woman. Indeed, it seemed to be a garment flung down all in a heap, -and I stared at it in vain. - -Then the sun outburst all around us. As it did so, the crimson thing -yonder seemed to be imbued with life, and my father gave a cry of -amazement. - -"A lassie! Now, where can she--" - -[Illustration: _My father gave a cry of amazement._] - -Without finishing, he broke into a run, and I followed excitedly, for -the figure was plainly that of a little girl. But what a girl! She -was no more than mine own age, and the scarlet cloak fell from neck -to heels about her as she came to meet us. Over the cloak was -streaming a mass of yellow hair that seemed like spun gold in the -sunlight, and presently I slowed my pace to stare at her. - -Young though I was, I noted a peculiar quality in her as she ran to -meet my father with outstretched hands, tears still upon her cheeks. -I know not how to describe this quality, save that it was one of -absolute faith and confidence, as if she had been waiting there for -us. Old Grim hung behind, seemingly in doubt, but my father caught -the lassie to him, which in itself was quite enough to make me all -the more amazed. - -"Why, the bairn's gey weet!" he cried out in the Scots dialect he -seldom or never used. And with that I came up to them, and saw that -in truth she was dripping wet. In reply to my father's words she -spoke to him, but not in English or Scots, nor in any tongue that I -had ever heard. - -Bewildered and somewhat fearful, my father addressed her in honest -Gaelic, but she only stared at him and me, her arms cuddled around -his beard and neck in content. Then, to my further surprise, she -laughed and broke out in French. - -"You will take me home, gentlemen? Have you seen my mother?" - -By the words, I knew her for a lady, and stammered out what she had -said, to my father. He, poor man, was all for looking at her bonny -face and stroking her hair, so I bespoke her in his place. - -"Home? And where have you come from? Where is your mother?" - -At this her lips twisted apprehensively, whereat my father cried out -on me angrily; but she came around right bravely and made reply. - -"We were going back to France, young sir. And my mother was in the -boat." - -"In the boat!" I repeated, the truth coming upon me. "Then how came -you here?" - -"Why," she returned prettily, "it was dark, and the big waves -frightened poor mother, and I fell in the water and got all wet. -Then I climbed out and looked for mother, but could not find her." - -I put her words into Gaelic, staring the while at her cloak-clasp, -which was like a seal of gold bearing a coat of arms. But when my -father heard the story he drew her to him with a half-sob. - -"Davie, the lassie came ashore in the storm! Take Grim and run down -to the beach. If you find any others, men or women, bring them home. -And mind," he flung over his shoulder savagely, "mind you waste no -time hunting for shells and the like!" - -He swung the little maid to his shoulder, bidding Grim go with me, -and so was striding off across the moor before the words were done. -I stared after the two of them, and the lass waved a hand to me gayly -enough; but as I turned away I felt something grip on my throat, for -well I knew what her story boded. Many a good ship has been blown -north of the Irish coast and full upon our cliffs, from the time of -the great Armada even to this day, and few of them all have weathered -the great rocks that strew our coast from Bute to Man. - -There was little hope in my mind that I would find anything left of -that "boat" the maid spoke of, but I called Grim and started for the -nearest gully leading down to the shore. Soon the rocks were -towering above me, and the beat of the surf thundered ahead, and then -I entered a little sheltered cove where I had gathered shells many a -time. - -Almost at my feet there was a boat--a ship's longboat, rolling bottom -side up on the rocks. I stood looking around, but could see no -living thing on the spray-wet rocks that glittered black in the -sunlight. Then Grim gave a little growl and pawed at something just -below us. I felt a thrill, for more than once he had found in just -such fashion the body of a dead sailor, but as I stooped down to the -object rolling in the foam I saw it was nothing but a helpless crab -washed up into a pocket. I pulled him out with a jerk and flung him -back into the waves, turning away. The longboat was not worth -saving, being battered to pieces, and if any of the crew had reached -the shore they were not in sight. - -So Grim and I returned home across the moor. How had a French ship -come so far north, and on our western coasts too, I wondered? As we -went, Grim found a score of sheep clustered in a hollow, so I -hastened on and left him to drive the poor brutes home. - -When I reached the house I made report of my errand, seeking some -trace of the maid. But she was asleep in my own cot, and her crimson -cloak was drying before the peat-fire, which seemed more like to fill -it with smoke than dryness. - -"Did you find who she was or whence?" I asked my mother, knowing that -she spoke the French tongue far better than I. - -"The poor child knew naught," she replied, as she mixed a bowl of -broth and set it to keep warm. "The only name she knows is Marie--" - -"Which will be spoke no more in my house," broke out my father with a -black frown. "I doubt not the lassie's people were rank Papists--" - -"Shame on you, Fergus!" cried my mother indignantly, facing him. -"When a poor shipwrecked bairn comes and clings her arms about your -neck, you name her Papist--shame on you! Begone about your business, -and let sleeping dogs lie, Fergus MacDonald. Cameron and Claverhouse -are both forgot, and see to it--" - -But my father had incontinently fled out the door to get in the -sheep, and my mother laughed as she turned to me and bade me give the -red cloak a twist to "clear the peat out of it." - -Now, that was the manner of the coming of the little maid. Two days -later my father took me to Rathesby with him to seek out her folk, if -that might be. But no tidings had been brought of any wreck, and the -best we might do was to write--with much difficulty, for my father -was ever handier with staff than with pen--a letter to Edinburgh, -making a rude copy of the arms on the gold buckle, and seeking to -know what family bore those arms. No reply ever came to this letter, -and whether it ever arrived we never knew. - -And for this we were all content enough, I think. The lassie had -twined herself about my mother's heart by her winning ways, and that -confident, all-trusting matter laid hold strongly upon my father's -heart, so that ere many weeks it was decided that she should stay -with us until her folk should come to seek her. - -I remember that there was some difficulty over naming her, for my -father would have called her Ruth, which he plucked at random from -the Bible on the hearth. I think my mother was set on calling her -Mary, but the name of Mary Stuart was hard in my father's memory, and -he would not. - -So the weeks lengthened into months, and the months into years, and -ever Ruth and I were as brother and sister in the farmstead at Ayrby. -She learned English readily enough, but the Gaelic tongue was hard -for her, which was great sorrow to my father all his days. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -GIB O' CLARCLACH. - -Seven of those years were the happiest of all my life, perhaps. Ruth -and I dwelt quiet at home, and between whiles of the work my mother -taught us much that we had never known else. She was of good family, -of the Eastoun Errols, and how she came to love my father, who was -rough and rude, was always something of a mystery to me. But love -him she did, and he her, and it was a bad day for Fergus MacDonald -when my mother died. - -This happening took place seven years after the coming of Ruth, and -was a sore grief to all of us. I never realized just how sore a -grief it was to my father, Fergus, until later. She was buried -beside those of the Covenant who had escaped the harrying to die in -peace, and I mind me that it was on a cold, gray day which gave us -little cheer. - -The elder, old Alec Gordon, had carried pistol and sword at Ayrsmoss, -being given to preaching later in life. His mind was a bitter one, -setting well with that of my father, and this day of my mother's -funeral gave me a distaste for the men of the Covenant that I never -outgrew. When it was all over I crept away and went down to the -cliff-edge, where Ruth presently joined me, and we sat along with the -heart-hunger that was eating at us until the night-mists warned us -home. - -For many days thereafter my father spoke few words, and of a sudden -his age had come upon him, together with a strange unrest that I had -not seen in him before. But still we abode there on the old farm -until I was almost nineteen, and Ruth, as we guessed, a year younger. -Then came the first of those strange happenings that led us so far -afield and drew us into so weird a strand of Fortune's net before we -had done. - -Two years after my mother's death, my father began to have a -succession of visitors. There was much talk in those days of the new -lands over sea, and the rich farms to be had there for the taking. -From what scattered words that came to us, Ruth and I judged rightly -enough that these folk were talking of the plantations to my father, -and so indeed it proved. Alec Gordon was the most constant visitor, -and in time it came out that he would make a settlement in the new -world, of a number of our folk. My father was much taken with the -scheme, as were Muckle Jock Grier and Tam Graham, and others of the -families near by. At length my father announced that the next day -but one Ruth and I should go with him to Rathesby. - -His temper was dour and sullen in these days, and I dared not -question him overmuch, but Ruth got the truth of the matter out of -him on the way to town. It seemed that the elder, Alec Gordon, had -prevailed upon a dozen families to carry the Covenant to the New -World, and there to found a settlement to the glory of God, where -there would be none to interfere or hinder, and where, as my father -put it, "a new folk might be given growth by the Lord's grace, free -from the temptations of the world and the wiles of the devil." But -there were more devils in the New World than my father or old Alec -wotted of. - -I think he was much moved to this end by thought of Ruth and me, for -he was earnest that we should follow in his footsteps and grow up -God-fearing, respected young folk such as Lang Robin Grier. Now I -ever was, and am still, I trust, God-fearing; but sour faces were -little to my liking, and ranting Lang Robin much less. I mind me -that when Robin would have impressed some doctrinal point upon Ruth, -with many wise sayings and much doubting that her mind was sound in -the faith, I went home with sore knuckles, and Robin went home with a -sore face and a story that wrought much discredit upon me. Howbeit, -to my tale. - -We rode into Rathesby, where my father was to see Wat Herries, the -master of the stout lugger that sailed to Ireland and France and -beyond, and that even then lay in Rathesby bay. Smaller vessels than -the "Lass o' Dee" had passed overseas in safety, and my father -trusted in the hand of God more than he trusted in the hand of Wat -Herries. - -It was still early morn when we reached the port and put up our -ponies at the Purple Heather, kept by old Gib Lennox. Then my father -told me to wander at my will, taking good care of Ruth and returning -at midday, while he strode off in search of Master Herries. The -"Lass," we found, was newly come from France, and in her crew were -many dark-faced fellows whose tongue sounded sweet in the ears of -Ruth, so that we had to stop more than once and listen. - -In the front of her cloak, now a modest gray one, she wore that same -brooch with which she had come to us. I had hard work to keep her -from speaking to the strange men in their own tongue, but after a -time we came to the edge of the town and sat there among the rocks, -well content to watch the lugger in the harbor and the fishing boats -that lay around her. - -As we sat there two men came strolling by--two of the sailors whom we -had seen in the town. One was ordinary enough, the other a not -ill-favored rogue save for deep pock-marks on his face that bespoke -the plague, and a roving, cunning eye that bespoke a shifty soul. -These passed so close that their talk floated to us, and naught would -do Ruth but that I must call them over so that she might speak to -them in French. Whereat, somewhat sullenly, I obeyed, and the men -strolled across the shingle to us. - -"And what might you wish, pretty maid?" asked the pock-marked fellow -civilly enough. - -"I but wished to hear the French tongue, sir," she replied with a -smile. "It is long since I have spoken it--why, what is the matter?" - -For a sudden the man had given a little start, his eyes fixed on her -throat. Then he stared into her eyes, and at the look of him I half -gained my feet. - -"Your name?" he asked quickly. "What is your name, little one?" - -"What is that to you, fellow?" I made hot answer, angry at his -insolence. But Ruth caught my sleeve and pulled me down. - -"Nay, Davie! Why should he not know? It were but civil to speak him -fair, after calling to him. My name is Ruth, Ruth MacDonald," she -added in French. At this it seemed to me that the man stared harder -than ever, a puzzled look in his face. - -"And how come you to speak our tongue?" he said, smiling quickly, so -that I lost my anger. "It is strange to find one on these coasts who -speaks so well and fluently!" - -Ruth replied that she had had good teachers, and after a few words -more the men walked on. But I noted that the one we had spoken with -flung back more than one glance, and I was glad when midday came and -we made our way back to the inn to eat. - -There we found my father in deep converse with Master Herries, a -hearty man of some two-score years, and straightway all thought of -the two seamen fled my mind. For now the talk was all of lading and -cargo, of whether sheep might be fetched in the lugger and of how -many persons might sail with her. My father was set on taking with -us as many sheep as might be, notwithstanding Wat Herries told him -there was little sheep-land in the plantations. - -While we ate and listened, Alec Gordon came in and brought a list of -all those who had covenanted to go on the "Lass." The price was then -agreed on, and much against my will my father bade me take Ruth forth -again for an hour or two, as the inn was filling with seamen who -drank much and talked loud, and there was but the one room. - -So down to the sea we went once again, having had our fill of the -town-sights, and wandered south along the low cliffs and the shore. -Luckily enough, as it chanced, I picked up a water-clean cudgel that -lay among the rocks and used it in sport as a staff. A bit after, I -espied a small cuttlefish washed into a pool, and swooped down on the -place in delight. But Ruth, who cared little for such creations as -had snaky arms and hideous aspect, rambled onward among the rocks. - -I was much concerned with my find, and had great sport. Once the -foot-long arms were wound around that stick of mine, the creature -would not let go, even though I beat him gently against the rock. I -had no mind to lose the cudgel by leaving it there, and neither had I -cruelty enough to crush out the life of the ugly creature, so I -stayed and fought gently with him and forgot the passage of time. - -On a sudden came a faint cry to my ears and I heard my name as if -called from far away. Looking up, I saw no one and remembered that -Ruth had gone on alone. Thinking that she had fallen into some pool -among the rocks, mayhap, I caught up the stick, cuttlefish and all, -and ran to the point of rocks that hid the farther shore from me. -And there I gave a great cry of anger and amazement. - -For, a quarter of a mile distant, I saw Ruth being carried up the -cliff by two men. Though I could not see them well, for they were in -the cliff-shadow, I remembered the two seamen instantly. Without -pausing to think, I ran swiftly back to a little path that led up the -cliff, in white anger. I knew these parts well, and when I gained -the crest I would be betwixt the three and the town. - -In this thought I was right, for in my haste I had beat them to the -cliff-top and was running toward them when they appeared. Plainly -they had not counted on me, because as I appeared they seemed no -little alarmed. Then when I drew near, there came a flash of steel -in the sunlight and my heart stood still, lest they injure Ruth. - -But whatever their intention, it was unfulfilled. Before I could get -to them Ruth began to struggle, and broke away just as the knives -gleamed. One of the rogues wanted to run, but the other called to -him to stay steady and regain the maid when they had flung the boy -over the cliff. This did not serve to calm me over-much, and I must -have clean forgot to fear their knives. - -As I ran up, the one of them sprang, but I whirled around the cudgel, -which the cuttlefish yet clung to. The swing of it flung him off, -and while I was still a few paces from the seaman I saw the creature -strike him full in the face, as though thrown from a -hand-sling--though it was the sheerest good fortune. With a great -shriek the man turned and made off, clutching at his face, and I saw -no more of him after. - -But with the second man, him of the pock-marks, I was right soon -busied. Amazed as he was at the somewhat ludicrous fate of his -fellow, he came at me evilly. With a quick motion I shortened the -cudgel and stabbed him in the breast with it, the point of his knife -just shearing through my shirt, but harming me not at all. Then I -gripped him by the neck and wrist. - -Now we MacDonalds have ever been accounted strong men, and although -scant nineteen, my father was wont to say that I promised not to -disgrace the family in my strength. That was no light praise from -his lips, but I never knew the worth of it till I gripped that seaman -in my two hands. The anger that was upon me for the sake of Ruth was -so great that there seemed to be a red haze in my eyes, and then I -realized that the man had dropped his knife and was all but limp. -Whereat I lifted him up and threw him to the heather, where he lay -quiet. - -Then I knew that Ruth was hanging to my arm, pleading with me not to -harm the man. I stared down at her, breathing heavily, and wondered -what to do with him. - -"Were you hurt, lassie?" I asked in haste. - -"No, Davie. They came upon me suddenly, and I had but time to cry to -you before they clapped a kerchief to my mouth and lifted me. At the -top of the cliff I broke from them. But--oh, I fear me you have hurt -this man sore!" - -"And well enough for him," I responded grimly. "He is like to be -worse hurt when my father lays hands on him." - -"David! Surely they are punished enough!" she cried out. Looking -down at her, I saw that her golden hair was streaming free and in her -face was that same all-trusting look wherewith she had met us nine -years before. The memory of that day struck me like a shock, so that -I stared speechless. Just then the sailor groaned, rolled over, and -sat up. I put my foot on his knife, debating whether to hale him to -Rathesby or not. - -"Let him go, David," pleaded Ruth. "Truly, they did me no harm, and -if father knew of it he would be very angry. Do not tell him, Davie, -for it can do no good and will only make him dour for days." - -Now this was true enough, and when the flame of my wrath had quieted -somewhat I was not over-anxious to kindle the flame again in my -father's heart. So I looked down at the man and bade him stand up, -which he did with a groan, rubbing his neck. - -"Who are you," I asked sternly. "What was your intent?" - -He glanced from me to Ruth, an odd gleam in his crafty eyes which -liked me little. He seemed to hesitate before answering, though I -had spoken in his own tongue. - -"I am called Gib o' Clarclach," he replied surlily, in right good -Gaelic. As I stared in amazement, he darted a venomous look at me. -"But elsewhere I am known as The Pike," he added, "and I have friends -you wot not of, stripling. So best say no more of this." - -"That for you and your friends," and I snapped my fingers. "What -wanted you with this maid? Answer, or you lie in Rathesby gaol this -night." - -But all the answer I got was a mocking laugh, as the fellow sprang -away and was gone down the cliff-path. I plunged forward, but Ruth's -hand clutched mine and her voice pulled me back. "Nay, Davie! Leave -him go and let us return--for--for I am afraid!" - -And the little sob she gave held me to her more than her grip, so -that I laid her head against my shoulder and comforted her until she -smiled once more. But she did not smile until I had promised to say -no word of the affair to my father Fergus. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE "LASS O' DEE" SAILS. - -We talked little on the way back to the town, but none the less I was -wondering greatly. So this seeming Frenchman could talk good Gaelic -speech, as well as chatter French! That set me to marveling, for he -looked like a Frenchman right enough. And what he called -himself--The Pike! Surely that was no name for an honest man to -bear, considering what kind of fish the pike was, even had the very -giving of such a name not been a heathenish and outlandish thing. I -had heard that the heathen in the colonies were named after beasts -and birds, and so I came to the conclusion that he must have lived -overseas. His Gaelic, however, was not that of the west coast, but -held the burn of the Highlands. - -I kept all this thinking to myself for the next few days. No harm -had been done Ruth, so no harm had come of it; though why they dared -to carry off a Scots maiden so near home was more than I could -explain. In the end I gave up the attempt, having other things to -busy myself with. - -When we had reached the inn once more we found my father ready to -depart. With him was sour old Alec Gordon, who would bide with us at -Ayrby over night. They rode on ahead, and from their talking Ruth -and I gained some inkling of the great scheme. - -The "Lass" had been engaged to take over the expedition upon her -return from the next cruise, which would be in a month's time. This -would give us who were going plenty of time to sell our farms and -stock and to make all ready for departure. As to selling these, -there would be little trouble about that, for the hill folk and those -from the south would be glad enough to take them over and pay ready -cash. We of the west have alway been accounted poor folk, but even -in those days it was a poor farm indeed that did not have a leathern -sack hidden away beneath the hearth, with something therein to clink. -The days of Claverhouse had taught the west folk a stern lesson. - -Neither Ruth nor I was greatly in favor of seeking the New World. We -had many a conversation about Gib o' Clarclach, which usually -resolved itself into wondering why he had stared so at the golden -brooch; and in the end Ruth placed it away and wore it no more until -our departure. She loved our home, with its rolling moors and cliffs -and mountains, and could see no reason for change; for that matter, -neither could my father, except that, as I said before, he was -restless and thinking about our future state. - -As for me, I was wild to stay. Most lads would have wanted to cross -the world, but not I, for there was great talk of the Stuart in the -air. My father, who held all Stuarts for Papists, was bitter strong -for Orange and the Dutch, but the romance of Prince Charles was eager -in me. There were constant rumors that the French fleet was coming, -that men were arming in the Highlands, and that the clans and the men -of the Isles were up, but nothing came of it all and our preparations -went steadily forward. - -It was no light task in those days to go into the New World and found -a settlement there. We were to take a dozen sheep, and my father -refused to part with Grim, of course. All the rest was to be handed -over to my father's kinsman, Ian MacDonald, together with the stead -itself. Our personal possessions were all packed stoutly in three -great chests of oak bound with iron, and into one of these went -Ruth's little red cloak, that my mother had kept always. - -Those were sad days for us, were the days of parting. There was ever -something of the woman in my boy nature, I think, for it grieved me -sore to part with the things I had known all my life, but especially -to turn over to strangers the things about the house that my mother -had loved and used. There was a big crock, I remember, which she had -used for making the porridge every morning, and Ruth after her; this -my father would not let us pack, saying that broken pots would make -poor porridge in the colonies. - -"Then it shall make porridge no more," I replied hotly, and caught up -the heavy crock. Ruth gave a little cry as it shattered on the -hearthstone, and I looked to feel my father's staff. But instead, he -only gazed across the room and nodded to himself. - -"Let be, Davie lad. We cannot always dash our crocks upon the stones -and start anew. Now fetch in some peat ere the fire dies." - -Very humbly, and a good bit ashamed, I obeyed. I had not thought -there was so much restraint in my father, of late. - -To tell the honest truth, Fergus MacDonald, as the neighbors said, -was "fey" ever since the death of my mother. He would take his staff -and Grim and so stride across the moors, return home in the evening, -and speak no word for hours. These moods had been growing on him, -but the bustle and stir of our preparations seemed to wake him out of -himself in some degree, for which I was duly thankful. - -The day of sailing had been set for the end of May, in the year 1710. -Alec Gordon rode over with the word that the "Lass" had returned and -her cargo--which as all knew, was contraband--had been safely "run" -farther down the coast. The Griers were already in Rathesby, with -two or three other families, and old Alec was gathering his flock -together for the voyage. - -So early the next morning we shut up the stead for Ian to take charge -when he would, and departed for ever, as it seemed. We rode but -slowly, Grim driving the sheep steadily before him and us, until we -came to a roll of the moor we paused for a last look at the old -place. As we turned away I caught a sparkle on my father's gray -beard and the sight put a sudden sob in my throat; as for Ruth, she -made no secret of her tears. And thus we left the little gray house -behind us and rode with out faces toward the west and the sound of -the sea beating on our ears. - -We came down to Rathesby at last and found the little port in wild -confusion. In all, there were eight families leaving--the Griers, -two Grahams, three of the Gordons, Auld Lag Hamilton and his sons, -and our own little party from Ayrby. All that afternoon we were busy -getting the sheep stowed away on board--which Wat Herries considered -sheer foolishness, as I did myself--and for that night we put up at -the Purple Heather, the women sleeping in the guest-rooms while we -men rolled up in our plaids and lay in the great room down below. - -There was much talking that night ere the rushlights were blown out, -and I learned that our destination was to be the colony taken from -the Dutch long before and renamed New York, where land might be had -for the taking. Indeed, I learned for the first time that Alec -Gordon had not gone into this venture blindly, but had procured -letters to the folk there from others of the faith in Holland, so -that we were sure of a goodly welcome. - -There was one matter that troubled me greatly that night, and kept -sleep from me for a long time. This was that while we were loading -sheep aboard that day I had seen a face among Master Herries' crew, -and it was the face of Gib o' Clarclach, as he called himself. I -wondered at his daring to return in the "Lass," knowing her loading -and her errand, and for a moment I was tempted to have a word with -Herries himself on the matter. Howbeit, I decided against it and -thereupon fell off to sleep, concluding that the man had sufficient -punishment already and that to pursue him for a past fault would be -no worthy end. But in days to come I repented me much of this, as -you shall see. - -In the morning we made a hasty breakfast together, and assembled in -the big room for a last prayer. It was like to be morning-long, and -after taking due part for an hour I slipped quietly through the door; -not out of disrespect, but out of sheer weariness, for Alec Gordon -was famed for his long-windedness. Master Herries and his men were -waiting aboard the "Lass," but as I watched the ship from the bench -outside the inn, I was aware of a man calling my name and pointing. - -Turning, I saw that he was directing me to the hillsides, and there -in the gleam of the sunlight I saw a dozen men riding breakneck -toward the port. - -"Best get auld Alec out," suggested the fisherman, and the look of -him told me there was more afoot than I knew. So, taking my courage -in hand, I slipped in through the side door again and so up behind -the elder, in the shadow of the big settle. Waiting till he had -finished a drawn-out phrase, I leaned toward his ear. - -"Alec Gordon, there be men riding hard down the moors." - -It seemed to me that his face changed quickly, but not his voice, for -he continued quietly enough. - -"Tam Graham, lead your flock to the boats. Do you follow him, -Fergus, and all of you make what haste is possible." With that he -fell into the border tongue as they all looked up in amazement. -"Scramble oot, freends!" he cried hastily. "The kye are in the corn!" - -Now well enough I knew that for the old alarm-cry of the men of -Cameron, nor was I the only one. There was a single deep murmur, and -the Grahams poured forth into the street. After them came the rest -of us, I falling in at Ruth's side behind my father, and we hastened -down to the boats. I failed utterly to see what danger there could -be, and cast back an eye at the riders. They were still a -quarter-mile away, but coming on furiously. - -In less time than it takes to tell, we were into the small boats and -rowing out to the ship. As I scrambled up the side I could hear the -clatter of hoofs on the cobbles, but above us there was a creak of -ropes and a flutter of canvas. Then there came shouts from shore, -but we could not hear the words and paid no heed. - -"Hasten!" shouted Master Herries, roaring like a bull at the men, and -we saw a boat pulling out from shore. It reached us just as our -anchor lifted, and over the rail scrambled a stout man waving a -parchment with dangling seals. - -"Halt, in the Royal name!" he squeaked, and my father stepped out to -him. - -"What's a' the steer aboot?" asked my father quietly. At this I -looked for trouble, for it was in my mind that whenever Fergus -MacDonald had come to using the Scots dialect, there had been doings -afterward. - -"Ha' ye permission to gan awa' frae Scotland?" cried the stout man, -puffing and blowing as he glared around. "Well ye ken ye hae nane, -Fergus MacDonald, an' since I hae coom in siccan a de'il's hurry--" - -"Be off," broke in my father sternly, pointing to the shore. For -answer the fellow waved out his parchment spluttering something about -the "Royal commeesioner" that I did not fully catch. But my father -caught it well enough, and his face went black as he strode forward -and lifted the stout man in both hands, easily. - -"Say to him it wad fit him better to look to his ain life than ours," -he roared, and therewith heaved up the man and sent him overside into -the bay. Wat Herries cried out sharply to duck behind the bulwarks -lest shot be flying, but there was none of that. I saw the stout man -picked up by his boat and return to shore, shaking his fist vainly at -the laughter which met and followed him; then the wind bellied out -our sails and the voyage was begun. A little later it came out that -news had spread abroad of our purpose and that the commissioner had -wished to stop us, but for what reason I never knew. - -My father conjectured shrewdly enough that we would have been sent -elsewhere than to New York. However, we soon forgot that, for the -whole party was clustered on the poop watching the purple hills -behind us. The little port faded ere long into a solid background, -for the breeze was a stiff one, and that afternoon we looked our last -on Scotland. This was the occasion for another address and prayer -from Alec Gordon, and this time I joined in right willingly. I had -never been so far from land before, and the tossing of the ship made -me no wee bit uneasy. - -Nor was this lessened during the following days. Five in all I -suffered, together with all the moor-folk, as I never want to suffer -more. Ruth was free from the sickness, as was my father, but Maisie -Graham, poor soul, came near dying with it. After the fifth day, -however, I crawled out on deck a new man, albeit weak in the legs, -and never knew that the sun could feel so good. - -The next day thereafter I was almost myself again, and paid back the -jests of Ruth with interest. She had great sport of my sickness, -although to tell the truth she tended me with unremitting care and -kindness, when my father would have let me be to get over it as best -I could. - -To confess it straightway, I gained greater respect for Alec Gordon -in those days, and in those to come, than I had ever felt before. -The sight of the great ocean around us and the feel of the tossing -deck that alone kept us from harm, put the fear of God into my heart -in good surety, so that I entered into the morning and evening -meetings with new earnestness. Nor was it only while the danger -lasted that I felt thus. I had seen the ocean full often, but I had -never so much as gone out with a fishing-boat, and those first few -days were full of grim earnestness that proved their worth in the end. - -It was on the twelfth day out that the first untoward event happened, -for one of the seamen cried down to us that he had sighted a small -boat that was all but sinking. Sure enough, we on deck could descry -a point of white ahead, and all of us gathered in eagerness as we -drew up to her. Thus far we had had good weather, and by now even -Maisie Graham was free of the sickness. - -As we came closer to the little boat, which was no larger than a -sloop, we saw that she held only one man. Then a sense of -strangeness seemed to settle over us when we knew that this one man -was old, his long white hair and beard flying in the wind, but he -stood erect and tall at his tiller. The strangest thing of all was -that his cranky old craft was headed west, into the ocean itself, -instead of back toward the land. - -[Illustration: _As we came closer to the little boat we saw that she -held only one man._] - -At our hail he came about readily enough, for his boat seemed much -battered and was half full of sea-water. Handling her with no little -skill, he laid us aboard and sprang over the rail. As he did so, I -heard some of the seamen muttering in Gaelic--something about one of -the sea-wizards; but to this I gave little heed as we all hastened to -surround the old man and to talk with him. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE MAN FROM THE SEA. - -A fine-looking man he was, too, despite his age. I put him down as -three-score and ten, and found later that I had not been far wrong. -His face was hard-set and stern, like that of some eagle, his nose -finely curved, and his deep-set eyes--ah, what eyes those were! -Never since have I seen eyes like his. They seemed to be gazing far -off, even as they looked into one's own; they seemed to see some -great vision not given to other men's sight, as in truth I believe -they did. - -His hair was snow-white, but very thick, hanging about his shoulders, -and on his bronzed neck was tattooed some strange animal which I had -never before seen. So we stood about him, staring, while Wat Herries -cast off the little sloop and left her to sink as she would. - -The stranger searched us with those great black eagle-eyes, but shook -his head at Alec Gordon's Gaelic, and muttered something that fetched -a joyful cry from Ruth, for it was in the French tongue. - -"You are a Frenchman?" she inquired quickly, pushing to my side. The -stranger glanced at us, then his great figure quivered as a tree -shakes beneath the ax. I could have sworn that a tinge of red leaped -into his pale cheeks and that he was gazing at the golden brooch -which once more held Ruth's cloak, but he replied slowly and calmly -in a musical voice: - -"I speak French, mademoiselle, though I may not claim to belong to -that nation." - -"Who are you?" asked Ruth, "and what are you doing in that little -boat?" - -"As to my name, that matters not," he replied with a bow that could -only have been learned in courts. "I was sailing to the west, and if -I might thank your company for saving me from a leaky and all but -disabled craft, I would fain do so through you." - -Ruth put his words into our own tongue, somewhat disconcerted at his -courteous aloofness, whereat Alec Gordon rubbed his chin, and bade us -salute him courteously. - -"Tell the man that he must e'en go to the colonies with us," he said, -knitting his gray eyebrows. "If he will not tell his name, we care -little. Ask him of his religion." - -And so Ruth did. But at the question the old man straightened up and -a flash of fire leaped into his wondrous eyes. - -"Who are you that dare to question me?" he replied sternly and -proudly. "As to my religion, that is my own affair. May I ask your -name, mistress?" - -"We are of Scotland, of the Covenant," she returned simply, giving -her name. He frowned as if in perplexity. "Fear not," smiled the -little maid, mistaking his attitude. "You are with friends, old man, -and if you be not a Papist your religion matters not." - -He laughed shortly, staring down upon her. "Not I, maiden. As to -fear, I am more hungered than fearful, though I have felt fear often -in my time." - -As Ruth gave his words to the others and my father led him to the -cabin, I turned over this speech in my mind and set him down, -boylike, as a coward. Therein I made a grave mistake, as I found out -ere long. - -It was but natural that the stranger should make great talk among us -all, and when he returned on deck, his tall figure wrapped in a spare -plaid of Tam Graham's, we gazed at him ever more eagerly. But he -gave us little heed, going forward into the bow and sitting there -upon a coil of rope, gazing out into the west as if the ship sped not -fast enough for him. After a little, Ruth and I, being the only ones -aboard who could speak French, save the sailors, came to him. He did -not repel us--nay, there was something about the man that drew us -both, and Ruth more than me; he seemed like one who had seen many -strange things, and the secret that shone forth from his deep eyes -half frightened while it attracted me. As for Ruth, she felt sorry -for him in his loneliness and wished to talk her French also, for she -ever held that my accent was most vile. - -He gave us a kindlier welcome than I had looked for, and when he -smiled all his sternness vanished and I knew on the instant that here -was a man who had suffered and loved greatly, and who knew how to win -love from other men. There was about him something of that same -quality which Ruth so greatly possessed, the quality of drawing out -the faith of others, of quiet trust and confidence. I was not to -know for many long weeks what it really meant to love and be loved by -him, but, as I perched on the anchor chains and stared frankly at -him, I thought that it must indeed be hard to tell this man a lie. - -"If you would speak English," he smiled in the southland speech, "I -can converse well in that." - -"Nay," and Ruth's laugh rippled out, "French is mine own -mother-tongue, and seldom do I get a chance to use it." - -"Are you French, then? With your name?" he asked quickly. Now, -though I knew full well that Ruth had come there with no such -thought, she poured out the tale of her coming to us over the moors, -as she had heard it often from my mother and me. This surprised me -all the more because as a rule she made light of it and claimed Ayrby -for home, and my people for her people. - -The old stranger listened to all her story, but he remained silent -and fell to staring over the bowsprit again as if he had not heard. -But I who watched him saw him try to speak, as it were, then stop -suddenly and gulp in his throat. - -"It is a strange tale," he replied after a little, "and I thank you -for the telling, maiden. Know you whither we are bound?" - -"For the New York colony," I replied, somewhat downcast that he had -not trusted us in turn with his own tale. He must have read the -thought in my eyes, for he smiled sadly and I felt emboldened to -question him. "What is that mark on your throat?" I continued, -gazing at the tattooed animal. "Is that some strange beast?" - -"Aye, strange enough," he turned human all at once and laughed in my -face like a boy. "It is a beaver, an animal of the New World and of -the old, yet stranger never lived. You will see many a -beaver-skin--aye, and sell them, too, perchance!" - -"Then you have been in the New World!" cried out Ruth, settling down -snugly at his side. "Tell us all about it, sir!" - -"The tale would outlast the voyage," he said, looking down at her -face. A sudden mad thought came into my mind, and before I thought -to stay it, sprang to my lips. - -"In the New World," I asked eagerly, "did you ever know a man who was -called The Pike?" - -The answer to that question was wonderful enough. With one quick -motion he leaned forward and gripped my shoulder in a hand of iron; -and when his eyes bored into mine own I all but cried out, so like -pure flame was the look therein. - -"What know you of him?" he asked bitingly, and his tone minded me of -my father's when he had flung the Commissioner's man over the rail. -In that instant I feared this old stranger as never in my life had I -feared anyone, no, not even my father; and so I gave him all I knew -of Gib o' Clarclach, without let or hindrance. While I spoke, his -grip loosened, but his shaggy brows came down until they met. - -"Lad," he said when I had made an end, "keep this maid from that man -as if he were the plague itself! Let him not touch her, should you -ever meet again, and if he so much as looks at her put your knife -into him as into a dog gone mad!" - -"Why, the fellow is aboard now," I answered in wonder, and in no -little fear. But to my surprise the old man only turned and gazed -out into the sunset once more, checking Ruth when she would have -spoken. - -"My children," he said very softly, "while I am here you are safe -from this man, remember that. Nay, I would not harm him. I am an -old man, but I have been where no other white man has been; I have -been a ruler among men whose skins are not as ours, and I go even now -to end my days among these people. He, also, has been among them, -and I know not what evil he is about here; but it seems to me that -the hand of God has drawn me to you and to this ship, lest you come -to harm. Now leave me, my children, and count me ever as a friend of -the best." - -Hand in hand, like two frighted bairns, we left him and went aft in -awe. When we were alone in the cabin, all the other folk being -above, Ruth looked strangely at me and caught my hand. - -"Davie, is he not a wonderful man? Do you like him?" - -"I fear him," I replied honestly. "But I think I could even love -him, an' I had the chance. He is some great man, Ruth, that I know!" - -"I like him, too, and I am not a bit feared of him," she said -earnestly. "Say naught to anyone of what he said, Davie, for I think -he would trust us more than others." - -Whereto I agreed willingly enough, remembering that shoulder-grip -which still burned me. But that did not save me from much -speculating to myself. First, why had the old man been sailing -westward in a small and battered sloop, scarce fit for coast fishing? -Second, what did he know of Gib o' Clarclach? And last and -greatest-- who was he? These questions drove through my mind as I -went back to the deck, but it was long ere any of them were answered. -All that evening I looked about for the face of Gib the sailor, but -saw it not. - -Oddly enough, that same night a terrific gale from the south came on -us. Odd, because until then the weather had been perfect, and also -because of what followed. It was such a gale as I had never known -before, keeping up day after day and driving us ever west and north, -for the poor little "Lass" could only run with a single shred of sail -to keep her right end forward. - -That was a hard time for all of us. Morn and eve we held assembly in -the larger of the cabins, where we men slept, and Alec Gordon led us -in prayer. At each of these meetings the old stranger attended, -although he took no part himself, which my father liked but ill. -During those days we younger men helped the crew pull and haul, but -the others were cooped up in the cabin--and a dreary place it was. -Alec and the rest kept up an ever-lasting argument on Effectual -Calling and Reason Annexed, together with other such topics as the -articles of faith afforded, and I was glad enough to be sharing with -the crew instead of listening to such talk below, for I was ever -fonder of action than discussion. - -I had nearly forgot the other part of our crew and cargo--Grim, who -kept company with half a dozen more sheep dogs, and the poor beasts -stowed away in hasty-built pens below. The day the old stranger came -aboard, three of the sheep died, and what with broken legs from the -rolling of the "Lass," and from sickness, the rest followed speedily. -Wherein Wat Herries was proved to know his business better than my -father. As for Grim, he kept close below after the storm began, and -remained there in safety, keeping near to my father's heels as usual. - -For a week that storm blew down on us, and there was rest or comfort -for none aboard. On the seventh day we had clear weather once more -and returned to our course, from which we had been sadly driven. Two -days after this befell a sore accident, for Master Herries was -knocked down by a lower yard breaking from its cordage, and when we -picked him up his right leg was found broken below the knee. - -We carried him to his cabin and there my father, who had no little -leechcraft, tended him. This placed the ship in the hands of an -Ireland man called Black Michael, who was good enough in his way, but -a poor mate, for as events proved he had little hold on the men -forward. - -As if this were not enough, the storm came back upon us the next day -and again the poor "Lass" fled helpless before it. It was now that -first I noted a peculiar manner among the men, who like all our west -coast seamen were highly superstitious. I thought little of it, nor -dreamt how it tended, until one night when I crept forward to steal a -pannikin of water from the butt for Grim. On my way back I heard two -seamen talking in Gaelic, behind a corner of the cabins, and the wind -carried me their words. - -"_Duar na Criosd!_" muttered one, an Irisher like the mate. "There -is no doubt of it, Eoghan! I have seen it before, and I tell you -that unless Ruadh has green stuff in plenty, he will die! It is the -scurvy, and we have naught aboard to fight it with." - -"Scurvy an' you like," replied the other sullenly, "but I say it is -the old wizard whom we took aboard. Do you mind the tale of Jonah in -the Scriptures? Do you mind how the sheep began to die when he came, -and how he brought the gale with him?" - -There was a little silence, and I felt my heart sound against my ribs -as I began to comprehend their words. - -"Like enough," answered the first with an oath. "But the scurvy is -upon us, and we be all dead men, Eoghan, unless we fetch land right -soon. Nor is the manner of that rotting death pleasant, and with -this he described the workings of scurvy until my flesh creeped. - -"Then let us have this Jonah overboard," cried out the other man on a -sudden, and despair was in his voice. "Gib o' Clarclach is with us, -and the rest. Black Michael matters not; put this wizard overside -and we will have fair weather again. Who ever heard tell of such -gales at this season?" - -Which same was true enough, and I even wondered a trifle if the man -might not be right. - -"Stay," returned the first. "I have a better plan. The old wizard -sleeps in the cabin aft, with the captain. I will slip in there this -very night, when the watch is changed, and have my knife in him and -out again. Let the elder lay it to the Lord's vengeance an' he will, -being overfond of such talk." - -At this the other man laughed shortly, but I crept very silently -across the heaving deck to the cabin, and there was great fear in my -heart for all of us. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -HOW THE "LASS" WAS DRIFTED. - -On hands and knees, the deck beneath me groaning and pitching to the -tossing of the great waves, and the howling wind still seeming to -thrill those muttered words to me, I crawled on and with some -difficulty brought the water to Grim, who thanked me in his own way. -Then I rose and looked about. - -Around the table were lashed my father, Alec Gordon, and Robin Grier, -all arguing at the top of their tongues. In the bunks lay the -others, or on heaps of padded canvas along the floor. Then I -understood that the old stranger had gone to Master Herries' cabin, -where the mate sometimes lay also, and was caring for the injured -man. Besides Grim there were five other dogs lying around, but the -womenfolk were all safe asleep in their own place. - -I misliked saying anything to my father and old Alec, for fear they -would disbelieve me. Had Ruth been there I would have sought counsel -from her, and have gained it, too; but a notion came to me that the -work might be done without a quarrel. Had I told my father the tale, -he might have sought out the two men and cracked their heads -together, likely getting a knife in him for it. So, without -disturbing any of the three at the table, I caught hold on Grim and -drew him out of the cabin. - -The master's cabin, where were the old man and Wat, was but a -miserable hole to one side of our main room, and had indeed been -intended for some other use. It would be easy enough for a man to -slip in and out again, I considered as I crossed the few feet of open -deck to get to it, Grim holding back stiff-legged, in wild fear with -each toss of the lugger. Then I cast open the door of the little -place and went in, flinging Grim before me. - -A roll of the ship assisted me in this, so that Grim and I went in -together and fetched up against the old stranger, clean taking him -off his legs. A ship's lanthorn swung above, and by its light the -old man made out who we were, as we all rolled in the corner in a -heap. For that matter, he had long since proved a better sailor than -any of us on board, and now he was on his feet instantly, and soon -had me up. - -There was little room for others when the door was shut, and I saw -that the old man had been lying in the mate's bunk when we came. -Above this lay Master Herries, asleep in his own bunk despite all the -uproar. Now, it had been in my mind to set Grim awatch, but when the -old man smiled on me and asked my errand, I had blurted out the whole -before I thought. At the story he threw back his head and laughed -heartily, seeming to take it as a huge joke. - -"Nay, lad, be not put out," he cried kindly, seeing that his laughter -made me angry, and therewith clapped me on the shoulder. "I laughed -not at you, but at them. Why, it is a rare jest indeed, their taking -me for a wizard and thinking me overside--belike it is the work of -our friend, Gib, too. Bide you here, David, and methinks we will -carry out that jest somewhat." - -Pushing me and Grim into the corner, he reached up and blew out the -lanthorn, then caught my hand in his and reached for Grim's head as -we all settled down together. I had begun to feel fear of him, but -when Grim suffered his petting I took heart and cast it off. Grim -was a good judge of men, and allowed few to handle him as did this -old stranger. - -"This is not unlike a night I once spent in the Canadas," broke out -the rich, musical voice of the old man. "It was deep winter, and I -lay in a little cave with two of my red brothers, after escaping from -a great town of the Ottawa nation. For you must know, lad, there are -many races of these red men, each at war with the other." - -"I know little about it, sir," I answered. - -Methought he gave a little impatient sigh at that. "Lord, will these -thick-headed English never learn where lies their greatest rulership? -But no matter. My own people, among whom I was a chief, were named -Mohawks, and we had been captured by the Ottawas after a great raid -out to the westward. All of us were sore wounded and far from home, -having no meat save two rabbits we caught, all during the two weeks -we lay there. - -"Well, on this night of which I speak we were all but frozen, and at -length made shift to build a small fire. All around us were our -enemies, and we had seen a dozen braves searching that same day. It -was something like midnight when I, who was on watch, saw a tall deer -pass--" - -And more of that story I never heard, because just at that instant -the door of the cabin opened very softly, and I almost thought it had -been done by a lurch of the ship but for feeling Grim bristle. Then -my hair stood on end with pure horror, for in the cabin above the -timber-groan and howl of the wind, there came three shrill, clear -hoots of an owl. - -A dark shape which had filled the doorway suddenly paused. Grim -began a growl, but I checked him at hearing a chuckle from the old -man, and berated myself for a fool. It was his work, of course. But -there in the dark it sounded eerie enough, and when two raven-calls -echoed out I scarce repressed a cry. A ragged streak of lightning -outside showed us the figure of a man in the doorway, others behind -him, and the gleam of bare steel; then as the light passed I sprang -up, for in my ears had shrilled up the long sobbing howl of a wolf--a -sound to wake the dead! - -Wake me it did, and Grim too, for he answered it with another and -leaped away from me. We heard a startled yell from the men, and then -the old stranger slammed the door before Grim could escape. - -"Easy, old boy, easy! Wait a bit till we get a light." - -With a dexterous flint and steel he soon had the lanthorn going, to -my no small satisfaction. Wat Herries was still sleeping, which I -wondered at. I was still blinking when the old man pulled me up and -took my hands in his. - -"Davie, lad," he said softly, "you did a good deed this night. Now -begone, and fear not for me. Those devils yonder will come near me -no more save in the light of day." - -"But--but--" I stammered fearfully, "was it witchcraft or--" - -"Witchcraft? Forest craft, more like," he laughed, his white beard -shaking at me. "'Tis a gift the Lord and the Mohawks gave me, but we -will e'en give the Lord credit, Davie. So get you gone to sleep and -breathe no word of this." - -Much reassured at finding he had no dealings with the black art, -though I deemed his speech not far from blasphemy, I caught hold on -Grim and we both returned to the main cabin, where all was as we had -left it and Alec Gordon still arguing stoutly. I flung down on a -pile of canvas and went to sleep with Grim still in my arms, but that -wolf-howl echoed through and through my dreams that night and I woke -with it still in my ears. Indeed, it then seemed scarce a thing of -this world, though I have since heard it often enough. - -When I went on deck next morning we were in worse plight than ever, -for it was biting cold and there were masses of ice around us, -floating in the sea. I learned that we had been driven far north, -where the seas are full of ice even in June, but it seemed a mighty -strange thing to me. There was some fog also, and every now and then -the "Lass" would heave her bows into an ice-cake with a shivering -crash that boded ill for her timbers. - -That day two of the womenfolk, both Gordons, complained of a new -sickness, and Robin Grier said his teeth were loose in his head. My -father and old Alec were puzzled enough, but when the stranger heard -of it he ordered that the sick ones be given naught save green stuff -to eat. That minded me of the talk I had overheard, but a warning -glance from the old man checked the words on my lips. It was then we -learned that many of the crew were sick likewise, of that plague -called scurvy, which comes from eating no fresh green things. We -were in sorry plight, for save a few potatoes our green stuff had all -vanished long since. - -That day there was no wind to speak of, and I drew Ruth up into the -bows again, where we sat gloomily enough with plaids wrapped around -to keep out the damp fog. I had seen Gib o' Clarclach once or twice, -but he kept well out of my way and out of sight as much as might be. -I told Ruth all that had taken place the night before, but at my -fears of witchcraft and wizardry she laughed outright. - -"Yet the old man said himself that he had been a chief among the red -heathen of the Colonies," I argued, "while his speech was all but -blasphemous." - -Whereat she only laughed the more, and I grew sulky until she pointed -to a little bunch of the crew in the shelter of the rail below us, in -the waist. - -"I am more feared of them than of any wizard, Davie," she said. -"This terrible sickness is come upon us all, and we cannot fight -against it. And see where we are come--up into the sea of floating -ice! With Master Herries laid up in his bunk, and the men agog with -superstition, we are like to have an ill time ere we reach the -plantations." - -"Just the same," I repeated stubbornly, "I cannot see how any one can -be a chief among the heathen cannibals and still remain a God-fearing -man. And why will he not tell his name, and whence he comes?" - -This silenced Ruth for the time, and though she laughed again I could -see that she was perplexed also. But with the contrariness of women -she declared that the talk wearied her, and so changed the topic -abruptly. - -We lay idle for three days, with nothing save ice and fog around us. -Then came another gale, this time from the east, and we began the -weary fight once more. Strangely enough, my father and rugged old -Lag Hamilton, with Alec Gordon himself, were now feeling the scurvy; -and we were all of us frightened by it, and by our own helplessness. -One of the dogs had been lost overboard, having ventured out on the -deck in the storm, so thereafter I kept Grim safe inside the cabin. - -Of the old stranger we saw little during those days. He was busy -tending Wat Herries, which he did with the skill and tenderness of a -woman, and we were all taken up with our own sick. Whenever I went -on deck I saw that the crew obeyed Black Michael with a sullen, surly -manner that boded ill. Many of them were sick also, and among these -went Ruth with such small comforts as we had, till not a soul on -board but loved her--save possibly one. - -On the third day of that gale matters came to a head. I do not think -any of us, save Ruth and I and the stranger, suspected that the crew -had aught in mind; but had not my father been down with the plague I -would then have told him all. The suspense was hard on me, almost -too hard to bear. Day and night we had to keep watch, twice narrowly -missing great mountains of ice, and on the third day we struck a -water-lashed cake with such force that the "Lass" sprung a great leak. - -When this was discovered the crew well-nigh went mad with fear. I -was in the cabin when the crash came, and ran to the door with the -others. When Black Michael ordered the men to the pumps, they -rebelled flatly, and before he could so much as move he was trussed -up like a fowl in one of his own tarred ropes. Then knives flashed -out in the light and the men came surging aft. I cried out to Robin -Grier and with our fathers' claymores, which we fetched from the -cabin on the run, we stationed ourselves over the ladder at the break -of the poop, and called on the men to halt. Tam Graham and those of -the others who were not down with the sickness came out behind us. - -With a sudden loathing I recognized the leader of the crew for Gib o' -Clarclach. He stood looking up with his evil grin, but kept well out -of reach of my weapon. - -"Let us by, MacDonald," he spoke out. "We are acting for the good of -all, and bring no harm to you and yours." - -"That is a lie," I cried hotly. "I know well what you want, and you -shall not pass by this ladder, you rebels! As for you, I have met -you before now, Gib o' Clarclach, and know more of you than I did -then. You got little good out of your visit the other night, and you -will get little good now. Best stow away your knives and go about -your work." - -The only answer I got was a howl of rage from the men. - -"The old wizard is Jonah!" yelled out the fellow called Eoghan, with -a flourish of his long knife. "Put him into the sea again and let -him go his way. He has bewitched us all, and we be dead men unless -we rid the ship of him!" - -This talk staggered Robin, who wavered and glanced at me, irresolute. -Tam Graham muttered something behind me, and the men below yelled -again and came at the ladder, seeing their advantage. But I would -not give back, nor did I want to hurt any of them, so I brought down -the flat of my father's claymore on Gib's crown, and tumbled him to -the deck, whereat all drew back with a snarl. - -As for Gib, he leaped to his feet and drew back his hand quickly. -There came a flash of something, and Robin dashed me aside just in -time to let a long knife fly under my arm. The scoundrel yelled -something at me in a strange tongue, but before I regained my balance -a sudden silence fell upon them all, and they stared past us. -Turning, I heard a whispered prayer from Robin, and saw the old man. - -He was standing just behind, a brass-bound pistol in each hand, his -knees giving to the sway of the deck as the "Lass" pitched. Then a -howl went up from the crowd below. - -"Wizard!" they yelled, some in English and some in the Gaelic. "Get -you gone and take your spells from us!" And they surged forward. -But the old man raised his pistols, his white hair flying, and a -fierce flame raging in his eyes. I think those eagle-eyes halted -them more than the pistols, for they were in a mood to care little -for two bullets. - -"Fools!" he cried in English, and yet again. "Fools! Would you -destroy your only hope? You dogs, I am Pierre Radisson!" - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -RADISSON THE GREAT. - -"Radisson! Pierre Radisson!" - -At the muttered word and the blank look on the faces below I could -have laughed, but I make no doubt that my own face looked as blank as -theirs. Not a soul on board but knew that name, and in a flash it -all came over me, till I flushed with shame at my own suspicions. - -Out of the world as we had been at Ayrby, even I had heard this man's -story. It was said that he was a French-Canadian by birth, and was -the greatest adventurer of our own times. He had found a great river -to the west of the Colonies, the same which Marquette and La Salle -explored, and later on had opened up the Canadas to trade. He it was -who had founded the Company of Gentlemen Adventurers into Hudson's -Bay, the fame of which was great, and by the exploits of his arms had -kept them there against the French. - -But Radisson had found that the faith of princes is a weak rod to -lean upon. First, the French had betrayed and robbed him, which had -sent him over to England. Then, after the founding of the Great -Company, the very men to whom he had brought fortunes had left him to -starve, denying him all share in the huge profits they made in furs -from the Canadas. My father had often dwelt on this story as an -example of the faith of kings. Time and again Radisson had swept the -Bay of French or English, but the ending of it all was that he was -thrown upon the streets of London town. How Pierre Radisson came to -be on board the "Lass," how he had come into that little leaky sloop, -I knew not; but as I gazed on the stern face of him I felt a sudden -great thrill of hope and eagerness. - -The rebels felt more than that, for they were mightily afraid of this -man, who had single-handed done such deeds in the Canadas that all -men had heard of him. I caught a quick oath from below, saw Gib o' -Clarclach break away and vanish forward, and so finished the mutiny. -With a little laugh Radisson put away his pistols. - -"I will take charge of this ship," his voice thrilled along the deck. -"Have no more of this foolery. Unloose the mate yonder and go to -your places. By the help of God we will come safe to shore yet." - -Very silently and in great awe the men unbound Black Michael, and in -no long time the ship was as it had been. Robin and Tam Graham and I -stood wondering at the break of the poop. Radisson turned to us with -a courtly bow. - -"Gentlemen, I thank you for your support. The crew is like to be -short-handed ere we reach any port, and if need be I will call upon -you for help," said he. - -Robin stared, his mouth agape, and old Tam withdrew to tell the news -in the cabins, whither we followed him presently. I looked about for -Ruth, and found her giving some broth to my father and Alec. When -this was done I took her out on deck willy-nilly, for she needed a -breath of air and we cared little for the storm that still raged. - -Since men were in the bows watching for ice ahead, we sat us down in -the shelter of the cabin, and presently Radisson came thither and -joined us. - -"So now the mask is off," he said, speaking in French, and smiling. -"I had not thought to tell my name, but it must needs out. We are in -a bad strait, my friends." - -"Why?" questioned Ruth. "And why not tell your name in the -beginning? Surely you had no hard thoughts of us?" - -Radisson looked sadly into her eyes, and smiled again. "My child, I -have fled from England to die in mine own country. They would not -let me go, they would not let me work for them nor serve them, and -France has cast me out. Yet the English feared that I would serve -France again, and so when I had provided for my wife and children I -fled in secret to the coast and embarked in that little sloop wherein -you found me. - -"I had no hard thoughts, lass, but I am suspicious of all men. The -wilderness is my only home, and it is to the wilderness that I go. -If I come to the Colonies, or to New France, I shall be laid by the -heels. They seem to fear that my very presence would work them ill." -He lifted his face and looked to forget us as he gazed abroad into -the storm. "Is there some curse upon me, Lord God, that men fear me -so? Ah, to be once more on the open prairies where the air is free -of plots, with red-skinned friends behind me and the unknown world -ahead!" - -Those words sank deeply into my mind, and there was to come a time -when I would remember them again; but Ruth leaned forward and took -his hand gently. A right strong hand it was, for all its age -unwrinkled and firm as mine own. - -"Nay, speak not so bitterly," she reproved him softly. "There is no -curse upon any man, dear sir! Come, you shall go with us and join -our settlement, and when all is safely bestead you shall go and come -as you please, with none to hinder!" - -"So?" Radisson gazed down at her unsmiling, and I felt on a sudden -that there might indeed be fear in his soul, but in no wise a selfish -fear. "And whither is this ship sailing?" - -"What--" Ruth stared up at him, her wonder slowly changing to -something more. "You think--we are in danger?" - -"Grave danger," he nodded confirmingly. "None know it save Wat -Herries your master, and I, but we have been driven far from our -course to the Colonies. Until I can get sight of the sun I know not -whither we have drifted, but we are likelier to be near Greenland -than the Americas." - -This told us nothing, for we knew not that there was such a place as -Greenland. There was no more trouble with the crew, who were all -eager enough to do Master Radisson's bidding. But the scurvy was now -upon us sore, all having it save Ruth and me and one or two others -and Radisson himself. Two days later the storm ceased as suddenly as -it had begun, and that noon Radisson and Black Michael busied -themselves with poor Wat's instruments, until after an hour Radisson -came below and asked to see Alec Gordon. - -"Sir," he said quietly, while I held up old Alec's stricken head, -"you must know that we are far off our course, and in dire need of -green food, even if it be but grass. Now I know these waters well, -and if we turn to our right course we will all be dead ere we reach -the Colonies. But, an' it please you, I can guide this ship into -Hudson's Bay and so to one of the posts established by the -Adventurers. There we can remain till Master Herries be recovered -and the sickness gone, when it will be no great matter for him to lay -a course for the Colonies from there." - -For a moment there was silence. We were all taken aback by this news -and knew not what to say, until finally Alec sank back his head with -a groan, speaking in the Gaelic which I translated. - -"Do your best, Master Radisson, and we ask no more. The Lord hath -sent you to us, and He knows His business best." - -So it came about that our prow was no longer turned to the south, but -to the west. Now, too, the winds favored us and drove us onward full -steadily, and the same day our course was determined on, one of the -men found a sack of half-rotted potatoes in the hold. We hunted -over, but found no more. These, however, served to stay the sickness -in a slight degree, and seemed to the men to be a good omen. - -For many days thereafter we stood forward with the ice all around and -with the weather bitter, but without storms to hinder and harass us. -In that time Pierre Radisson drew ever closer to me and to Ruth, -sitting often with us and talking much of his travels and adventures, -one hand on Grim and the other clasping mine or Ruth's. On one of -these occasions I asked him about Gib o' Clarclach, called The Pike. - -"The man is of your own country," answered Radisson, "though most of -his life has been spent among the French. It was in New France I -found him first, and he was a member of the party that went with me -from Montreal to the fur country. He was but a lad then, and of evil -ways, but a good fighter and of great resource. When we returned, -our canoes deep-laden with a rich cargo, it was he who urged the -Governor to seize the furs and betray me. - -"After, I came to England. When next I came to the Great Bay whither -we are now bound, this fellow stirred up trouble more than once, for -he was dwelling among the Chippewa nation, and he had become a -powerful man among them. However, I was no less powerful among the -Crees, and the Sioux to the far south, and on one occasion we trapped -The Pike with many of his men. It was thought then that he was -killed, but evidently he escaped to do more evil in the world. Long -ago I swore vengeance against him, and that vow will some day be -kept." - -"But why did you not shoot him the day he led the mutinous men?" I -queried. "If the man had done me so much harm--" - -"Peace, lad," commanded the old man firmly, but kindly. "I am older -than you, and such things I have learned to leave to a higher hand -than mine own. Never fear, this man will meet his punishment as God -wills, in God's own good time. Mind you not what the Scriptures -say--" - -"Aye, well enough," I broke in heatedly, thinking on my first meeting -with the man. "But if the time ever comes when I stand against him -again, I will strike with no flat blade then! And besides," I added -shrewdly, "methinks there is more to the tale than you have told." - -Radisson smiled. "Aye, lad, much more, but the time is not come for -the telling, spitfire!" - -"But, sir," cried out Ruth suddenly. "how is it that you are taking -our ship into the Great Bay, when you feared so much to fall into the -hands of these men? Will they not do you injury?" - -"That may well be," answered Radisson quietly. "But I think God has -sent me to do my utmost for you and yours, maiden. My own fate -matters little, and it is even in His hands. I do not think He will -let me come to grief while I serve Him, child." - -Ruth said nothing to this, but she gazed at Radisson's sorrow-graven -face with a great admiration, in which I shared to the full. And in -truth it was no little thing to which he had set himself. Were it -known that he was alive and in the fur country, the English and -French raiders would both be after him. Both nations had wronged him -deeply, and both feared and hated him equally; for as my father used -to say, "If ye never do a man an injury, Davie, you'll aye live in -brotherly love." Thus it was with the great Pierre Radisson. - -He of all men had seen that there was an unsuspected greatness in the -country north of the Canadas. He had discovered and opened up that -country to the fur-trade, and had received little thanks for his -pains. Even his wanderings in the far west were but little known, as -he told them to us during the voyage. His brief tale of Gib had -shown me much of the man's own greatness, for Radisson had spoken -without bitterness or rancor, deeply as he had been wronged by the -traitor and spy. - -So, if he took the "Lass" into Hudson's Bay as he intended, and -brought us safely to one of the Adventurers' posts, he would have -little chance or none of getting away free himself. - -Of all on board, I think that only Ruth and I understood this--save, -mayhap, Gib o' Clarclach, of whom now we saw nothing at all. In the -days that followed our talk with Radisson, I had no chance for -another spare hour with Ruth. The illness had seized upon the crew -until we were were very shorthanded, and with those of our party who -were able, I took place with the sailors at the ropes. There were -but half a dozen of us all left untouched, and a few days later poor -Maisie Graham died. - -Her funeral was a gloomy enough matter, for my father, looking like -some great gaunt specter, took the place of old Alec and afterwards -staggered back to his bed again. Ruth and those others of the women -who could, tended the sick. At morn and eve we gathered beside Alec -and it was a fearsome thing to hear the words of prayer come from -those blackened, disease-scarred lips. Yet those days of terror made -a man out of me who had been a boy, and but for them I had never had -the faith and courage to meet what came after. - -So we drove east and south through the ice, great mountains of it all -about us, trusting everything to the old man who led us on. Then one -day there came a blue haze on the horizon, and a feeble yell of joy -went up from the men. I looked to see Radisson turn us in toward the -land, but he shook his head to my questions. - -"Nay, lad, that is but a barren ice-bound coast. We must on into the -bay itself and there, please God, we shall find peace." - -But the news that we were come to the New World at last was wondrous -heartening to our sick, notwithstanding that two of the men died that -same day. The leak had gained greatly upon us, and the next morning -I felt signs of the illness for the first time. Ruth had not been -touched by it, and of the men only Gib, Radisson, and one or two -others had escaped. But all the women, poor folk, were in their beds. - -Then we came to the great cliffs, stern and icy. A day later a gale -came down from the north and drove us onward into the bay; and -although this increased the labor at the pumps, yet we welcomed it, -since it but sent us the faster toward safety. And at length, as I -came on deck at sunrise to take up my watch, I heard a hoarse shout -from the weary men, and looking across the floating ice at the dark -shore, saw a break of green that we had come to in the night. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -GRIM HOWLS. - -It was an inhospitable shore, seen through the shreds of mist that -were driving in on us, but never was a heartier prayer of thanks sent -up than that which rose from the "Lass" when the news had spread. -The wind was falling and a fog setting in, so that we were long in -making the shore, which seemed deserted. Not a curl of smoke went -upward from all its length. - -Ruth and I stood on the poop, hand in hand, watching that -long-desired shore until the fog had thickened and the wind dropped. -At this Radisson ordered the anchor put out, and I perforce assisted -at the task. When I returned to Ruth she was staring over the rail -strangely. - -"Davie," she asked in a low voice, "does it not seem to you that the -ship is lower in the water this morning?" - -"I had not seen it," I replied carelessly. As I looked overside with -her my heart leaped up, for in truth the ship was sitting low. I -knew that the leak had gained on us, but evidently it was nothing -serious, for the men had made no outcry about it. - -However, I had scant time to reassure Ruth, for presently Radisson -approached us. Grim tagged at his heels, for since my father's -illness the dog had taken to following the old man around. - -"Davie," he said, "pick out what men can row and get the longboat -over. We must make a camp here and relieve the worst cases among the -sick, then we can go on to Albany, which I take to be the nearest -post." - -Save for scattered cakes, the bay was free enough of ice, but the fog -now had almost hid the shore from sight. Only three of the crew were -able to row--Black Michael, Gib and the sailor Eoghan. That made the -four of us, however, and we made shift to get the longboat over the -side, by the help of Radisson and Ruth. It was a sad and terrible -sight, to watch those others, who had been strong men all, lying -about the decks or gazing on us with a wild stare of hope. - -When the boat was over, we began lading her as our captain ordered -us, with canvas, stores, powder, fusils and a host of other things. - -"We will set out a camp," declared Radisson, when at length the boat -was laden to the gunwales. "Then the sick will go on shore while I -gather herbs and green things which I know well. With these, we will -be enabled to overcome the scurvy in a few days, I trust." - -What might have passed for a feeble cheer went up from the pathetic -group above us, but even as Radisson leaped down into the boat, -Eoghan went forward over his oar with a single groan. I tried to -pull him up, but the poor fellow could not move. The scurvy had -taken hold on him of a sudden, and he muttered that his joints were -aflame. Radisson would have taken his place, but with a flash Ruth -was over the rail and had pushed him away. - -"I can row as well as you," she laughed. "Save your strength, sir! -Yours is of more worth to us than is mine." - -"Aye, let the lassie go!" And with amazement I beheld my father -clinging to the rail above and staring down with ghastly eyes. "God -speed your errand and give you His blessing!" Methought he spoke -more to me than Radisson, and later this reflection has comforted me, -for this was the last word I ever had with my father Fergus. - -So Radisson nodded to Ruth and we pushed away from the ship. Then -for the first time I noticed that Grim had followed us into the boat -and was crouched in the stern beside the old white-haired wanderer. -Over us gathered the other dogs, and the last token we had as we -pulled away into the fog was the full-throated bark of Tam Graham's -Sandy. - -There was no wind and the fog lay thick and wet about us. Ahead rose -the gray line of the shore, grim enough for all its touch of green. -As I looked back at the ship I realized more than ever the truth -behind those words of Homer, beaten into my head by my father--"Let -us go up the sounding seas!" For the water seemed to rise behind -until they met and blended with the gray wall of mist above; and in -the midst, dim and ghostly, hung the "Lass o' Dee." That picture -clung long in my memory--that, and the brown shoulders of Gib o' -Clarclach rising and falling before me on the after-thwart. - -Presently Radisson cried to us to cease rowing, and I glanced over my -shoulder to see a line of black rocks a few yards away. Black -Michael, in the bow, fended us in and sprang ashore with a shout of -rejoicing which we all echoed as we followed him, even Grim catching -the enthusiasm and giving vent to a series of loud barks. - -Bleak rocks lay before and about us, interspersed with small trees -and bushes. To one side a little cascading brook trickled down over -the rocks into the sea with a quiet murmur. But there was no sign of -human life within our limited range of vision. - -We were all chilled to the bone by that heavy, dank fog, which by now -had closed in thicker than ever, so that when Radisson said he would -start a fire we began unloading the boat with alacrity. He -disappeared into the bushes, soon emerging with an armful of sticks -and bark. By means of my flint and steel we soon had a fire blazing, -dragged poor Eoghan up from the boat, and clustered joyfully about -the warmth. - -"David," said Radisson after a little, "do you and your sister come -with me. We must see to curing this scurvy, which I fear is getting -into my old bones at last." - -Catching Ruth's hand I pulled her up with a laugh and we left Black -Michael and Gib staring at us dully, across the half-senseless body -of Eoghan. - -"Wait, lad," Radisson pointed to a clump of bushes. "Do you stop -here within sight of the camp. In this fog it were an easy matter to -get lost beyond repair. Call to us every few moments and pluck all -these leaves you can carry. Chew some of them well, while Ruth and I -go on after others." - -I fell to work on the bushes, cramming my mouth full of the leaves -and stuffing my pockets with them. I did not neglect to call out -frequently, Ruth's silvery voice rising clearly in response. -Meanwhile I carried some of the leaves to the men in camp, and much -to my surprise saw Gib o' Clarclach just giving some to Black -Michael, so I merely thrust a few into Eoghan's mouth and bade him -chew for his life. It was plain that Gib had small need of -Radisson's services in this land. - -In no great while Ruth and the old man rejoined us, laden down with -roots and leaves of divers shapes. These we bruised between stones -and with them filled a kettle which had been fetched from the ship. -To this was put water, and the kettle was then set over the fire. - -"Now," ordered Radisson, "do you stay here, Mistress Ruth, while we -go fetch a load of the sick. Keep this brew simmering, so it may be -ready on our return." - -We stepped toward the boat, but Gib and Black Michael made no move to -arise. Radisson spoke to them sharply, whereat Gib growled sullenly -in French. - -"Do the work yourself, an' you will! I be not going to budge from -solid earth for you or--" - -He got no farther, for Radisson took one long step to his side, his -stern old face livid with sudden fury. Seizing the man by the -throat, he lifted him with one hand and dashed him back to the -ground, like as I have seen my father dash a spider from him. - -"Obey me, you dog! Get to the boat, both of you, lest I forget -myself!" - -Coming from the old man of seventy, the words may seem ludicrous -enough; but there was that in his voice which brought the two men to -their feet without a word more. Sullenly they stepped into the boat -while Radisson watched them. Then he turned to me. - -"In with you, Davie! We'll leave Ruth to take care of Eoghan." - -"Willingly," she laughed gayly, then added more soberly, "You'll -bring father back in the first boat, Davie?" - -"That we will, lass," I made hearty answer, and she watched us off, -her hand resting on Grim's head. The ship was hid from us in the -fog, but Radisson had her compass-bearing from the shore. Now there -happened a fearsome thing, a thing which has made my blood run chill -many a night since. - -Just before the shore was closed from sight, I saw Grim lift his head -from Ruth's hand and utter one long howl. So mournful was that -voice, so terrible in the loneliness around, that it drew a curse -from Black Michael, and I shivered despite myself. And in this same -moment came another howl--but now from the fog ahead of us--a long -deep cry which I recognized for old Sandy's, and it was cut short in -the midst as by his master's hand. But Tam Graham was lying sick -between decks, as we well knew. - -And with that I felt that something was wrong. I believe that we all -sensed it, for the others fell to their oars and Radisson's shaggy -white brows drew far down. Knowing Grim as I did, I was far more -fearful than the others; only once before had I heard such sound from -his throat, and that was on the day my mother died. - -So as I pulled I cast glances over my shoulder, seeking the ship, and -sudden remembrance of Ruth's words that morning put haste into my -oar. My mind was full of its uneasy fear, and it was full five -minutes before I realized that we should have come to the ship ere -this. I could see naught of her in the fog, and when I looked to -Radisson I saw him studying his compass and peering about. - -"Have we lost the 'Lass'?" I cried between strokes. - -"Strange!" he muttered, frowning. "I had her bearings right enough, -but--" - -Black Michael cried out in Gaelic that we were of a surety bewitched, -and for a moment my heart failed me and I stared at Radisson in -horror. - -"Her cable was not strong," spoke up Gib, who had lost his surliness -of a sudden. "Mayhap it parted and sent her adrift." - -"There is no wind to drift her," answered Radisson, perplexed. "Yet -we heard the dogs howl plain enough. What make you of it, Davie?" - -"God knows!" I half sobbed, staring back over my shoulder in the -shuddering fog, that seemed to stifle us, so thick was it. An old -word came into my head, and out I blurted it. "Ill's the wind when -dogs howl." - -At this Black Michael uttered a savage Gaelic oath that was half pure -fear, and paused on his oar. For a little we drifted thus, the -sullen seas heaving beneath us, driving us slowly up and down yet -giving us no sign of what lay beyond that curtain of gray. It was -uncanny, and I shivered again until my oar was all but lost. - -"Give me that fusil," commanded Radisson. I took up the gun, which -was ready loaded, and passed it to him. Lifting it, he fired in the -air. There was no answer save a dull echo and the lap-lap of water -on our sides. Black Michael went gray with sheer fright. - -"Strange," exclaimed Radisson again, and even his deep voice was -shaken. "What think you of it, Jean?" - -I remembered later how then he turned to the man he hated above all -others, and I respected him the more for it. Gib, for it was he whom -Radisson addressed, leaned over and snatched something from the water. - -"This, Sieur Radisson." - -He held up a dripping object. We all stared at it, then I felt my -heart leap, and I uttered a cry of horror--for the thing was the -front cover of my father's Bible! - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -DESERTED. - -Even that hardened villain Gib was shocked at this discovery. He -handed the soaked leather cover to me in silence, and when I raised -my face I saw Radisson gazing at me, a great sadness in his eyes. I -stammered out what the thing was, and thereafter silence fell upon us -all. - -I knew full well that some dire thing had happened before that sacred -Bible could have been wrenched asunder in my father's hands, for -seldom indeed had it ever left him. I stood up on the seat and -shouted in a frenzy of fear, for that horrible fog set badly on my -soul. - -"Father! Father! Where are you?" - -But through the mist came only one faint reply--a weird howl from the -throat of Grim. I sank back staring and Radisson gave a short order. - -"Pull, all of you! Somewhat has happened to the ship, plain enough. -Yet may we rescue some of the poor souls aboard her, if it be God's -will." - -We gave way with desperate energy, but though we rowed back and forth -in that blanketed fog for nigh an hour, we found no sign of Wat -Herries' ship other than the torn, watersoaked fragment of leather -that lay in my shirt bosom. Despair sat heavily upon us all, and at -length Radisson, his face haggard and terrible, swept us about and we -gave up the vain search. - -It must be that the touch of scurvy and the hardships of that voyage -had sapped my strength, and that this horrible day had set a finish -upon it, for I remember nothing more save staggering to the camp, -when we had reached the shore, and meeting Ruth as she advanced. -Then I fell forward, my arms going about Grim's shaggy neck; I tried -to sob out something, and therewith fainted dead away. - -I recovered to find Ruth feeding me a bitter herb-brew, which I -pushed from me as I sat up. My head had been in her arms, and when -my eyes met hers I remembered all, and near cried out but with the -shock of the memory. For the grief in her sweet face showed all too -clearly that she had been told of the tidings. Then Grim licked my -hand, whereat I rose to my feet; it came to me in that instant that -there was a new burden now on my shoulders, and that I must show -myself for a man indeed. - -"Here, Davie," cried out Radisson, "come and help me with this -canvas. Ruth, give Eoghan some more of that brew." - -I joined him and the other two, and under his guidance we stretched -the canvas into some semblance of a tent that would make a rude -shelter for us. When this had been done to his liking, Radisson had -us rear, a little distance off, a shedlike cover of boughs over which -he flung our plaids. This was for the use of Ruth. - -"Come, lad," and a heavy hand fell on my shoulder. "No more of this -staring into the fog-cloud; help us gather firewood against the -night." - -Turning, I looked into the face of Black Michael and recognized his -rough but kindly attempt to hearten me. I had not thought it of him, -so dark and sullen the man was ever, and the memory of those few -words has always touched him kindly in my mind. So I helped him -gather wood, after which we made a sorry enough meal, our first in -the New World. - -Eoghan was somewhat recovered by now, and the leaves and brew had -done us all good, even in that little time. But none the less we -were in desperate case, and our gathering was a quiet one. When the -meal was done Radisson beckoned me to one side. - -"Come you for a little exploring, David." - -But when we had left the camp and were among the trees, his tone -changed and he gripped me by the shoulder, whirling fiercely upon me. - -"Lad, there be three fusils and five horns of powder yonder in the -camp. Get them all safe stowed away in hiding, for we may have -trouble from these men ere long." - -I stared at him agape. "Why, do you fear--" - -"Obey orders!" he snapped. Then, his face relaxing from its anxious -tensity, he continued more kindly. "Aye, I fear that for one thing -the ship is lost, David. When this cursed fog lifts we shall know -for certain; but hope for little. I misdoubt that great howl from -the dogs; besides, there was no answer to our cries or shot. All -those aboard her were too weak to man the pumps, and I fear she has -filled and gone down at her anchor." - -I was about to make reply when he checked me. - -"We have ourselves to depend on, David. Brace up, lad--remember that -your sister must be saved by us." - -"Saved--from what?" I repeated. "We have the boat and can make our -way--" - -"Peace," he cried. "You know nothing of the dangers about us, even -in our own party. Do my bidding in the matter of the fusils and -powder. Say as little as may be to anyone, especially to Ruth, for I -may be wrong and it were not well to alarm her. Go now--I will -return presently." - -So in no little alarm and perplexity I returned, to find no change in -affairs at the camp. The three fusils and the powder were easily -secured and I placed them in Ruth's shelter in charge of Grim. The -weather remained as it had been, the fog still heavy on the waters. - -Side by side, Ruth and I sat near the fire for hours. In truth, the -poor maid was drooping with sheer fatigue. I, poor lout, could think -of naught cheering to say to her, and so we sat and listened to the -lapping of the waves below and the chance talk of the three men. I -mentioned it not to Ruth, but the more I saw of Gib the more I feared -and hated the fellow, though for no very tangible reason save the -words of Radisson. And those I understood but dimly for many days to -come. - -Toward the sunset Radisson returned to us, bearing two dead rabbits. -These were prepared and Ruth cooked them, giving us a wholesome -change from the salt meat. Gradually the darkness fell, and we built -up the fire until its warmth gave us such a glow as we had not known -for weeks. - -That night Radisson told us many stories of his adventures in this -very country and in the Canadas to the south. He told how he had -been captured as a lad by the Mohawk Indians and how he had finally -become a great man among them, before returning to his own people. -Then he told of that great empire of the redmen, called the Five -Nations, of which the Mohawks are the greatest; of his later travels -in the west and of how he had discovered that great river called -"Father of Waters" by the Indians, which in later days had been -"discovered" anew, for Radisson never stood well with the Papists. -To his stories the men listened eagerly, Gib with a half sneer, but -little did I heed their glumness. Ruth and I forgot ourselves in -Radisson's words, which was perhaps as he had intended. - -So drew that day to a close. Seldom in my life have I known a more -terrible one--not from its actual danger, but from the mere awfulness -of the unknown. Only once have I felt greater terror, and of that -you shall hear in its proper place. - -In the night a little breeze arose. I woke once to find Radisson -building the fire anew, and cast my eyes toward the star-hung waters. -But no ship's light could I see, and I think I sobbed myself to sleep -in misery of heart, for I remember Gib cursing me in some strange -tongue. - -With the morning our worst fears were confirmed. There before us lay -the blue bay glittering in the sun, but never a sign of the "Lass o' -Dee." To north and west the shore stretched, while the country -behind us seemed thickly wooded and deserted. It was a strange -thing, to me at least, to see all that land with not a single spiral -of smoke curling up from any farm or stead. - -That the ship had sunk with all on board, I no longer had any doubt. -Fortunately, we had good store of provisions, and as I sat with Ruth -that morning and gazed out across the water, I did my best to cheer -up the poor maid. The loss of my father and the rest was a great -shock to her, coming as it had, but she was never much given to -grieving and sat there dry-eyed. Pretty enough she looked, despite -her grief, for her yellow hair fell braided over her shoulders and -her great violet eyes stared out from beneath her fine, high brows. -Looking at her in this moment, I was startled by a likeness of her -profile to that of old Radisson; howbeit, I said nothing of it at the -time. - -No sooner had we made sure of the ship's loss than Radisson vanished -with one of the fusils, and after a time we heard a faint shot. The -men were already like new, the scurvy symptoms vanishing rapidly -before the herb-brew and roots, and I myself could feel the great -change which these had worked in me. - -Slowly the morning drew on, and then Radisson appeared bearing parts -of a deer-like animal he called a caribou. When we had eaten and -drunk we felt wondrous better, both in body and mind. - -"It is hard to realize," said Ruth very soberly, "that we alone are -left alive out of all that ship's company. It seems like some evil -dream." - -"It is no dream, maid," returned Radisson sadly, "but cold reality. -It behooves us to make some plan, my friends. Where think you we -are, Jean?" - -And now for the second time Gib answered to the French name. Truly, -he seemed a person of many titles. - -"I would say to the northwest of Albany," he replied slowly, cocking -his evil face up at the sky. "The southern shore is lower than this, -methinks. We might be near those barren lands the Chippewas tell of." - -Radisson nodded. "So it seemed to me, although I have never been up -through these more northern lands. Then our best plan will be to go -south in the boat. Surely we ought to reach the fort within a day or -so, and then--" - -Radisson paused suddenly. I saw the eyes of Gib grow small and cold -and hard, and they met those of the old wanderer insolently. - -"And then?" He repeated half mockingly, with a triumphant leer. -"England and France are at peace, in these parts! And perchance the -Governor would pay as well for a certain hostage we wot of as would -certain parties in New France." - -Radisson said nothing, but looked at the man steadily for a long -while, though I saw the cords of his neck bulge out. At length the -bold eyes of Gib shifted and then fell beneath that intent look, and -our leader spoke calmly and quietly. - -"I think we will all be able to row in the morning. We will start -then. If need be, we can make a sail of this canvas. This afternoon -we will reload the boat." - -Now it seemed to me that a single swift glance passed between Gib and -Black Michael. Then the latter wagged his great beard dubiously. - -"I fear me we are in no great spirit for rowing, Master Radisson," he -grumbled, although an hour before he had been working well enough -over the fire. "My joints are sore, and Eoghan here can barely move." - -"Fool, to take Pierre Radisson for a child!" That was all the old -man said, but before his eyes Black Michael seemed to shrink back in -confused silence. If this kept on, I knew that Radisson would be -goaded into action we might all regret; albeit, boylike, I rejoiced -thereat as the thought came to me. Then I fell to pondering on that -puzzle which had vexed me so sore--Gib o' Clarclach. Who was he? -Had Radisson told me truly or no? And who was this hostage of whom -he had spoken? But I knew no more at the end of that pondering than -I knew at the beginning. - -During the afternoon we loaded most of our goods back into the boat, -so that in the morning we might make a start. Most of the provisions -were put aboard, together with the spare clothes and other things we -had fetched from the ship, but the fusils, powder and shot I left -where they had been hid. And fortunate it was that I did so, as -events fell out. - -To tell the truth, I think Ruth grieved more for my father than did -I. He had ever been a hard man, just but stern in all things, and I -had been more my mother's son while she lived. The thing was rather -a shock than a heart-grief to me, I verily believe, and bitterly have -I reproached myself that it was so, but without avail. - -That night I noticed that Black Michael cast anxious glances at us, -and the sailor Eoghan stared more than once at the gold brooch at -Ruth's throat. I thought long on this, and it brought again to my -mind that scene on the beach near Rathesby, when Gib and the other -had fallen to staring at the brooch also. What might the thing be, -and whose arms were those graven upon it? But this Ruth knew as -little as I, and I concluded that the men were but attracted by the -glitter of the massy gold, as was like enough. - -This night fell warm and clear, very different from that before. Now -Radisson and I lay together, the other three sleeping beyond us and -nearer to the fire. I wrapped my plaid about me, as I had done many -a time on the moors at home, and fell asleep almost at once; as yet I -was none too strong, and even the little work done that day had -wearied me. Grim lay beside Ruth's shelter. - -How long I slept I know not, but when I wakened the fire had died -down to a red glow. I lay wondering what had roused me, then sat up. -The place where Gib had lain was vacant. - -But I was too sleepy to waste time on such little things, and so -rolled over again and dropped off. When next I opened mine eyes it -was to find Radisson bending over and shaking me roughly. - -"Waken, David!" Something in that deep rich voice of his brought me -to my feet. - -"What is it?" I cried, staring about into the new dawn. "What is the -matter?" - -"Matter enough," replied the old man gravely. "The men have gone off -with the boat, lad, and we are deserted!" - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE GREAT ADVENTURE BEGINS. - -I looked around, dazed. Of the three men there was no sign, and the -boat was gone from the shore. As I stared, scarce believing mine own -eyes, Ruth and Grim came toward us. The lassie had heard the news -already, for at my exclamation of anger she tried to hearten us with -a laugh, and slipped her hand into that of Radisson. - -"Never mind, Davie, we are better off without them! So put that -black look from your face and let them go, since they will have it -so; they will only fetch us succor the sooner." - -Radisson but grunted--a habit he had when words failed him. - -"The cowards!" I broke forth hotly, staring across the vacant waters. -"'Tis little we can look to them for, Ruth. To steal off and leave -us in our sleep!" And I told how I had awakened during the night. - -"You know not the danger, either of of you." Radisson shook his head -gloomily, the while his fine eyes searched the woods about us. "We -must pack what we can carry on our backs. It may be that we shall -yet reach the post in safety before them." - -I saw no reason why we must hasten to reach the fort ahead of the -scoundrels, but at the time it seemed too small a matter to call for -exposition. Our leader was no man to bide inactive. We had each a -fusil, and good store of powder and shot, while food was to be had -for the getting, it seemed. I began to think that this land might -not be so barren after all. - -What was left to us we made into two bundles, Radisson taking one and -I the other. Then we set off along the brook, inland. The country -was high and bare, save for bushes and evergreen trees, but of -heather I saw none; indeed, as I learned later, there was none of our -proper heather in all this New World. - -As Radisson believed Fort Albany to be toward the southeast, our best -plan was to follow the course of the streamlet, which turned from the -shore toward the south. We were soon lost in the tangle of bush, and -about noon left the stream altogether. Then it developed that the -three deserters had taken Radisson's compass; but of this our leader -recked little, for he guided us by some sixth sense which he averred -was part of the Indian training. - -Despite the rough ground and our loads, we must have made full ten or -twelve miles that day, and with nightfall camped beside a river of -goodly size, making our dinner from a hare which Grim fetched in. It -was late before I could sleep, the woods around being filled with -strange noises and the calls of birds and animals. In the morning I -had my first sight of the men of the New World. - -I was about building a fire, on a big rock by the river's edge, when -I heard a voice from the water. Looking up, I saw three canoes -poised noiselessly in the stream, each bearing two dark-skinned men -whose hair was hung in braids and who were naked to the waist. Their -faces were not painted, as in Radisson's stories, and all were -staring at me as at some wondrous marvel. - -I cried out and sprang for a fusil, but the paddles swept down once, -and even as Radisson awoke the first Indian leaped ashore. I was -trying to load a fusil in haste, but Radisson sprang up and halted me -after a quick look at the red men. - -"Down with the gun, lad. These be friends." - -[Illustration: "_Down with the gun, lad. These be friends._"] - -All six of them landed now, but stopped their advance with a guttural -word of surprise at sight of the old wanderer. I laid my hand on -Grim's bristling neck. - -"What cheer!" said Radisson in English. "Has Soan-ge-ta-ha forgotten -his friend the White Eagle?" - -One of the Indians, older than the rest, gravely took the extended -hand of Radisson and made reply in very good English, to my surprise. - -"Brave Heart has not forgotten the Eagle, although his young men know -him not, and the winters have left their snows on his hair. Will the -Eagle and his children go to the post with us?" - -At this Radisson broke into a strange tongue and I could make nothing -of the talk that ensued. Ruth had come to my side and was watching -the red men somewhat fearfully, while in their turn they bestowed -open admiration upon her. Soon they came forward and bunched around -the fire while they talked. After a little Radisson turned to me, -and spoke rapidly, in French. - -"Davie, these be men of the Chippewa nation, who will take us to the -fort. On your life speak not in English of Gib!" - -While I was puzzling over this command, Ruth had turned to the -speaker. - -"But why do you go thither?" she asked anxiously. "Surely you could -send us with--" - -"Nay, daughter," replied the old wanderer, "these are not to be -trusted, although they fear to deceive or harm me. Say no more, for -we go to the post." - -He drew a deep breath, then took one of our fusils and presented it -to the chief, Brave Heart. The gift was received with a murmur of -joy, and although I could make nothing of the words, the eyes of the -six Indians betrayed the fierce delight in their hearts at the gift. -But there was no gratitude mingled with that delight, and as they sat -and eyed the gift methought I could see the murder-lust in their -glances. It has always seemed to me that the Adventurers to whose -post we were going, have done little good; for in all that land north -of New France they have but taught the red men to slay and slay for -skins, and mingled little enough of the word of God with the word of -man. Howbeit, to my story. - -It is not my purpose to detail the strange customs and sights which -Ruth and I saw during the next few days and nights while we paddled -up that river. To others they might not seem so strange as they did -to us, and moreover I have greater things to tell of which befell -later. Soan-ge-ta-ha, or Brave Heart, had known Radisson both as -friend and foe, years before, and very plainly held the old man in -vast respect and fear. - -For two days we ascended the river, then came a portage where the -canoes and furs were carried for a mile or more to another stream, -which we descended this time. On the third day we met another party -of four natives, also Chippewas, who exchanged words with Brave -Heart, greeted us with a mingling of fear and awe, and pushed on -ahead. - -"They cannot understand it," laughed Radisson in French, which these -others knew not. "They have seen no ship along the coast and are -beginning to think the Great Spirit dropped us here from the sky." - -I marveled at the credulity of the poor creatures, and suggested that -it was wrong so to deceive them, whereat Radisson looked queerly at -me. As Ruth failed to agree, I dropped the subject for the time, -although I liked not to continue in such standing, which to my mind -savored of deceit and well-nigh blasphemy. By this you may see that -I was no little changed from the young lout who had slipped out of -the Purple Heather at Rathesby to skip the prayers--as well I might -be, after the horror of that voyage and its ending. - -We traveled each in a separate canoe, seeing little of each other -save at the halting places. On one of these occasions Radisson told -me why he had ordered no mention made of Gib. It seemed that the -fellow was of no little reputation among the Chippewas, even as was -Radisson among other tribes, and if his return to the New World were -known things might go ill. - -Ruth made light of the hardships of those first days, although Brave -Heart's men treated her with all consideration. Both she and I -gained some slight knowledge of the art of paddling, and I found that -the scurvy had altogether disappeared, whereat I thanked God most -fervently. - -It seemed that the Chippewa chief, Soan-ge-ta-ha, was one of the -greatest among his own people. He was not so old as Radisson, but -his face held a stern, implacable aspect which at times set me -athrill with fear of the man. I prayed that we might never have him -to face as an enemy, nor at that time did such an event seem probable. - -And as we paddled I grew ever more amazed at the great size of this -new land, which seemed to have neither limit nor end. On we went, -crossing from one stream to another. We had been with the six -Chippewas for eight days, and on the fifth day after meeting the four -others Soan-ge-ta-ha announced the post was only three days' journey -off. Of this we were right glad, and if Radisson felt in any other -wise he gave no sign. - -But we were not destined to accompany the six farther, for here -happened one of those wonderful things which showed ever more plainly -that the hand of God was over us, guiding and protecting us from -hidden dangers. We had just made ready to embark when Soan-ge-ta-ha -lifted his hand in a warning gesture, and Grim gave a low growl. As -he did so, the bushes on the farther side of our camping-place -parted, and out stepped two men. - -But what men they were! Ruth gave a little cry and settled back -within my arm, while the Chippewas emitted a grunt of surprise. Both -the men were Indians--just such savages as Radisson had described to -us while on the "Lass." Naked to the waist like our own six, the -face and breast of each was hideously painted with red and white -paint, and they wore pantaloons of skin, beaded and fringed -wondrously. Each was taller than the average man, and their heads -were in part shaven so that a single long lock of hair was left, and -in this were twisted eagle feathers. As they came closer I saw that -for all their sturdiness these were old men, in years if not in -vigor. They carried no muskets, but at their belts were hatchets and -knives. For an instant we all stared as if rooted to the ground, -then to my utter amazement Radisson leaped forward and threw his arms -about the first savage. - -"My brother--my brother!" he cried out in French, all his heart in -his voice. "Am I dreaming or bewitched? Can this thing be -possible?" He turned and caught the other likewise. "And you, Swift -Arrow--is it you or some ghost of the olden days?" - -As if this were not surprise enough for me, these grave painted -savages of the New World made dignified response in French. Nay, it -was poor French enough, yet Ruth and I could sense it with ease. - -"Now are we indeed happy," spoke the older of the two, paying no heed -to us who watched in amazement. "My brother, many snows ago you left -us. We heard that you had gone to the Great Father across the big -water. Then it was borne to us that you were far in the north, here -among the snows. - -"My brother, our lodges were empty. We mourned for you in the Long -House among the Nations. There was no war among us and we grew old. -So we bade our people farewell and left the land of the Long House to -seek you. My brother, we have found you, and we thank the Great -Spirit. We, who were young together, shall grow old together and -travel the Ghost-trail together. I, Ta-cha-noon-tia the Black -Prince, Keeper of the Eastern Door, have said it." - -For an instant there was a tense silence. I did not realize what the -speech portended, but I could see Radisson's face, and I watched it -glow in the morning sun until it seemed as if youth had once more -touched it lightly for an instant, so glorified was it. Then -Soan-ge-ta-ha made a step forward, for he knew no French. - -"Who are these?" he asked, sweeping a hand toward the strangers with -a frown. "What do they in the country of the Chippewas?" - -The pair seemed to sense the spirit of the words if not their -meaning, for they drew themselves up proudly and topped the Chippewas -by a head. It was Radisson who made hasty answer. - -"These are brothers of mine from the far south, Brave Heart. They -came in search of me, and are on no war trail." He turned and -addressed the two in a strange, guttural tongue. They made answer -with a few gestures. I saw Radisson cast a quick look at me; there -was that in his face which spelled danger. Therewith he turned to -the Chippewas again. - -"Soan-ge-ta-ha has been generous to his friends, as befits a great -chief, and we thank him. Let him keep our gifts in token of -friendship, for we may go no farther with him. We depart from this -place with these my brothers." - -The Chippewas glanced at the two impassive figures, and there was -greed in their eyes as they took in the exquisite garments, the fine -weapons, the--ah, what was that dark line fringing the belts? -Radisson had told me of the strange custom of wearing an enemy's -hair, and I turned away my eyes as I recognized only too plainly the -scalps that fringed the girdles of these two old strangers. - -Soan-ge-ta-ha eyed Radisson for an instant. Perhaps he had a -conflicting mind, but if so he thought better of it, for he only -nodded and spoke briefly to his warriors. These, without a word to -us, leaped into the loaded canoes, and with a last wave from the -chief the six pushed off into the stream. - -"What did he say?" spoke up Ruth hurriedly. "Why is this? Be these -men going to take us to the post?" - -Radisson came and took her hand, speaking in English. - -"My child, these men have done what few had dared attempt--they have -come here from below the Canadas, far to the south, in search of me. -They belong to the Mohawk nation, the greatest tribe of the Iroquois, -and long ago I lived with them and loved them. Ruth, these are two -great men in their own land, famous both of them--they--they--" - -Here his emotion choked him, for he turned his face away and I saw a -tear upon his white beard. After a moment he caught my hand with -Ruth's and turned about. Now he spoke in French. - -"Ta-cha-noon-tia, Black Prince, you who ward the Eastern Door of the -Long House of the Five Nations, and you, Ca-yen-gui-nano, Great Swift -Arrow, I give into your friendship and protection this young man, who -is as mine own son, and this girl, who is the daughter of mine own -sister." - -And at that Ruth gave a great cry and caught Radisson by the hands, -staring at him wildly. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE KEEPER AND THE ARROW. - -"What mean you?" she broke forth, searching his smiling face. "Is -this a jest, sir? Or do you really know--" - -"My child," and Radisson caught her to him, touching her brow with -his lips, "it is no jest. But we are in grave danger here. Come, -greet these noblest of men, and let us begone. The tale I will give -you in full at the first chance." - -Both the two Mohawks and I had looked on at this scene with no little -bewilderment. But as Ruth obeyed him and turned to them with a -puzzled smile, the elder, whom we came to know as the Keeper, stepped -forward and caught her hand to his lips in right courtly -fashion--doubtless learned at Montreal. - -"The Yellow Lily need fear not, for we are brothers of the White -Eagle," and he glanced at Radisson, then turned to me. His black -eyes glittered intensely as they swept over me, but it was his -companion, the Arrow, who spoke. Doubtless he put his Mohawk thought -into French speech, for the words were abrupt. - -"The young man with brave eyes is good to look upon. He is our -brother." - -"Then we will care for the Yellow Lily together," I smiled at Ruth, -using the name they had bestowed upon her. This pleased them hugely, -and a smile flickered across their dark faces. Presently they and -Radisson were chattering in the strange tongue, and when he turned to -us there was doubt in his strong face, for once. - -"My children, we are in a narrow path. These twain have lived for -two years among the Cree people, daily waiting my coming. But a few -days since they had journeyed to the post. Gib, Eoghan and Black -Michael had arrived in the boat. No sooner was their story told than -men were sent out in all directions in search of us, while among the -Chippewas a price was set on our heads in beads and blankets. - -"What!" I cried indignantly. "Would they dare--" - -"Peace, lad. You know not all the tale, and it is too long to be -told here. There is no law in these parts save that of the -strongest, and the Keeper and the Arrow set forth to find us. -Fortunately, Soan-ge-ta-ha had not heard the news, else he had not -let us go so easily. As I will explain later, it is impossible for -Ruth to seek the post. The only thing left us is to go with my -friends here and find refuge among the Crees to the west. There we -shall be safe, for the Crees are old friends of mine. The Mohawks -have two canoes hidden a few miles from here. Let us go on with -them, and we can take to the water on another river. This will throw -off any pursuers until we can find shelter among friends." - -I glanced at Ruth, despair in my eyes. She read the look and came to -me, putting her hand on my arm. - -"Davie, dear, there is naught else to do. Have no fear for me, but -let us trust in God. Remember, we have much to talk of and we do not -know all that has passed. Are you willing to go into the wilderness -with us?" - -"Willing?" I burst out, seizing her hand. "Aye, for myself I care -naught, Ruth, but for you--is there no other way?" - -"There is no other way, my son," returned Radisson gravely. - -"Then let us go forth and seek what may betide," I answered bitterly. - -There was no time lost. Our few belongings were all ready, and we -set out after Radisson who followed in the steps of the Keeper. As -for the Arrow, he melted into the bushes and was gone--to scout for -danger and to meet us at the canoes, explained the old wanderer. - -That march through the forest was one of no little hardship for all -of us, but more especially for Ruth and me. There was danger all -about us, for at any moment we might come upon parties of Chippewas -who were even then searching the forest for trace of us. I walked -along as one in a maze, and in truth my poor brain was all bewildered. - -What was the meaning of this strange meeting with the two Mohawks? -And Radisson's words to them--was Ruth indeed his niece? That was -hardly to be credited, methought, for why had he said no word to us -before? And in any case, he could know no more of the maid than did -I, who had lived all my life beside her. None the less, the matter -troubled me. - -In point of distance we had not far to go, but the difficulties of -the savage forest beset us sorely. Ruth had much ado to prevent her -skirts being torn by thorns and jagged branches. At one time we -would be pushing through thick-grown saplings, and at another leaping -from tussock to tussock of swamp-grass. The Keeper and Radisson, -better accustomed to such places, moved like shadows; but had there -been any foe near, my crashing must have betrayed our presence beyond -a doubt. - -Yet all things draw to an end, and the end of our journey was a -clear, open lake of good size. Not a hundred yards from where we -emerged, The Arrow stood waiting beside the shore, and at his feet -were two canoes. Here was a new wonder to me, that the Keeper should -have guided us so surely through those trackless woods to the side of -his comrade. - -But Ruth was fain for rest, and so was I. We sank down beside the -canoes, and here Radisson joined us. - -"Now," he said with a certain vigor and spring in his voice which was -new to me, "I will explain things to you, my children. In the first -place, you are verily my sister's daughter, Ruth. It was nigh twenty -years ago that I left her in Montreal, new-married to the Sieur de -Courbelles, and my last gift to her was that brooch you wear at your -throat. See--those are mine own arms upon it! Then I left New -France, but she, with her husband, was to join me in London town. I -never heard word of her again, my child; there can be no doubt that -their ship was driven far north and you alone were saved." - -He paused a space, and I saw that Ruth's own little fingers had -stolen out to grasp his. But here there came a great light to me. - -"Then," I exclaimed, "was that why Gib o' Clarclach was so hasty -after Ruth? Nay, but it could hardly have been so, for he had scarce -recognized that little brooch!" - -"Not that, David," smiled the old man, "but he knew the arms right -well, and doubtless he also knew the tale of my sister and her loss -by shipwreck. I must tell you, lad, that the man who you know as -Gib, whom I know as Jean Lareatt, whom the Indians hereabouts know to -their cost as The Pike, is an agent of France--a spy, who serves -France or England according as he is best paid. No one knows, or -ever will know, just who his masters are. So you see, lad, that if -he could lay hold on the maid and fetch her to Paris, they might get -me into their clutches again right easily." - -"But not that!" I exclaimed angrily. "Frenchmen would never dare go -to such extremes with a maid of good birth--" - -Radisson's face went black. "No? Wait till you know them as I do, -the Jesuit dogs! If you want the truth of it, that man Gib is no man -of France so much as he is a paid spy of the Order--the Order that -has hounded me, stolen the credit of discoveries, sent forth its men -in my place to gain mine honor, and at the last tried to steal this -child of my blood!" - -And therewith he went on to tell me things I had not dreamed -possible. He told of his long trips through the wilderness, of how -he had found the "Father of Waters," how his reports had been stolen -and altered, his furs stolen from him, and how on the strength of his -labors the Jesuits had sent out men of their order to take the credit -for his work. - -"But why?" asked Ruth with wondering eyes. "Why should they do this -thing? Surely there are honorable and good men among--" - -"Aye, lass, there are," Radisson made quick response. "But the -reason for it is simply that I am none of their faith. When a lad I -was taken by the Mohawks and grew up among them. Then I returned to -mine own people, but I never forgot my adopted nation. On all my -trips I carried Iroquois with me. The Arrow here went to the Detroit -with me years before the settlement was founded there. The Keeper -was behind me when the Sioux people saw their first white face, and -when I was led to the great river in the South." - -With that our conversation was ended, for The Arrow approached and -warned us that the day was drawing on apace. We made a light meal -off some dried venison, after which we embarked in the canoes. In -one went The Arrow, Ruth and I, while The Keeper and Radisson -embarked in the other, and we followed in their course across the -lake to the mouth of a little river that flowed westward. - -So it came about that I set my back toward my own people. I sat in -the bow, The Arrow in the stern. Whiles we paddled, and whiles -floated where the river was more rapid, but Ruth talked ever with us. -I could hear her chattering with the stolid man in the stern, who -seemed to waken into life at her words, and so we gained some -knowledge of these two strange Indians and their ways. - -Of the Iroquois confederacy Radisson had already told us much, and of -their Long House, which was not unlike the Houses of Parliament in -London town. Here the Five Nations sent their delegates to make laws -and give judgments, and the highest chief of each nation kept the -doors. The Mohawks, who lived farther east than the rest, held the -eastern door of that savage parliament, which fact had given the -Black Prince his title. I wondered at his name being the same as -that of a former prince of England, but the reason therefor I never -knew. - -As we wended on our way my gloom began to drop from me. I realized -how Radisson felt, and the fact that before us lay a great new land -where no white man was, thrilled me to the marrow. I drew the good -free air deep into my lungs and put away all thought of that villain -Gib o' Clarclach; all these plottings were left behind us, and only -the open country and friends lay before. What if these friends were -red? From the talk of The Arrow, red friends were as good as or -better than white. - -Since then I have realized more truly just what that terrible journey -from the Canadas had meant for the two Mohawks. Alone and unaided -they had traversed a wilderness of foes to find the man they loved as -brother. When they came to the Cree people they chanced upon traces -of him, Radisson being well known to the Crees, and for his sake the -strangers had been taken in and provided for. Their prowess soon -made them great men among the Crees, whose customs were not so very -different, though less bloody; and during the two years they had -spent, waiting for Radisson with a firm faith in his coming, their -position had been firmly established. All these things came to me -not at once, but slowly, during the many days we paddled on, heading -toward the west, and then to the north. Our way was slow, because on -the third day one of the canoes was ripped on a rock and we had to -wait for a hasty patching. The weather was very warm indeed, but -cold at night. - -So it came about that when pursuit had been left far behind, we were -in the Barren Places, as The Keeper named them. And they deserved -the name, being of swamp and scrub trees and thickets of saplings; -but of game there was plenty. In this place came the danger to Ruth, -and here we first encountered the Mighty One, of whom I will have -great things to tell in their own place. - -One morning Ruth and I had left the camp for an early ramble. I took -a fusil, thinking to kill a deer or caribou. We climbed a little -hill above the camp and entered the thicker woods, where after a -while we became separated, Ruth halting beside some bushes of -berries, very good to the taste. I was perhaps a hundred yards from -her when I heard a sudden cry. - -Whirling about, I saw a wondrous beast plunging toward the lass. Of -monstrous build he was, with huge shoulders and head, while great -splay-horns added to his frightful mien. In terror, Ruth made shift -to get behind a tree, while the monster stood shaking his head and -striking the earth with his hoofs. - -I had been so startled that for a moment I forgot my fusil. Never -had I dreamed of so huge a beast! I shouted at him and ran forward, -whereat he came at me speedily. Ruth cried out again, and in mighty -fear I raised my weapon, thinking to see fire come from his nostrils -at any moment, for I took him as little less than the fiend himself. - -But now he had turned again to Ruth, and the little maid was barely -keeping the tree between them. In desperation, I poured fresh powder -in the pan and aimed again. This time the weapon spoke, and the -added powder sent me backward to the ground with the recoil. Those -mighty horns seemed to shoot forward and up, the huge body rose in -air, and the next I knew was that the terrible beast was standing -over me, scraping at me with his horns. Fortunately, they seemed -soft, like those of a deer in summer, and I beat frantically at his -enormous nose. An instant later I gripped the horns. - -With this, the monster lifted his head and me with it. I gave myself -up for lost as he pressed me back into a tree, snorting and grunting, -but I hung on grimly enough, for I feared the sharp hoofs. - -"Run!" I cried to Ruth, whom I could not see. "Run, Ruth!" - -I felt my strength going fast. Now the beast had pushed me in -through the branches and was striving to grind me against the -tree-trunk itself. Vainly did I writhe and twist away, for those -huge horns swung and slashed at me, and had they been hard I had died -in that moment. As it was, I felt my ribs crushed in, then a -terrific pain shot through me, and my grip loosened. - -But even as I fell back, a wild yell sounded in my ears, and a blast -of powder-smoke swept by my face. The massy horns were gone, and I -scraped back against the tree and came to the ground, helpless and -broken. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -IN THE VILLAGES OF THE CREES. - -What happened after that was of little interest to me. I have brief, -fitful memories of things that occurred at intervals, for as I later -learned from Ruth, my hurts were very sore indeed, and more than once -they had given me up for dead. But for The Keeper and for Radisson -himself, who searched through the woods for healing simples and herbs -at each camping-place, I had been in sorry plight. - -I mind me of many days of travel, during no small part of which I was -lashed tightly enough to the canoe. At times Ruth's face would be -above me, her fingers sweeping my brow, and at times Radisson's -kindly white beard would bend over me and his fingers, for all their -sinewy strength, were as tender as those of Ruth. - -That was a dour and terrible journey. Even now, as I sit writing and -gazing over the moors that roll upland beyond Ayrby, I can feel the -throbs of pain across my ribs, and the hurt of the thwart against my -back. And in the damp weather the feeling is no mere imagination, -either. - -I remember, after many days of flickering lights and shadows, there -came one time when Ruth's tears fell on my cheeks and irritated me -strangely. Perhaps the lass did not know I was conscious, for I -could speak no word. I heard Radisson attempt to cheer her, and it -seemed that he, too, had lost his heartiness. Then they died away -into blackness once more, and the next memory is of the Crees. - -Queer men they were, queer people, moving like the veriest devils -through my half-sensed dreams, although they were our firmest -friends. Radisson to them was a deity, and the two Mohawks were -little less. They were great hunters and fighters, however, and when -my mind came back to me somewhat I never lacked for meat and broth, -while skins of the richest were ours in plenty. - -When I came to learn of the journey, after I had been injured, it was -a tale of hardship and suffering--incurred for the most part on my -account. To move a helpless man across the wilderness is a task for -the mightiest, and our little party had been sore put to it ere a -party of the Crees found us and aided us to their villages. - -I came to my clear senses one day, at last, to find a great weight -lying upon me, and all dark around. I put up my hand to remove the -weight and found that it was the skin of some beast, yet I could not -so much as lift it. By this I knew I must be very sick and weak, and -for a space the knowledge frighted me oddly. - -Suddenly light appeared to one side, and I saw I was lying in a -conical shelter, like a tent, and that Ruth stood in the doorway. I -called to her weakly enough. - -"Eh, lassie! Come and help me." - -She gave a little cry and dropped on her knees at my side. But she -would not take the fur away, whereat I wondered. Nor would she let -me talk, but told me of the journey and of where we now were. - -To my utter amazement I found that I had been sick, not for days, but -for long weeks. It was a good month and more that I had lain in this -shelter, in the Cree village, and near two months since we had met -the moose. The first snow had come upon the land, and the days and -nights were bitter cold. - -In the lodge next to mine dwelt Ruth, and beyond that Radisson and -the Mohawks. There was a tale to be told of great wonders, of things -and beasts and men such as we had never dreamed of in the old days at -Ayrby farm. I listened half-believing, and before she had finished -dropped into a deep, pleasant sleep. - -Through the days that followed I began to adjust myself somewhat to -the new life about me. The Crees--dark, dirty men who wore -skins--were kind enough and treated me with not only respect but even -deference. For some time I was at a loss to account for this. I -presently came to understand that I was looked upon as a great man, -greater even than the two Mohawks, which surprised me and troubled me -no little. It is not right and just that a man should be so treated -by his fellows unless he has proved himself greater than they, and -the worship of these poor heathen creatures worried me mightily. - -Radisson spent long hours with me, talking and explaining the things -all around. Our fusils he had carefully oiled and laid aside, for it -seemed that the Crees had never heard the sound of a gun, and the -time might come when an appeal to their superstition would do wonders. - -"But is that right?" I asked doubtfully. "Methinks it would be more -Christian in us to help the poor creatures to understand, than to try -and shock them into thinking us men of another world." - -"Why, so we are," smiled Radisson. "You see, Davie, we are like to -be safe for the present, until the deep snows come. Then we can look -for trouble. I have sent out runners to the east and south, for it -seems to me that the English around the Bay will not rest until they -get news of me. The Chippewa nation is always warring against the -Crees, and like enough The Pike will lead them. Our friend is a -subtle, crafty fellow and will halt at nothing. - -"As for your fears in the matter of religion, Davie, you had best -forget them. We can live down to their standard, as does The Pike, -or up to our standard, as I have ever done. I have no great wish to -preach to them, for their faith is good enough, but do you suit -yourself in that regard. It may be that God has not brought us here -for nothing, and it is far from my thought to thwart His will." - -As the time went by I grew stronger, walking about the village on the -arm of Ruth and coming to understand more and more the people among -whom we were. Having little else to do, I took to learning their -tongue from a chief named Uchichak, or The Crane. He was a fine, -upright, silent man of good parts, and as I came to speak the -language a little, I told him of the true God. But at this he would -ever fall silent, gazing into the fire and saying no word, so that I -deemed my talk but wasted. - -The Keeper and The Arrow were but indifferent Christians, having been -converted years before by the French, and their faith was a mixture -of heathenism and religion which was strange to see. Once I -protested with The Keeper about taking scalps, whereat he silenced me -deftly and firmly. - -"Brave Eyes"--for such was the name I now bore--"does not know of -what he speaks. Here the nations do not war as our nation wars. The -Great Spirit has whispered to me that it is right for the white men -to do some things, and wrong for the red men to do some things. He -has whispered to Uchichak that it is not right for the Crees to take -scalps, and they do not. He has whispered to The Keeper that it is -right, and so The Keeper does. He has whispered to the white men -that they shall drink of the water of fire. He has whispered to The -Keeper not to drink. The Keeper has seen his brothers disobey, and -drink, until their minds were stolen from their bodies. The Keeper -does not disobey the Great Spirit. Let my brother listen to the -Great Spirit, unless he thinks himself greater. Does my brother know -more than the Great Spirit?" - -It was the longest speech I ever heard from The Keeper, and his quiet -sarcasm at the close taught me a lesson that I sorely needed. I had -considered myself above these poor heathen people, and in time I came -to know that in many ways I was below them. We did not worship -alike, yet we all worshiped. There was much that they could and did -teach me, and Uchichak came to be a very good friend to me. - -The two Mohawks came to rather disregard me and Ruth, centering -themselves on Radisson alone, quietly but insistently. They hunted -and fished with him, or alone, and left me to Uchichak, who proved an -able teacher. Those were happy weeks for me, as I slowly came back -to strength and health, and I believe that never in her life had Ruth -been so filled with the joy of youth as she was here. And it was -well, for there were dark days to come. - -As to our future, that was unsettled. Radisson was filled with a -great dream of going on into the sunset and searching out the country -there, of finding lands where no white man had ever trod. His age -was as nothing to him, and I verily believe that except for Ruth he -had departed long since. But the love of the little maid restrained -him, and his great vision waited on her will. - -With the snows, I set forth on the heels of Uchichak, learning to -hunt and fish and trap as did the Crees. Our fusils and little store -of powder were jealously guarded away, so that perforce I had to -learn the bow and spear. I learned that moose and elk and bison were -no creatures from the nether world, but animals of flesh and blood, -and one day I proposed to The Crane that we should seek out the moose -who had attacked us, and who had so nearly killed me. At the -suggestion a strange expression swept across the chief's dark, -handsome face, and he glanced at me with a worried look. - -"Is my brother so anxious to meet the Great Spirit? Has he not -escaped the horns of the Mighty One by a miracle?" - -"Nonsense!" I retorted. "The Great Spirit did not give me the heart -of a coward, Uchichak. He saved me from the moose, and if it be His -will, I shall some day meet and slay the animal. Why do you call him -the Mighty One?" - -It seemed to me that The Crane fell to trembling, almost. Certainly -his face quivered, and he glanced around uneasily. We stood alone, -our snowshoes leaving a faint trail across a bare rise of snow, -carrying a small deer between us. The chief set down his end of the -pole and faced me. - -"You have said many things to me that I do not understand, my -brother. You have told me of the Great Spirit whom you serve, and -sometimes I have thought that He was our own Great Spirit also. You -have told me how He came to your people and let men kill Him, which -to me seemed very foolish, so that I knew He was not the same Great -Spirit." - -In that moment I saw the mistake I had made. I had told Uchichak the -bare story of the Gospels, but had not explained that story. There, -standing in the snow beside the stiff and frozen deer, with his -intent gaze fixed on me, I spoke as best I might. Indeed, the words -seemed to come to me as if placed in my mouth, and when I had made an -end I knew not what I had said. - -But Uchichak gazed at me silently, and I think that he had understood -the greater part of my speech, for I had spoken mostly in his own -tongue, haltingly but simply enough that a child might understand. - -"You have spoken well, my brother," he returned slowly. "I have -understood your words, although your speech is harsh, and it seemed -to me that not you were speaking, but the Great Spirit whom you -worship. Listen. It is well that my people should hear of this -also. We are not like the Sioux or the Chippewas, blind to all -things. We are eager to let our ears be open, and our old men are -very wise. To-morrow night shall a Council be held, and before the -Council you shall tell these things." - -Without pausing for answer, he stooped and we picked up the deer. -Our way home was silent enough, and I dared to dream that I had -impressed The Crane with some knowledge of the true God. But this -was far from the case, as I was to learn. - -I have passed over lightly my days of striving, when I was learning -to live this new life, for of late my fingers have grown somewhat -stiff and the quill hard to hold, and I have that to tell of which -must not be delayed. At this time the winter was well onward, and -many of the men were away from the village, hunting in the Barren -Places. Of Gib and his Chippewas we had heard nothing. - -Grim, all this time, had remained close to me and Ruth. The Indian -dogs, used for hauling sleds in winter, seemed idle, frivolous -creatures to him, and he disdained to give them attention. The Crees -were inclined to sneer at him as a "lodge-dog," good for nothing -except to lie beside the fire, until one day two of their fighting -brutes went for him. Grim, forced to the combat, made such short -work of the wolf-like beasts that thereafter the others slunk past -him in fear, while the Crees also gave him a wide berth. - -Upon reaching the village that night, we found that Radisson and the -Mohawks had left for a two-day elk hunt. A little dismayed at their -absence, I sought out Ruth and told her of my conversation with the -chief. - -"We will face them together, Davie," she said softly, her deep eyes -aglow. "A woman is not admitted to the council, yet Uchichak can -persuade them easily enough. They are not stern, fierce people like -the Mohawks, and they will listen to me." - -Gladly enough I asked Uchichak. After a moment he nodded gravely. - -"She may speak, and then go. It is not permitted that women should -sit in the council." - -This was the best I could get out of him, but it was enough. There -was no sign of Radisson the next afternoon, and as the council-lodge -was made ready I began to miss his support. Ruth and I knew that we -would have no great ordeal before us, but it would be hard indeed to -break through the stolidity of the Crees, to appeal to their finer -feelings. That they or other Indians have such feelings has been -denied; but I, who have lived and hunted with them, know that all men -have souls alike--mayhap some deeper-buried than others beneath the -crust of time and circumstance, yet all there for the finding. - -Ruth and I ate our evening meal together, while Grim crunched a bone -contentedly at our sides. Both of us, as our garments had given out, -had replaced them with others of very soft skin, while in this cold -winter weather we wore furs as did the Crees. When the meal was done -we covered over the little fire in the center of the lodge, and -stepped to the door. - -Five minutes later we were in the lodge of council--a large -structure, half skin and half brush. Around the fire were ranged the -old men of the village, and the chiefs; and after a dignified silence -the calumet was passed around from hand to hand, among the very old -men only, for with these people tobacco was rather in the nature of a -burnt-offering, and was never smoked for the pleasure therein. -Another silence, then the oldest chief arose and very briefly -directed Ruth to speak to them as she wished. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -THE MOOSE OF MYSTERY. - -I would that I might give here the speech that Ruth made to those -Crees, there by the dim light of the little fire, her yellow hair -flashing forth from the wolf-fur hood in long tendrils, her eyes -striving to pierce through the darkness to those stolid faces about -her. She did not speak their language at all well, and I saw plainly -that the hearing had been given her out of courtesy alone. They were -our friends, were these Crees, because we were the friends of -Radisson, and they would do all for us that friends might. - -At length she finished and turned away. I stepped forward when the -old chief had gravely risen and thanked her, and led her to the -entrance. When I returned, the same old man rose and addressed me. - -"Our brother Brave Eyes has heard the words of the Yellow Lily. They -were like the dew upon the trees at dawn--sparkling and refreshing, -but not fit to quench the thirst of the warriors. There is much that -we do not understand, and we hope that Brave Eyes will set our minds -at rest." - -I waited a space, knowing that this would add dignity to my words. -Even as I rose to my feet, a noise of dogs came from without, the -flap of the door was pushed aside and The Keeper, The Arrow and -Radisson entered and flitted to their seats in the Council. This -seemed like a good omen to me, and I took heart again. - -Now I appealed to the warriors direct, strove to wake them to -consciousness of what my message meant, applied all that I said to -their life and daily acts. As I went on, the words flowed almost of -themselves, and I, who had ever been a clumsy, gawky lout, felt with -a thrill that I was commanding these men. Yet it was not I, as none -knew better. It was a Something that spoke in and through me, until -in the end I felt a great fear of what that Something might be. None -the less, I said what I had to say, and so seated myself again, the -sweat standing out on my brow. - -For a long, long time there was no sound within the lodge. Then I -saw The Keeper rise to his feet and walk out beside the fire, -standing a moment like a dark statue. - -"My brothers," he said in Cree, "we have listened to very great -words. In my own land the Great Spirit has sent his Blackrobes to -speak such words to us, and we have listened. I am very old, my -brothers. These words are sweet in my ears. But my white brothers, -Brave Eyes and White Eagle, have not heard all. The Great Spirit has -not whispered to them of the Mighty One. Perhaps he has sent them -that the Mighty One should be slain, and that the Cree nation should -know which was the True Great Spirit. I have ended." - -I did not understand the conclusion of this speech, but I did -understand the half-audible gasp of horror that ran through the -lodge. It brought back to me the time when I was a little fellow, -and had gone to meeting one day with my father and mother. While the -preacher was thundering forth, I had escaped from mother and toddled -away to look up in laughing wonder at the tall figure of Alec Gordon, -with his stiff starched bands. In that moment the same shuddering -gasp had echoed through the folk, and I heard later that no few of -them had looked to see me fall stricken. - -So around the Council lodge ran the same whisper and was gone -instantly. I wondered what sacrilege The Keeper had uttered, and -stared at Uchichak as he gravely rose, took up the calumet, lit it, -and waved it to the four corners of the heavens. Then he replaced it -and turned toward me. - -"My brother Ta-cha-noon-tia is our friend. His words are the words -of a friend. He is a great warrior and an old man, and his Great -Spirit is very strong. But it is not our Great Spirit who whispers -in his ear, and we are afraid. I will tell my brothers of our Great -Spirit." - -With a single stride he went to the door and flung open the flap -dramatically. Before us in the sky flamed the northern -lights--grotesque sheeted figures of lambent flame, dancing here and -yon, rising, falling, many-colored. - -"The Spirits of the Dead who Dance," he affirmed, in a single Cree -word. "My brothers the Great Spirit of our fathers is mighty. This -is his sign to his children. When we have passed the last trail, we -too shall join our fathers in the Spirit-dance across the heavens. -This is the sign that our Great Spirit has given us. And now I shall -tell you of the Mystery." - -I would have sprung up and made ready answer, but a hand gripped my -arm and I found Radisson behind me. I remembered that Indian ways -were not our ways, and that when Uchichak had finished I could speak, -and not until then. - -"My brothers, our Great Spirit, from the days of our fathers, has -sent us a messenger. Sometimes it is a man, sometimes it is an -animal." His voice lowered almost to a whisper, and the hush was -intense. "My brothers, it is more than an animal, more than a little -brother of the forest. We who are chiefs, we of the Council, know -that this messenger is none other than the Great Spirit himself, who -comes to watch over his children." - -For an instant there was dead silence, Uchichak standing with bowed -head. Only the sound of heavy breathing filled the lodge until he -continued more firmly. - -"My brothers, when I was very young the messenger was a White Beaver, -larger and more cunning than ever beaver was before him. When I was -a young man the Mighty One had vanished, and in his place was another -Mighty One. How did we know this? I will tell you. - -"One of our young men brought the news that in the Barren Places was -a mighty moose, larger than any moose ever seen. He had followed the -tracks, and had come to a bear, slain by the moose. There were three -young men in the village who said they would hunt this moose. Our -old men warned them, saying that the young man had been led to the -bear in token that the moose wished us well. Perhaps he was a Mighty -One. But the young men refused to listen and went forth with their -dogs. - -"My brothers, you have heard the tale of Spotted Lynx, Two Horns and -Yellow Cloud. They hunted for many weeks. The Mighty One did not -wish to harm them. But at last they found him feeding, and wounded -him. My brothers, are any of those young men among you? Have you -seen their faces in the lodges of their people? Have they returned -to their fathers?" - -A single half-suppressed groan broke from one of the old men. There -was no doubt that the tale was true. I reflected that if three -hunters, armed with bow and spear, had gone out against that terrible -moose, there might well have been small chance of their returning -safe. But The Crane did not pause long. - -"We have heard how the hunters of the Chippewa nation have sought -him, and have fled home like women to their people. Our fathers have -told us how, when they were little children, the Great Spirit had -whispered to them that the Crees should not seek to hunt the Mighty -One, and should not seek to hunt in the hills of the Barren Places. -It is in these hills that the Mighty One now dwells, and the -Chippewas fear them also. - -"Sometimes the Mighty One travels far. My brothers, you have heard -how Brave Eyes met him. You have seen that he favored Brave Eyes and -did not kill him, but sent him to be our brother. The heart of Brave -Eyes is very strong. We know that it holds no fear. Now that he -knows who the Mighty One is whose horns he felt, now that he knows it -was our Great Spirit himself, Brave Eyes will not fear to say that he -was wrong." - -Uchichak drew his furs about him and resumed his seat. The eyes of -the Council, one by one, were slowly turned on me. But not until I -felt Radisson's hand relax on my arm did I rise to speak. - -"My brothers," I said with some difficulty, "I speak in a strange -tongue. I can find no words in it to say that I did not speak to you -rightly before. The Crane has told me that the Spirits of the Dead -who Dance are signs from your Great Spirit. How is it, then, that -the same signs have come to me and my brother the White Eagle and to -my sister the Yellow Lily, very far from here. How is it that this -sign comes to my white brothers also?" - -There was a little stir at this, and I heard the Keeper grunt in -appreciation. - -"Listen, my brothers. I have told you of the sign in the water, -which the Great Spirit has sent to his white children, through his -own Son. I wish you to remember this, and it may be that you will -accept this sign. As to your Mighty One, he is not a Messenger sent -by the Great Spirit; he is a messenger of the Evil Spirit." - -I had looked for another stir at these words, but none came. -Instead, there was silence--the silence of apprehension, of waiting. - -"My brothers, you do not like my words, but your hearts are open. -Your ears are not closed to the whisper of the Great Spirit, and you -will listen. If the Mighty One was your friend and protector, would -he have slain your young men? Would he not have sent them home as he -has sent the other hunters, like foolish women?" - -I paused again, taking full advantage of this favorite trick of -Indian Oratory. - -"Listen, my brothers. My Great Spirit whispers to me. He says that -your Mighty One is false. He says that there is only one Great -Spirit, and that He wishes you to accept the sign in the water. He -says that it is for this purpose He brought me to you. He asks you -whether you will accept this sign that you believe in Him." - -With this rather abrupt close I sat down. There was a long silence -as they turned over my words carefully, slowly, weighing each one. -Finally the old wizened head-chief, whose single eagle-feather -gleamed oddly in the red light, answered me. - -"My brother, you have spoken well. Your words have satisfied the -thirst of the warriors, as the spring that bubbles in the forest. -Yet we were afraid at them, for we feared that our Great Spirit would -be angry. - -"You have said that the sign of the Spirits of the Dead has been sent -to you also. That is well. The Great Spirit has whispered to me. -He whispered in my ear that you, my brother, and my brother White -Eagle also, should prove to us that the Mighty One is a messenger of -the Evil Spirit. You have told us how your Great Spirit sent His Son -to you, and how you killed Him. We would not have treated Him thus, -my brother. Our ears are open. We would have feasted Him with -venison and listened to Him. - -"The Great Spirit has whispered to me that you should seek the Mighty -One. We know that there is no fear in your heart, and that the White -Eagle is very wise and good. Perhaps the Great Spirit will help you. -If you slay the Mighty One we will know that we have been wrong, and -that our fathers have been wrong, and we will accept the sign in the -water." - -Weak and shaking, the old man sat down and covered his face. One by -one the chiefs stood up and spoke in the same vein. One by one they -agreed that if Radisson and I should slay the Moose, they would -accept the "sign in the water," for thus only could I represent the -symbol of baptism to them. Uchichak made a splendid speech, and I -was right glad to find here in the wilderness men whose minds were so -open, so free to conviction. Their beliefs were simple and earnest, -and while there was small hope that they would or could accept the -gospel of peace, merely to bring them to a knowledge of the True God -would be a tremendous conquest. - -So the Council ended. Radisson accompanied me to the lodge of Ruth, -where we told her all that had taken place, and of the gage of battle -which had been flung before us. That it would be accepted by -Radisson I had no doubt. - -"Aye, lad," he said in answer to my eager question, "I may hold to no -faith over-much, but in this matter I am with you--if only for the -sake of little Ruth here." - -"Not that!" she flashed out at him quickly. "Pray, Uncle Pierre, -have you no deeper thought than this? Look deep down in your heart, -and say no if you dare!" - -Radisson looked down at her, then at me, and in his weary eyes I saw -what I had but seldom found in his face. In that moment I knew that -even from us he had kept his real self hidden. - -"Yes, child," he replied softly. "I hesitated to acknowledge it, but -it is true. I may not be of your faith, but I will do this thing for -the sake of Him who suffered for us all, and in the trust that -through us these poor, faithful friends of ours may be given a light -to lighten their darkness." - -Wherewith he rose and left us suddenly, nor did he ever allude to -that conversation again, until the day he left us. But Ruth and I -sat silent for a little space, wondering. - -"It is a fearsome thing," I murmured at last, "how this superstition -has laid hold on such men as Uchichak. Why, the Mighty One is no -more than a beast--cunning, merciless, but still a beast. With such -men as Radisson and the Mohawks with me, what is there to fear?" - -"Softly, Davie," smiled Ruth a little sadly. "It is not so easy as -may seem to you. Did ever an easy thing accomplish aught in the -world? It is the things we fight for and suffer for that are worth -while, that bring the Word to the world. It was never God's way to -make the path easy for those who bear His Word." - -I wondered at her not a little. There was a light in her sweet face -that I had never seen before, and something in her manner smote me to -the heart, so that I bade her good-night and left her to sleep. - -And ever since that night I have thought that Ruth spoke not of -herself, for her words were fraught with prophecy. - -For the next few days the four of us were very busy. We decided that -if the work must be done it should be done at once, and we made ready -without delay. I think Radisson, despite his words of that night, -was eager to be off and away into the westing lands where no man had -been, for it was ever his wont to seek beyond the known things. - -The Crees were ready enough to help us with all that we asked. -Uchichak it was who gave us his dogs and sled, whereon we loaded food -and our fusils, with what store of powder and ball we had. It was -settled that after the next heavy fall of snow we should set forth, -and by the signs of the country the Crees declared that a storm was -not far off. - -Indeed, it came within the week--two days of heavy, drifting snow and -high wind. And when it came we knew that ere long we would be parted -from our little lass. But the manner of that parting, and the ending -of it, was in no wise what we had looked forward to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE RAIDERS. - -Now it may be that the things I have to relate will seem strange and -un-Christian and wondrous, even as they do to me. Yet are they but -the truth. In that far Northern land many such things come to pass, -for there man is very close to the forces of the world, and whether -it be that his mind is quickened by the dread silence of the snows, -or whether there is in truth a nearness to God in that silence, I -know not. It has often vexed me and the answer is not yet. - -But this much I do know. Holding to none of the superstitions around -me, I then believed and do still affirm that the whole matter of the -Moose of Mystery, the Mighty One, was under the direction of some -Higher Power, and that Gib o' Clarclach came to his triumph and his -end through that same guidance. Howbeit, I had best leave you to -judge for yourselves. - -That storm came upon us and closed us in our lodges for two days. On -the third morning it was decided that we should start forth just as -soon as the crust had formed strong enough to bear dogs and sled. In -the meantime, Uchichak and I went forth upon a last hunt, thinking to -bring in a caribou or elk, for with the winter the bison had drifted -far to the south of us. - -Two days of idleness and gorging, as was the custom of the Crees, had -well-nigh finished the stock of food in the village. Therefore most -of the men fared forth on the hunt. Radisson and the two Mohawks -trailed together, admitting none other to their company, and on the -second morning thereafter we four were to set out upon our quest. -According to custom, the warriors set out in small groups or singly, -scattering in all directions. Ruth was engaged in making deerskin -scabbards for the fusils, since in that terrific cold it was -impossible to set fingers to iron. - -Uchichak and I were accompanied by a lively young brave named -Wapistan, or The Marten, who had often gone out with us, and whose -tracking powers were remarkable. As ever, we were armed only with -bows and flint-tipped arrows. My own weapon, which I had made with -great care, was a source of great interest to the Crees, for it was -full twice as long and thick as theirs, and even Uchichak could -scarcely bend it, although to me the trick came easily enough. I -would never be as expert as was The Crane, but when it came to -distance I could overshoot him greatly. This, however, was more by -reason of my greater strength, for which quality of body I later -thanked God most heartily. - -The fierceness of the storm seemed to have driven most of the larger -animals to the shelter of the hills, and although we circled widely -to the cast of the village and then to the north, by that evening we -had found nothing save a few rabbits, which barely were sufficient -for our own needs. As there was another day ahead of us, we camped -that night beneath some willows on the bank of an ice-clad river. I -urged Uchichak to push forward to the hills in the northeast, but he -refused stoutly. - -"Those are the Ghost Hills, brother. There walks the Mighty One, and -the Spirits of the Dead who Dance. We can hear them singing in the -wind. We must not disturb them." - -All that evening The Crane was very silent and downcast, and I came -to know that he considered that this was our last trip together. To -his mind, the Great Spirit would never allow me to come back from -that hunt against the Mighty One. The Ghost Hills were sacred, and -were about to be impiously profaned. Indeed, since that meeting of -the Council we had come in for no small share of reverence from all -the warriors, who held that we were bravely going to our deaths. I -learned later that it had been decided that the Yellow Lily should -become the adopted daughter of the tribe, should we fail to return. - -Early in the morning the three of us left our brush shelter and -started forth, determined to avoid the disgrace of returning to the -village empty-handed. Now we circled back toward the south again, -overlooking no patch of woods where elk or deer might be sheltering. -The morning was still young when we came to a break of heavy-laden -pines, and started through them warily. Suddenly a cry from -Wapistan, at one side, called us to him. - -"Come quickly!" - -We found him standing in the midst of some bushes, where the snow had -been kicked away in a wide circle, affording access to the tender -green shoots beneath. But there was no expression of joy on his -face, and as we came up The Crane halted abruptly. - -"Let us go away quickly," he muttered. I was amazed at this, for it -was plain to me that here was the bed of a moose, and I stared at the -two men until Wapistan led me over to the side of the little clearing. - -"Let my brother look upon the tracks of the Mighty One," was all he -said. There before me were such tracks as I had never seen--great -imprints of sharp hoofs that could only have been made by the giant -moose which had attacked us in the beginning. I have hunted many -moose, since then, but never have I found such a trail as that. - -"Listen, Uchichak," I said, trembling with eagerness. "If he is the -Mighty One, he must have been sent to us, for we are far from the -Hills. Let us follow. I will hunt him, you need not." - -"The Mighty One walks on the storm," murmured The Crane, glancing -around apprehensively. None the less, my words had impressed him. -"We will see whither the tracks lead. It may be that the Great -Spirit has sent him to his children. He may lead us to a herd of -elk. We will follow a little way." - -And therein was the beginning of our strange pilgrimage. - -Without delay we started out, Wapistan leading and Uchichak bringing -up the rear. The great caution displayed by these hunters told me -more than any words could have done that our quest was a dangerous -one. With bows strung and ready, every aisle of the forest was -searched ahead of us, and with every crack of sticks and trees in the -great frost I could see Wapistan spring to alertness. But all around -us was nothing save the deathly silence, through which the -frost-crackles and the "sluff-sluff" of our snowshoes sounded loud. - -Mile after mile we plowed along, from patch to patch of forest, and -still the deep tracks of the giant beast led us onward. The -fresh-fallen snow had made heavy going for him, since at each step he -plunged through to his knees. The Crees might consider that he -walked on the wind, but for my own part I thought him a feckless -creature to leave the shelter of the Hills in such a storm. And in -that thought I neglected the workings of Providence, as I later -admitted readily enough. - -The trail presently led us to a fairly large river, and out across -the ice. The other bank was bordered with thick trees, and as we -neared them I turned to The Crane and smiled. - -"If the Mighty One walked on the storm, Uchichak, it looks as though -men had also been able to walk there." - -But the Indians had already caught sight of the dark trail on the -farther shore, and with a guttural exclamation of surprise we all -dashed forward. There in the shelter of the trees the snow was not -so deep, and the tracks of the Mighty One led us straight to a deep -trail plowed in the snow, where they were lost. - -"Are they other hunters from the village?" I asked in my ignorance. -The two Crees kicked away their snowshoes and crept about examining -the trail, while I leaned on my bow. It was plain enough that the -Moose had gone forward in this path, where the snow had been worn -away and packed deep for him, whereat I began to think better of his -sense. - -Uchichak straightened up suddenly, and at sight of his face I knew -that something was wrong--terribly wrong. His usual stolidity had -given place to rage and grief, and he turned to me with a flame in -his dark eyes. - -"My brother, we must hasten to the village at once. Men have come -and gone, and they are not of our own people." - -Still I realized nothing of what he meant, although his face sobered -me. - -"Then do you go," I returned, "while I continue on the trail of the -Mighty One--" But Wapistan had sprung to my side, eager and wrathful. - -"Brave Eyes cannot read the trail," he cried sharply. "See, here -have gone many men--two or three tens of men. Their tracks lead away -from the village, and with them goes a dog-sled. They travel toward -the Ghost Hills, and their snowshoes are of Chippewa make. Let us -hasten, my brothers!" - -Then I groaned, for I remembered what Radisson had said of Gib, -called The Pike, and his Chippewa followers. If these men had come -to the village when the hunters were away, what had happened? - -Right speedily was all thought of the Mighty One forgotten, as we -took up the trail in desperate haste toward the village. Wapistan -went on to say that it was very fresh, that the band had not passed -us more than an hour previously, and in no long time his words were -borne out. For, as we turned a sharp bend in the river-trail, we -came upon two men striding rapidly toward us. They were not more -than a hundred yards away, and I did not need Uchichak's hasty -exclamation to tell me that they were Chippewas. For one was our old -friend Soan-ge-ta-ha, though the other I knew not. - -For a bare second we stared at each other, then I saw the Chippewa -chief throw off the coverings of a musket. I dashed my two -companions headlong, just as the weapon roared out and gave vent to a -cloud of smoke. The bullet sang overhead, and at this unprovoked and -cowardly attack I picked up my strung bow and drew it taut. - -The two Chippewas had darted aside just after the chief fired, and -were speeding for the shelter of the trees. But my arrow sped faster -than they. Even as Uchichak and Wapistan darted forward, I saw Brave -Heart stumble, and the musket flew far from him. He was up and -running again, however, but the brief pause had given my vengeful -friends a lead. All four disappeared among the trees, with wild -cries that thrilled my heart. - -I followed slowly after them, glad that my savage aim had not gone -true, for in all my life I had never shed the heart-blood of a man. -That these Chippewas were enemies there was no doubt, and I prudently -stopped to recover the musket dropped by the chief, for such things -were valuable. A brief wonder came to me that the weapon had not -dismayed the two Crees, but I hastened to follow them in among the -trees. As I did so, I caught a glimpse of something dark speeding -toward us from the direction of the village, but I stopped not to see -what it was. - -From the trees and bushes came the sound of men struggling, and when -I had broken through I saw the four in front. Wapistan was calmly -sitting in the snow, wiping his long flint knife, and I turned from -him with a shudder. Soan-ge-ta-ha and Uchichak were at handgrips, -but The Crane plainly had the mastery over the Chippewa chief, in -whose shoulder still stood my arrow. Even as I plunged forward -through the snow, Brave Heart bent backward, the knife dropped from -his nerveless fingers, and Uchichak stood up to meet me. - -"It was a good fight, brother!" he said calmly. "This Chippewa dog -is only faint from loss of blood. The Marten has sharp teeth, and is -a warrior. Good!" - -I kneeled over Brave Heart, pulled the arrow through his -shoulder-muscles, and roughly bound up the already freezing wound. -As I did so, I told the others of the dark object that I had seen -approaching, and Wapistan slipped away. The Crane aided me in -getting Brave Heart up with his back against a stump, and barely had -we done so when there was a crash of bushes behind us, and in swept -Radisson, The Keeper, and Swift Arrow, leading the same dog-sled -which had been prepared for our hunt of the Mighty One. The Chippewa -chief opened his eyes. - -"Soan-ge-ta-ha," burst out Radisson angrily in English, "your heart -is bad! You have led your warriors against the Crees, stealing upon -them in the night, and you shall suffer for it bitterly!" - -"What has happened?" I cried out, a great fear rising in me. "What -does it all mean?" - -Brave Heart smiled cruelly, the two Mohawks stood impassive. -Radisson turned to me with a sudden sob shaking his great frame, and -his white-bearded face seemed shot with lightnings as he made reply -in Cree, that the warriors might understand. - -"What does it mean? It means that The Pike is on his last war-path, -Davie! Last night a band of thirty Chippewas burst on the village. -The few men held them back until most of the women could escape with -some few things, then--then the village was destroyed." - -A grunt broke from Uchichak, and his hand went to his knife as he -stood over the wounded chief. But I flung him away, a question hot -on my lips. - -"Was it Ruth they were after? Did they harm her?" - -"Yes and no, lad. They bore her away captive on a sled. -Fortunately, these dogs and our sled had been hidden out of their -reach. When the Mohawks and I returned we took them and came after. -You shall go forward with us, and we will follow the party." - -"What can we do against them?" I exclaimed hopelessly. - -"We can watch and wait," returned Radisson grimly, with a significant -look at the two gaunt warriors beside him. "Uchichak, do you take -this Chippewa back and hold him captive. Gather your hunters -speedily--even now they are coming in. Send a runner to the village -of Talking Owl and bid his young men join you. Then follow our -trail, even though it may lead to the Ghost Hills. There, perhaps, -The Pike will imagine that you do not dare follow." - -Uchichak said nothing. He and Wapistan jerked Brave Heart to his -feet, replaced his snowshoes for him, and the three departed. So -suddenly and unexpectedly had the dire news broken upon me, that I -stood as if dazed. Radisson came and put a kindly hand on my -shoulder. - -"Come, lad, all is not lost. They will not harm the little maid, and -we must hasten on their trail. Not even The Pike would dare harm her -while their chief is a captive. Come, there is work for us ahead. -Now tell me your tale as we go forward." - -Brokenly, I told him how we had come upon the trail. When I -finished, Radisson's face was lit with a stern glow, and he raised a -hand to the Mohawks. - -"My brothers, the Great Spirit is fighting for us! The Mighty One -has led Brave Eyes to the trail. He will lead us on where the trail -is lost!" - -And that was the manner in which the madness of Radisson began--a -madness, I think, which was sent by the Great Spirit of whom he spoke. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE PURSUIT. - -When I speak of madness, I mean nothing else. From that moment the -old man was daft, as it seemed to me. We two led the way, the -Mohawks following after the sled, and Radisson set such a place as I -never traveled before or since. - -The mighty energy of the old man dominated us all. From his words I -soon saw that he had become filled with the idea that the Moose had -been sent to lead us to Ruth again, until presently the uncanny -thought of it laid hold on me likewise. We took up the trail of the -raiders, which after a few miles crossed the river and struck off -straight for the northeast, with the moose-tracks still following it. - -Mile after mile we swung behind us. I wondered at Radisson's -words--"where the trail is lost"--for it seemed that a child could -follow such a plain, deep track as this. But he had not lived his -life in the wilderness for naught. As we went forward, he told of -how the raiders must have left before the great storm, and have -traveled through it, to spring on the village with Indian cunning -when they knew the hunters would be gone. - -Their object was plain enough, for Gib thought to get a firm hold on -Radisson by the capture of Ruth, and perhaps to sell that advantage -to the English or French. Both nations had wronged the terrible old -man deeply, and both would be like to go wild when they heard that he -was loose in his own land again. In the old days the mere magic of -his name, the terror inspired by his countless daring escapades and -adventures, had more than once swept the Bay clear of his foes. I -have often thought that had the French not betrayed him so -shamefully, and had the English not misused his great powers so -basely, one nation or the other would ere now have ruled all the land -from the Colonies to the Bay. There are wars and rumors of wars in -the land, however, and I have even lately heard a wild rumor that our -armies have conquered all the Canadas; though this is hardly -possible, to my mind. But to return to my tale. - -There was some dried meat on the sledge, and this we ate as we -traveled, without stop. The Chippewa party, fearful of pursuit, were -putting on all speed in a desperate effort to gain the shelter of the -Hills before they were overtaken. The trail was fresh, and they -could not go faster than did we, for they were handicapped by the -sled which bore Ruth. - -From Radisson I learned that Gib had cunningly prevented his raiders -from injuring the people of the village. He no doubt knew that if -Ruth alone were carried off, the Crees would hesitate long before -venturing to follow him into the sacred Hills. But the savage -instincts of his followers had upset his crafty plans. Soan-ge-ta-ha -and another had stolen back to pillage and burn and slay, thinking to -catch up easily with the party. But for us they would have done so, -and now not even the Ghost Hills would stay the vengeful Crees from -the pursuit. - -At evening we halted for a brief half-hour, to bait and rest the -dogs. Now the weeks of hardening and hunting began to bear fruit, -for I had stood that terrific pace nearly as well as the rest. My -ribs were still somewhat sore at times, but in the main I was -heartier and stronger than ever in my life before. - -The rest was grateful to us all, and at this time we loaded the -fusils, together with the musket taken from Brave Heart, and covered -them carefully on the sled. We might have need of them at any time, -and to load was no short work. For some time I had seen no signs of -Ruth's sled in the trail we followed, and spoke of it to the Keeper. - -"It is there," he grunted. "They are following it, hiding it beneath -their tracks." - -"That looks as if they were getting ready to lose the trail," put in -Radisson. He seemed to give no thought to this possibility, taking -it as a matter of course, and the Mohawks only nodded. It seemed -strange to me, but I held my peace. - -When the Spirit of the Dead began to dance in the sky we took up the -march again, goading the weary dogs to the trail. Faint rumbles as -of thunder seemed to come from the heavens, but ever we slapped on -and on across the snows, while grotesque shadows fell all around us -as the lights quivered above in lambent blue and purple flames. It -was a wondrous spectacle, far beyond any that I had seen at home, -where the lights were a common occurrence, and I gave the Crees small -blame for naming them as they did. To an ignorant people those -flaring fires of God must indeed have seemed like spirits leaping -over the skies. - -The deep trail led us straight through forest and wild, open levels -of snow. Once we came to a camping-place of the Chippewas, where -they too had made a brief halt for food and rest. Far beyond lay the -deep forest, and a wide curving line of taller trees tokened that -there was some large river before us, or mayhap a lake. - -And a lake it proved to be, set in the midst of trees, with a small -stream flowing from it. All was ice-coated, swept bare of snow by -the wind, and the trail led straight to this sheet of ice. Radisson -laughed grimly when we found this. - -"Hold up, Davie. We must have a council here. Do you stop with the -dogs." - -I obeyed, while the others set off in different directions across the -ice. They returned quickly enough, and with their first words I knew -that the trail was lost. - -"They have scattered on the ice," spoke up Swift Arrow. "Three -parties have gone away from the farther shore." - -Radisson nodded, his deep eyes searching the trees around us. - -"Then how do we know which to follow?" I cried in dismay. "Which -party took the sled with them?" - -"That we know not, lad," he made answer as if to a child. "They have -followed after the sled, hiding its track. It might be with any of -the three parties. They will swing out in a wide circle and then -straight for the hills. No matter which we follow, we lose time. An -excellent trick to fool children with, chief." - -The Keeper merely grunted, while I stared at them aghast. Why did -Radisson take this so calmly? But he gave me no time to question. - -"Did you find it?" he asked the Mohawks simply. Swift Arrow made -answer. - -"The Mighty One's trail goes alone. It goes toward the east, where -lies the shadow of the Ghost Hills." - -Then in a flash I saw it all. Radisson proposed to abandon the -Chippewa trails and follow that of the beast! The belief that the -animal had been sent to guide us had overpowered all his woodcraft -and subtlety, and I flung out at him in wild protest. - -"It is madness!" I concluded angrily. "Better to lose time and still -be on the track of the enemy, than to follow a wandering beast!" - -"Rail not against the wisdom of old men," exclaimed Radisson sternly, -his voice ringing with confidence. "The Mighty One is guiding us, -Davie. Do you lead, Keeper, while we come after. We must break -trail now, and it will be no light labor." - -Raging against the old man's madness, for so I deemed it, I set out -with The Keeper to break trail. The Moose plunged straight ahead for -the Hills, and his long legs had sunk almost to the shoulder at every -step. I wondered how far ahead of us he might be, and when The -Keeper knelt down quickly to smell the trail I knew that we must be -close upon him. - -The fortitude and strength that dwelt in the frame of the old chief -was marvellous. We broke the trail by turns, our shoes stamping deep -down through the soft crust at each step, until it required every -ounce of endurance we possessed to keep on with the labor. Miles of -it, hours of it, passed by, and still we kept on at the same terrific -pace. At times Radisson and Swift Arrow relieved us, but ever we -headed straight for the Ghost Hills, whose tree-clad and rocky -summits now rose clear against the lambent sky. As we went, I began -to fall into Radisson's way of thinking. Perhaps, after all, that -uncanny Moose was leading us, guiding us straight to our goal. And -whether it were the silence of these waste and desolate barrens -around, or some inner feeling of the night, I gained confidence that -He who in truth led us would not let harm come to the little maid. - -It seemed hours before we rested again, and this time I flung myself -down on a skin from the sled, huddling among the dogs for warmth, and -slept. Those three old men must have been made of iron, for when I -awakened I saw The Keeper sitting just as I had left him, alert and -keen-eyed as ever, while Swift Arrow and Radisson were talking in low -tones. - -The poor brutes that hauled the sled suffered even more than we did. -They were worn to death, and before we started out again, having fed -them what we dared from our slender stock of food, we cut up our -single robe which had covered the guns, and bound their bleeding feet -as best we might. They fell to the trail limping, but there must -have been something of the Indian stolidity in them, for all that -long march I heard no cry, no whimper, burst from their throats. - -Now, for the first time, I thought of Grim. What had happened to -him? Where was he? At my questions Radisson smiled. - -"He is faithful still, lad. They said in the village that he -defended Ruth until Gib would have killed him, when the lass -consented to go with them to save his life. Grim stayed ever at her -side, and is like enough with her now." - -This cheered me mightily, small hope though it were. Well I knew the -wiliness of that old sheep-dog, and that while Ruth was endangered he -would watch over her even as my father would have done. When I took -up the weary labor again it was with better heart and more confident -spirit than since the start. - -Now we knew that we could not be far from the end of the terrible -journey. Or at least my three comrades knew it, for I refused to -admit that there was aught save madness in keeping to the -moose-track. The snatch of sleep and food had cleared my mind from -the influence of the night, and as we slapped on over the snows I -railed bitterly at myself for ever having consented to it. - -Slowly the hills ahead, purple in the unearthly, flitting lights, -drew closer and towered ahead of us. Slowly the wide expanse of snow -broke into little rises, then we found ourselves among the first of -the Ghost Hills. Before long I knew why they had received that name. - -They seemed to break straight out of the ground--great masses of -black rock like that on the coast below Rathesby, at home. As we -drew among them, still following that gigantic track left plain for -us to read, I saw that despite the heavy snow the black masses of -rock stood out bare and bleak, closing around us and shutting out the -lights above. - -The trail led downward now--down in a winding line among the towering -crags, and we were passing over still deeper snow, which had drifted -from the hills. As we wound through the dark passages a swift, chill -wind smote us and cut to the marrow. It was not my first taste of -the bitter wind of the Northland, which is infinitely harder to -endure than the most silent cold, however great it may be. - -Thus we were literally swallowed up in that terrible abyss of rock -and snow, and the weird feeling of the place affected even our dogs, -who growled and shivered. All was dead silent, except for the rush -and howl of the wind, which seemed to shoot down through those narrow -pits of darkness, until we could with difficulty stand against it. -From somewhere ahead droned out the long, eerie howl of a wolf, -drifting to us on the wind. I saw Swift Arrow, ahead of me, pause -and throw up his head; then into the teeth of the gale he cast an -answering howl--one as perfect as the other, which drew a sharp yelp -from the dogs. By this time I comprehended how on board the "Lass" -Radisson had so amazed and shamed us all, and had even learned a -little of the mimicry myself. - -It was fearful to drive ahead through that gale, which sent the icy -particles of snow against us like tiny knives, and to know that -outside and above, the night was silent and windless. Indeed, there -was never any rest within the Ghost Hills, and I could well realize -why the Indians dreaded and avoided them. - -By now I was more than ever sure that we were not only on the wrong -track, but that this Mighty One was sent by the foul fiend to lead us -astray and into danger of the worst. The passage of those hills was -terrible to the body and to the soul. As we drew deeper into the -darkness, weird echoes were set flying by our shoes and the wind and -the voices of us. These were not borne past, but seemed to eddy up -overhead, as though some flux of the wind caught and whirled them -back toward us. - -The Keeper had been in the lead, Radisson following. Of a sudden, as -we came to a space somewhat lighter, I saw that the chief had -vanished! I uttered a single cry that rebounded about in mad echoes, -but Swift Arrow gripped me as I turned in terror. - -"Peace! Ta-cha-noon-tia has but gone ahead to see what lies before." - -With the calm words my fear passed, and I was ashamed. After all, we -were in the hand of God, and if He willed that evil should come to -us, then it would come. So I quelled my terror and pressed on after -the sledge. A moment more, and the passage was done with. - -Turning the corner of a sharp cliff, we found ourselves out in the -night again, standing on a ridge of bare black rock. At our side -stood The Keeper. Behind towered those terrible cliffs, but ahead -was a little forested basin, alight with the fires of the sky and -stretching ahead to hills in the distance. Radisson turned to the -Mohawk with a question. - -"My father, the tracks of the Mighty One are lost and I do not see -them. But below us are the lodges of warriors." - -I looked again at the stretch of wooded country. Sure enough, I -could see black groups of something that might well be huts or -lodges, but there was no sign of fire to cheer us. - -"The Mighty One has led us well," shouted Radisson triumphantly. "We -have arrived before them we seek! Let us rest, brothers, and make -merry, for we are masters of the stronghold of The Pike, and his fate -is in our hands!" - -So for the rest of that night we lay in the snow behind the ledge, -while over us the wind howled down into the cleft of rocks, and -around us the poor weary dogs huddled in shivering groups, for we -dared light no fire, and had like to have frozen in the great cold. -But the Moose had led us aright, and the madness of Radisson was -justified--in part. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -OUTGENERALED. - -It was not far from dawn when we arrived at the ridge, or ledge that -ran along the cliffs, with an easy descent over the rolling snows to -the basin beneath. But as the dancing dead men paled in the skies, -the cold became too bitter for any of us. It was necessary that we -light a fire to keep from perishing, and the two Mohawks disappeared -to right and left. It was so cold that sleep was impossible, weary -as we were. - -However, The Keeper returned and motioned to us that we should -accompany him, and in a few moments we were gathered in a deep cleft -amid the rocks, to one side of the terrible passage by which we had -come. Here The Arrow met us with some dry wood and birch-bark, and -before long we were gathered about a smokeless fire, which at least -served to permit of our sleeping. - -With one of us on watch at a time, the day passed away. After noon, -I was wakened and placed on guard at the crest of the ridge, -overlooking the basin. A little later, I saw a number of moving -objects off to the west, and speedily wakened my companions, with a -great relief and joy in my heart. The Mighty One had led us aright! -Doubtless he himself had for years made his home in these hills where -he was safe from man, and by following his trail we had chanced on a -short cut to the heart of the Ghost Hills, while the Chippewa band -had been forced to take a longer trail. - -The moving objects resolved themselves into the forms of men as they -drew nearer, clear and distinct in that atmosphere which seemed to -bring all things close to us. We watched silently, each knowing that -the others perceived all, and could make out a sled with some dark -object on it. There were barely a dozen men in the party, so we knew -the others had taken a longer detour in order to throw off and delay -pursuit, and would doubtless arrive later. - -"What will we do?" I murmured to Radisson. "We have little food, yet -we cannot make an attack on them." - -He turned to the Mohawks, and the three old men spoke for a few -moments in the Iroquois tongue. Meanwhile, the Chippewa party had -come nigh the huts, and presently I could see the light flare of -fire-smoke rising from the midst. At the distance, it was impossible -to make out form or feature, yet I had no doubt that the burden -lifted from the sled, and the dark dot beside it, were Ruth and the -faithful Grim. - -"It is hard to tell," said Radisson in French, his fine face wrinkled -in perplexity. "We cannot make an open attack, for that fiend Larue -would kill the little maid sooner than give her up. It is plain that -they fear no enemy, since they are in the open and that smoke could -be seen afar. - -"There are a score of them still out, and it must be that they do not -fear Uchichak's men. Possibly they have come along a trail that -Swift Arrow discovered and followed last year. He says it could be -defended by a few against an army. I see naught to do save to wait -until night, and try to steal down and get the little maid. Could we -but get her up here, we might defend that pass behind us against a -thousand." - -Swift Arrow grunted approval. "The Crees cannot break through the -western trail," he said. "They grow faint at the sight of blood. -The Chippewas are women, also. To-night we will steal down and take -away Yellow Lily." - -I thought over his words, as I gazed on the encampment below. If he -was right, we might expect no aid, for that terrible gulf through -which we had come was unknown to all men, and the trail followed by -Gib was doubtless secured against the Crees. But if only Uchichak-- - -"Listen!" I cried out with the thought blazing in me. "We are but -four, and three of us could hold the mouth of that gully--even this -whole crest. I cannot drive dogs, nor do I know the ways of the -trail well enough; but Swift Arrow or The Keeper could take the sled -and drive back, bringing Uchichak and his men by the trail of the -Mighty One. Then to-night you and the remaining Mohawks can attempt -the rescue of Ruth." - -Radisson considered the matter in silence, glanced at the impassive -chiefs, and received a grunt which tokened approval. With no more -parley, Great Swift Arrow drew down his fur hood and picked up the -thong which served as a dog-whip. - -"I will go," he declared calmly as ever. "I will find you waiting in -the pass?" - -"In the pass," echoed Radisson. - -Without more ado, the dogs, snarling and protesting, were forced into -the harness, The Arrow cracked his whip, and he was gone along the -ridge toward the mouth of the pass, as if the long trip before him -was no more than a pleasure excursion. He had left the guns, all -save one, together with most of the dried meat. - -Radisson and I went forth to a group of pines which grew in the -shelter of the ridge, and when we returned with some store of dry -wood we found The Keeper curled up asleep. The Indians seemed to -have the power of sleep whenever they wished, and Radisson chuckled. - -"Do you keep guard, lad, while I sleep also. Wake me at midday." - -I nodded, for I felt no great need of sleep, and the old man sat down -beside his friend, feet to the fire. I left the cranny in the rocks -and went forth a few paces into the sunlight's warmth, where I could -overlook the encampment of The Pike. Here, crouched down in hiding, -I set myself to wait as patiently as might be until the appointed -time should pass. - -The camp below was too far away for any sound to reach us, but from -the absence of all sign of life I gathered that the Chippewas were -resting after their terrific march. I felt none of the Mohawk's -contempt for them; indeed, they seemed to me to be men to be reckoned -with to the utmost, and as for Gib o' Clarclach, I had already -experienced enough of his craft to know that he was no mean foe. - -Toward midday I saw a number of dark forms appear to the westward, -and as they drew near there came a faint barking of dogs down the -wind. There were a scant half-dozen men in the arriving party, and -the others turned out to meet them, after which all disappeared -within the huts. Plainly, Gib considered that half a score men were -enough to guard the western trail, which showed that it must be -well-nigh impassable to Uchichak. - -Then weariness came upon me, and I awoke Radisson, who yielded me his -place beside the fire. Covering my head, I was soon fast asleep -despite the cold, and when I woke again it was to find the day all -but spent and The Keeper gone. - -"Eat as little as may be, Davie," said Radisson as I warmed some of -the frozen meat before the fire. "We have none too much to last us." - -So I scarce touched the little supply of food. There was no more to -be had unless we retraced our steps into the Barren Places, or -descended into the forested basin to seek the game that must be -plentiful there. Indeed, as I later learned, the place was thick -with game, for the animals knew well that here they were safe from -hunters. - -The Keeper, it seemed, was scouting. I marvelled how the old chief -could venture forth, but Radisson explained that the Chippewas seemed -to keep but a slight watch, and for all my gazing I could see no -signs of the Mohawk. - -"How long, think you, ere Swift Arrow comes upon the Crees?" - -Radisson shrugged his shoulders. "No telling, lad. He would not -have gone through to the outside before noon at the earliest, and the -dogs were sore spent. If he should chance upon them to the westward, -he might be here by morning; but it may well be two or three days -until their arrival. We must be far from the trail of The Pike." - -This was scant consolation, and so we waited in silence. Still came -no sign of The Keeper, and soon the Spirits of the Dead were dancing -to the north, faintly. It must have been that age had dimmed the -cunning of Radisson, for as I foolishly placed more wood on the fire, -he made no comment. Suddenly from out of the darkness came a swift -stream of words, angry and vehement, in the voice of The Keeper. - -The result astonished me, for with one swift leap Radisson had sprung -past me and was kicking the fire into embers over the snow. I was on -my feet instantly, staring amazed at the tall figure of the chief. - -"What is the matter? Surely our fire could not be seen from below?" - -The Keeper grunted sarcastically. "Has my father lost his cunning? -Has White Eagle been dreaming the dreams of women? From below the -fire is hid, but the reflection of the fire was high on the cliffs." - -Radisson, Indian-like, grunted disgustedly, and finished the last -ember with his heel. But he said nothing, merely looking to the -Mohawk inquiringly. - -"There are two tens of men," reported the Keeper briefly. "The Pike -is their chief. Their lodges are old. The Yellow Lily is there, -also a woman of the Chippewas. One of their young men I met, -gathering wood." - -He touched his robes, as if beneath them lay something concealed. -Radisson's words told me what that something was. The old man spoke -quite as a matter of course. - -"Then The Keeper will have another scalp to hang in the smoke of his -lodge. Think you they saw the reflection of our fire?" - -The Mohawk shrugged his shoulders and made no reply. The two might -have been discussing the weather or the stars for all the emotion -they displayed, instead of the vital danger which threatened us all. -And now I began to feel that the disdain expressed by the two Mohawks -was not groundless. They were of another race than the chattering -Crees and Chippewas. They seemed to hold themselves aloof, as if -theirs was the heritage of more than these other men might -comprehend. And truly I think it was, for there was in the whole -bearing of The Keeper a great grimness, like unto the grimness of -Fate, and at times since I have wondered if he could have seen some -hint of what his end was to be. - -We were now in darkness, save for the rising gleam of the fires in -the sky. It seemed that Radisson and the Mohawk intended to wait -until later in the night before they stole down to rescue Ruth. The -cold was now intense, but despite my shiverings I saw that both -Radisson and the Indian were listening to something that I could not -hear. From the trees below rose a long wolf-howl, answered faintly -by the voices of the Chippewa dogs. - -"That was a poor cry, Keeper," and Radisson rose to his feet -noiselessly. Then the snow crunched and crackled, and I saw the two -slipping into the long shoes. One by one the guns were examined and -primed afresh, and Radisson turned to me. - -"We will steal down and wait, lad. Do you come to the crest of the -ridge, there to cover our retreat if need be." - -Picking up the extra guns, I donned my snowshoes and we stepped forth -from the shelter of the niche in the cliffs. Out to the north the -sky was just beginning to blaze in the spirit-dance, and the faint -glimmer of light among the trees betokened a campfire, while behind -us rose the gaunt, bleak cliffs. To right and left in a long curve -swept the bare-blown, bowlder-strewn ridge, and for a moment we stood -watching. - -On a sudden The Keeper whirled about, and as he did so I heard a -sharp, clear note behind. Something struck me and bounded away from -my furs, and even as the whistle of another arrow rang past, Radisson -had flung me from my feet. A gunshot split the night, and another, -and one lone, weird yell rose up. - -"Cover, Davie, cover!" cried Radisson, slipping behind a bowlder. -The Mohawk had clean vanished, but his voice quavered out in a single -soul-rending war-cry such as I had never heard before. Then, gun in -hand, I was crouching beside Radisson. - -"That was poor aiming," he muttered. "They should have downed us at -the first fire, or waited until--ah!" - -Once more a musket spoke from the darkness, and the bullet crashed on -the bowlder. Radisson fired instantly, then a choking cry came back -to us. Now I realized that Gib had indeed seen our fire and with his -cunning had surrounded us. Had he waited until daylight, we had -never left that ridge alive, but doubtless the impatience of his -warriors had overruled his craftiness. - -"Wait here, lad," whispered Radisson as he reloaded, "while I seek -The Keeper. We must not let daylight find us here." - -If it did, it would find us frozen, I thought, while the arrows -pattered around. No sign of any foe had I seen, but the blaze of the -heavens began to light the dark face of the cliff as Radisson crawled -away. Above, nestling against the face of the cliff, was a patch of -drifted snow, and as my eyes grew accustomed to the light it seemed -to me that across this a shadow moved. - -I set my fusil in rest, and of a sudden my trembling hands grew firm -again, as I drew a careful sight on that patch of snow. A shadow -struck against it and wavered there, and in that instant I fired. -While the long echoes of the shot died away on the farther cliffs, -something crashed and was silent. - -Before I could withdraw the gun, an arrow pierced my fur sleeve and -quivered loosely in my arm. I jerked it away, for the hurt was but -slight, and reloaded. Then came a shot from somewhere to my left, -and again that long, heart-splitting yell of the Mohawk shrilled up. -It was answered by two sudden shots, and catching up one of the spare -guns beside me I fired at the flashes. - -[Illustration: "_I backed against the bowlder and shook them off, -sending one sprawling with every blow._"] - -This drew on me another shower of arrows, and a bullet that spat into -the bowlder at my side and rebounded past my car. This had come from -behind, and with a sudden fear I turned. As I did so a yell that -seemed to come from the throats of devils rang through the night, and -I saw a number of dark forms leaping upon me. With swift terror in -my heart, I sprang up, forgetting the fusils at my feet, and met them -with clenched fists. I saw a pale glint of steel and struck out with -all my strength, shouting aloud for Radisson. Then my fear dropped -away from me as the first man went down beneath my fist, and I -stepped forward, raging. The leaping, yelling demons seemed all -about me, but I backed against the bowlder and shook them off, -sending one sprawling with every blow. I caught the exultant voice -of Gib, and leaped at a dark form ahead; catching him about the -waist, I felt strength surge into me and heaved him high--then -something came down on my head and I fell asleep with the sting of -snow on my face. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -A VOICE IN THE NIGHT. - -I knew no more of what passed until I found myself lying on a pile of -skins, my head throbbing painfully. Opening my eyes, I saw that I -was lying beside a fire, while around me were Chippewas, and standing -over me was my enemy. - -"Awake, eh?" said Gib softly, in the old Gaelic, which he spoke with -the Highland burr. There was an evil smile on his crafty face as I -struggled to sit up. For a wonder, I was not bound, which I suppose -he did not deem necessary. - -"You are a troublous fighter, MacDonald," he sneered. "But with the -great Radisson dead, you will have hard work to squeeze out of this -pocket of mine." - -"Radisson--dead?" I echoed dizzily. The shock of it cleared my head -and I looked up at him. "You lie, Gib o' Clarclach! No dog such as -you could slay Pierre Radisson! His fate lies in higher hands than -yours!" - -"So?" he snarled, sudden rage whelming in him. Swiftly, he reached -out and kicked me with a vicious foot. I gathered myself together, -but brown hands gripped me and held me there helpless, while he raved -wildly in his madness. And by that I knew that he had lied, and that -Radisson was not dead. So I laughed at him as they bound me hand and -foot. - -More than one of his men seemed wounded beneath their furs, and -beside the fire lay two silent warriors. We were in the center of -the group of lodges, and as there were but half a score of men around -me, I gathered that the rest were scattered through the trees on -watch. There was no sign of Ruth, and with that I set myself to -taunt mine enemy, speaking in the Cree which all his men doubtless -could understand. - -"You are a fine leader of men, my brother! Well were you called The -Pike--crafty, cowardly warrior who shuns the shallow water! See, in -our village lies your chief Soan-ge-ta-ha, while our women laugh at -him, and in the snow lies one of his young men, dead. The Cree -knives are sharpened, my brothers, and with them are the knives of -Radisson, the White Eagle, and of his friends, the Brothers of the -Thunder." For this was the name by which the two Mohawks went in all -that north country. - -My words, as they were designed, sent a swirl of rage through the -Chippewas, who with a growl turned on Gib. But he, the crafty one, -appeased them swiftly. - -"Brave Heart is not hurt, my brothers," he cried. "My medicine tells -me that he is even now on his way to join us. As for you, Brave -Eyes, you lie. The White Eagle has no men with him--only the tall -Mohawk chief." - -"Yes, mayhap," I answered, "but these twain are more than a match for -your Chippewa women. You stole upon our village, and what gained -you? Only one poor captive. It was a great raid, worthy of The -Pike, and you have paid for it dearly with your chief and your young -men. And the White Eagle is sharpening his claws, my brothers--out -there in the night somewhere." - -My words reached them, and more than my words. For barely had I -finished, when the darkness was split asunder by a musket-shot. The -man beside Gib whirled about and fell into the fire. - -"Scatter!" foamed Gib, raging. "Scatter and slay the White Eagle, -fools! Out with the fire!" - -The embers were dashed over the snows instantly, and under his rapid -orders the band vanished. Two of them remained to lift me, and they -carried me to the door of one of the lodges, a little apart from the -rest. Gib flung away the flap, and by the light of the lodge-fire -inside I saw the pale, frightened face of Ruth. - -"What means this intrusion?" she demanded in French, not seeing me. -"I thought we were to remain unmolested!" - -The scoundrel tendered her a low, mocking bow, and stepped aside to -show my figure, as the two braves flung me at her feet. She gave but -a little frighted cry, and stood facing him. - -"A meeting of old friends, Mistress de Courbelles." It was the first -time I had heard Ruth's name from other than the lips of Radisson. -"How could I separate such dearly loved ones? See, I bring you a -visitor of great value, and ere long you will have others. So I bid -you good-even." - -With this he bowed again and was gone. Outside came his voice giving -sharp orders, and all was still. But Ruth sprang forward and was on -her knees beside me. - -"My poor Davie!" she cried, lifting my head in her arms. "Some -water, Laughing Snow!" - -From out the shadows moved the figure of a Cree woman--a sister of -Uchichak's, whom the Chippewas had carried away to care for Ruth. -She brought water, and the two of them bathed my wounded head, where -I had been struck down from behind. As they did so, I told them all -that had passed. - -"It was the night after you and The Crane left for the hunt," Ruth -told me, "that the Chippewas came. For a little while the old men -held them off, which gave most of the women time to flee. I had just -left my lodge to find the cause of the shouting when Gib's party -broke through. They seized me, set fire to the lodges, and were gone -again. Oh, they treated me kindly enough, Davie, but--but I cannot -bear that smiling, evil face of Gib!" - -"Be not afraid, sister," spoke out the Cree woman, stolidly. "The -Crane is a great warrior, and his men must be very near. These -Chippewa women will flee before him like leaves before the wind of -autumn." - -"Yes, I think that Gib's plans were all upset by Brave Heart," I -tried to reassure the little maid bravely enough. "But for him, and -for the Mighty One, we had never been here, Ruth. As it is, the -Swift Arrow will bring Uchichak and his men." - -"We have been foolish," declared Laughing Snow bitterly. She went on -to tell us how, years ago, it had been rumored that men lived in the -Ghost Hills. By piecing together the fragments of Radisson's tales -and this of hers, Ruth and I gathered that Gib o' Clarclach had -maintained a sort of robber band in these dreaded hills in the old -days, when French and English were at war on the Bay. Gib had -afterwards, when Radisson dwelt in England, made the journey from the -Canadas with d'Iberville and his raiders, and had guided them to the -English posts when the French swept them clean. The villain had -served both sides, lending himself wherever the more gain promised, -and the Cree woman prophesied that once these things were known in -the land, her people would make a war on the Chippewas that would go -down in fable long afterwards. So indeed they did, but these things -came in after years and have no part in this my tale. - -There was little sleep for us that night. We had all rested during -the day, I high on the ridge, and Ruth in the lodge, for the trip had -been a hard one. The two women told how they had come through deep -gorges, like those by which we had followed the Mighty One, and how -they had given up all hope of rescue. - -Now came something which has ever left a great wonder in my mind--one -of those turns of chance which come in the most desperate straits. -For, when my bonds had been removed, Ruth took from its skin -wrappings a little book and showed it to me. - -"I found this in the lodge," she said slowly. "Look upon the -title-page, Davie, and see if I have been dreaming or not. It seems -very hard to believe." - -The book was a little leather-bound Bible. As the Cree woman put a -flare of birch on the fire, I held it to the light and opened it. -There in faded ink were words written, and I copy them from the Book -which lies before me as I write. They were in the Dutch tongue, and -as follows: - - - "To Hendrik, to bear with him always in the desert places, that - he may make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. - From his beloved wife. A.D. 1605." - - -And under this, in a firm writing that bespoke strength, were the -English words, "Henry Hudson, his book." I stared again, scarce -crediting the thing, then looked up to meet the grave, fearful eyes -of Ruth. We had both heard the story many a time--how the bold -sailor had been set adrift in an open boat, with his son and a few -faithful ones, and how they had vanished. Just a century since, -1610, had this thing taken place, and no word had ever come to -England of Henry Hudson, through all the years between. - -"Then," I almost whispered, "think you that this was really his? How -came it here?" - -"It speaks for itself," and Ruth dropped beside me and fingered the -Book reverently. "Think of it, Davie! In the midst of the -wilderness, in the midst of foes, to come into an empty lodge and -find this thing! Does it not seem like a message of faith and hope?" - -"As to that," I responded, "like enough. But I was thinking on the -marvel of it, Ruth. It must even be that Hudson, who was thought to -have perished in the waters of the Great Bay, escaped to land. Else -how could this Bible have come here? How could Gib have obtained it? -Perhaps from the Indians." - -With this I turned to Laughing Snow and questioned her closely. But -she disclaimed all knowledge of the Book, and said that never before -the coming of Radisson had white faces been seen in the northern -lands. - -For a time we discussed the wonder, failing to gain any information -from the Cree woman, but my bandaged head hurt painfully, and after -the first surprise I leaned back, faint and weak. Then Ruth took the -little volume, warped and stained with time and sea-water, and read -to us aloud. As she read, she translated into Cree for the benefit -of the other. - -I was quite content to lie silently and gaze at her. Very beautiful -she seemed there in the faint fire-glow, which tinged her golden hair -with ruddy hues and likened her grave, sweet face with the rise and -fall of the flames. Her heavy beaver-skins were laid aside, and her -inner dress of soft doeskin was decorated with the beautifully marked -neck-skins of loons, which Radisson had brought her. Porcupine -quills and shell beads fringed her moccasins, while at her throat -gleamed that same little gold brooch which had led us so far and -brought upon us so much trouble. - -Through all our journeys I had kept by me that stained and torn -fragment of my father's Bible, and when she had done I wrapped it up -again in the skin with the volume that had been Henry Hudson's, and -gave them into the keeping of Ruth. Barely had we settled back when -the skin flap was pushed aside, and once more Gib o' Clarclach -entered. - -"I would have some speech with you, David," he announced, no longer -smiling, but purposeful and shrewd. Closing the door to keep out the -cold, he seated himself on some skins and stared at me across the -fire. I made him no answer. - -"My young friend, these Chippewas of mine, I keenly regret, are not -used to the customs of civilized war. Yet they are far ahead of your -Mohawk friends, whom I have seen tie their captives to a tree and -build a fire round about. These Chippewas have another method, which -is quite as effective; for instead of a fire, they shoot arrows until -the victim is like a porcupine with his quills erect. Then they -shoot for the heart." - -"Well, have on your murderers," I replied, knowing well that he dared -not for the sake of Soan-ge-ta-ha. "Methinks their chief will suffer -if I do." - -"That is exactly the trouble, my bold young friend," he answered me. -"Personally, it matters little to me what becomes of the chief, for -he disobeyed my orders. But his warriors take another view of the -situation. They would have me be fool enough to turn you loose so -that their chief may be restored to them." - -"Then they may save their worry," I shot back bluntly enough. "If -you want Brave Heart, give the maid here back." - -"Ah, that is impossible," his suave answer irritated me the more. -"For her, we are to receive many fine gifts at the Post--beads and -powder and blankets and--other things. No, I deeply regret that I am -unable to meet your just demand. But on the other hand, as I was -about to propose, unless you consent to parley with Radisson for the -return of the chief, my warriors will insist on using you as a -target." - -Ruth stared at him with frighted eyes, but I knew well enough that -the man spoke in deadly earnest. Could I have had my way of it, I -would have bade him do his worst; but a little hand fluttered down to -my wrist, and I could not withstand the unspoken appeal of Ruth. - -"Have it your own way, then," I growled. "I suppose you would have -me seek my friends at once?" - -"Not till the day, sweet sir," smiled the scoundrel. "My men are all -about, and there is no danger of your two or three eager friends -inflicting any more damage. I do not quite understand how you got in -here, unless you were hunting--no, that could not be either." - -He fell to musing, staring at me, whereat I laughed harshly. - -"It was no hand of man led us here, Gib o' Clarclach, make sure of -that." - -"Then we will even ascribe it to the foul fiend," and he got to his -feet. "Good-even for the last time, mistress!" - -When he had gone we sat silent, all three. Presently the Cree woman -fell asleep in her corner and the fire slowly died down to a dim red -glow, while Ruth and I sat hand in hand. On the morrow, it seemed -like, I would go forth and bargain for my worthless skin, leaving her -in the hands of our enemies. Bitterly I cursed myself for a -faint-heart, though I knew full well that ere long Uchichak and his -warriors would turn the tide of affairs. - -The long hours passed, and still I sat sleepless, Ruth having fallen -half into slumber, her head resting against my shoulder. I was -staring at the skin wall of the lodge, where it was lashed into the -brush beyond, and was dreaming again of that terrible voyage and of -its ending, when I started suddenly. The glow of the embers had -seemed to strike a spark from the wall--a tiny point of light that -moved across the skin! - -In a moment I knew it was a knife-blade slitting the tough hide, -whereat I brought Ruth wide awake. The skin seemed to fall apart in -silence, and through it glared a horrible painted mask and staring -eyes. Ruth clutched my arm, in fright, but a whisper came from the -darkness. - -"Brave Eyes! Come swiftly!" And I knew it for the voice of The -Keeper. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -A MARTYR OF THE SNOWS. - -It was Ruth who woke me from my stupid amazement, pushing me to my -feet as The Keeper whispered again. How that crafty Mohawk had -pierced the ring of Chippewas, I never knew, but his forest skill -must have been far beyond theirs. I remembered the little buckskin -bag of paint which always hung at his girdle, and knew that he must -have prepared himself according to his own custom. - -But my wits came back to me quickly enough, and I pushed Ruth forward -to the opening, first stamping out the embers lest they betray us. -As quietly as might be I helped her through the narrow slit, the -Mohawk receiving us on the other side, and Grim following. Then we -were standing in the shelter of a small fir, and for a wonder the -skies were dark save for the eternal stars. I looked about for -Radisson, but he was not to be seen. - -"Come!" breathed The Keeper, leading the way through the snow. None -of us wore snowshoes, but the crust was firm enough to support us, -with the intense cold of those nights. There was no sound around us -save the crackle of the frost as the trees creaked in the wind, nor -was any fire visible. - -Yet I knew that all about us were men watching and listening. It -seemed hardly possible that we should win through to the ridge where -I supposed that Radisson waited, but gradually we left the camp -behind. Once we were beyond the circle of trees would come the -danger, although the absence of the lights seemed to protect us -somewhat. We went cautiously and slowly, and it must have been -fifteen minutes before the trees thinned out around us. - -Then, without warning, a sudden streamer of flame quivered and hung -across the skies, and the lights were dancing, lighting up all things -in grotesque shadow-gleams. I knew we were lost, even before a dark -form bounded into the snow before us and a shrill yell went up that -echoed across the night. - -"Go!" exclaimed The Keeper in French, pushing Ruth ahead. "Run to -the crest yonder, where White Eagle waits!" I sent Grim with a quick -word also. - -Ruth, with a little sobbing cry, obeyed, and the Mohawk flung himself -in one great leap on the figure which was coming toward us. Steel -flashed in the half-light and the two went down together. But other -forms were yelling at our heels, and if Ruth was to be saved this was -no time to run. We must hold them back for a moment or two. - -The Keeper rose swiftly and put into my hand the heavy stone ax he -had taken from the Chippewa. Then, gripping knife in one hand and -tomahawk in the other, he waited at my side as the warriors came at -us. Glancing around, I saw Ruth's dark figure vanishing over the -snows toward the ridge; as I later learned, she thought we were close -behind her, else had she never deserted us. - -"Now, brother!" grunted The Keeper. "Back to back!" - -With a swirl of snow the dark figures were on us. But the yells of -rage turned to warning cries as that huge ax of mine swung up and -down, and the lithe Mohawk used his two hands with the swiftness of a -panther. They drew back, then came at us again; this time I knew the -form of The Pike for their leader, and sprang out to meet him with my -ax whirled aloft. - -He avoided my stroke, leaping aside and stooping in the snow. Ere I -could fathom his intent the others were upon me, pressing me back to -the side of the Mohawk. They shrank before that crashing ax and -swift tomahawk, and with each blow I caught an approving grunt from -the old warrior beside me. We were ringed about with dark forms in -the snow, silent and motionless, when I caught sight of Gib again. - -Too late, I saw his aim. He had broken off a huge section of the -snow-crust, and as I turned to meet him he flung the mass in my face, -blinding me and sending me staggering. In vain did I strike out -blindly, for hands gripped my throat and bore me back fighting -furiously into the snow. I heard a single long yell from The Keeper, -and as I went down saw a gleam of light dart from his hand. The -tomahawk whirled into one of the men who gripped me, but it was of no -avail. I was choked into helplessness and when something hit my -wounded head, I knew no more. - -Once again I wakened to find myself lying beside a fire, but now it -was the broad daylight. My head scarcely pained, though my throat -was sore where I had been gripped, and I was fast bound. With a turn -of the head it was easy to see all that lay around. - -At my side was The Keeper, in similar plight to mine, though his face -seemed old and gray and sunken and his furs were red with frozen -blood. He lay quiet, his eyes closed, but the sudden fear that he -was dead departed when I saw the rise and fall of his breast. His -painted face was hideous, yet could not mask the age and weakness and -strength of the man; weak he was in body, wounded and spent, but his -spirit was as strong as that of Pierre Radisson himself. - -Sullen and cursing, the Chippewas were grouped about the fire. More -than one of them lay helpless, or with rude-bandaged wounds, and all -were eying the Mohawk and me with malignant ferocity. But Ruth was -uppermost in my mind. Had she been saved? Or had The Keeper's -sacrifice been vain? - -Guessing from the sun, it was early morning. I looked across and up -to the ridge of cliffs, and imagined that I could see a thin trail of -smoke ascending. Whether it were my imagination or no, I could not -tell for sure; still, the thought cheered me. At the least, Radisson -must be safe, and of Ruth I would soon learn. - -But the time dragged on, and by midday intolerable thirst consumed -me. The Mohawk had by now come out of his swoon, and lay staring -straight up into the sky, nor did I venture to bespeak him. -Presently there was a stir about the fire, and from one of the lodges -came Gib. Then he entered that wherein Ruth and I had lain, and came -back to us with that little skin package which we had forgot in the -haste of our flight. He unrolled it and laughed shortly. At a curt -order from him The Keeper and I were brought up sitting, against a -small hemlock. But when Gib had come to that torn cover of my -father's Bible, his face changed horribly, and he flung the whole -from him as if it burnt his hands--as very possibly it did. - -"So, dog of an Iroquois," he snarled at The Keeper, his features -convulsed with rage, "it is you whom I have to thank for the loss of -men and captive, eh? _Mort de ma vie_! But you shall suffer for -this, and speedily!" - -So he raged, cursing in French, Gaelic and a dozen more tongues, -while the Chippewas silently and grimly made ready their arrows and -bows. - -"You, MacDonald," went on Gib at length, "shall see what your fate -will be if Brave Heart be not returned to us safe. As for the girl, -I shall have her in the end--and would have her back here ere this, -but there is no place she can flee to, and my men are athirst for -revenge." - -From which I judged shrewdly enough that the Chippewas had refused to -face the fire of Radisson from the ridge, after my fall, and that -Ruth had escaped to him. This was mightily cheering, and now I cared -not what took place, since the little maid was safe. - -At word from Gib, two or three of the Chippewas sprang forward and -pulled The Keeper to his feet, loosing his bonds and mine and casting -off his furs until he stood naked to the waist. The old warrior was -scarred with new wounds and old, and I judged that he had not gone -down in last night's struggle without giving more than one deathblow. -His sinewy bronze figure drew a look of admiration from the -surrounding warriors, and when the power of movement was restored to -him he quietly leaned over and picked up the little Bible which had -been Henry Hudson's. - -"So," sneered Gib at this, noting also the emblem of the Cross that -hung around the neck of the old Mohawk, "you are of the faith of the -blackrobes, Iroquois? Say, will you not accept life and a -chieftainship among the Chippewas?" - -Before The Keeper could reply to the Cree words, one of the other -warriors stepped forth and spoke in the same tongue. - -"Old man, you are a brave warrior. Last night you fought well. -Beside the fire lies my older brother. His squaw will mourn for him. -You shall take his place at our councils, and be a chief among us." - -Quiet scorn flashed into the proud, haggard face of the old man, but -he said no word, and once again Gib taunted him with his creed. - -"Give up that thing about your neck, Iroquois, fling that book into -the snow, and you shall be a great man among us and saved from the -torture. How say you? What avails your faith now? Is it stronger -than Chippewa arrows? Can it break the Chippewa bows?" - -The Keeper turned and faced him. Into the stern old features had -crept a light that seemed unearthly, and he looked at Gib as though -he had seen some other behind him, so that more than one of the -warriors glanced about uneasily. Still holding the Book, the old -Mohawk answered slowly, unheeding the bitter cold in his fresh wounds. - -[Illustration: "_Still holding the book, the old Mohawk answered -slowly, unheeding the bitter cold in his fresh wounds._"] - -"The Pike is a great warrior. He was among the Iroquois many years -ago. He has seen how warriors of the Five Nations die, and the sight -has frightened him. He has fled to the Chippewas, and has put on the -robes of a squaw. He asks me, the Keeper of the Eastern Door of the -Long-house, Ta-cha-noon-tia, if my faith is stronger than Chippewa -arrows! Listen, my brothers. - -"I am very old. I am on my last war-trail, and I can see that it is -almost ended, and I am glad. But in the snow beside The Pike there -is a trail. What is that which stands behind you, my brother? What -is that which waits at your shoulder and breathes upon your cheek?" - -At the words Gib, who had listened as though through force, flung -about, but there was no man beside him. Then from the Chippewas went -up a little gasp, and following their eyes I saw a track across the -snow, from the woods leading toward the ridge, which passed close to -us and right behind Gib. The track was that of the Mighty One, the -giant moose, and I realized that The Keeper was taking advantage of -every chance that offered. - -But Gib laughed harshly. "The Keeper is right. He is on his last -trail, unless he casts away the book in his hand, and quickly." - -"Listen, my brothers, while I tell you a story." At this I saw Gib -start as if to protest, but a swift glance at the Chippewas showed -that he could not hurry them. They were absorbed in watching The -Keeper, and although their admiration for him would in no degree -lessen their cruelty, they wished to lose nothing of his words or -deeds, for they knew that he was a greater man than they. He spoke -slowly, quietly, his weak voice growing stronger as he went on. - -"Long ago, when I was a young warrior without a scalp, a man came -among us. He wore a black robe. He was a white man, and his words -were sweet in our ears. He told us that the Great Spirit had sent -him among us to tell us that there should be peace and not war in the -land. - -"My brothers, our old men have told us that once the hero Hiawatha -banded together five nations in a silver chain of peace. These are -the five nations of the Iroquois. No tribe can stand before us--not -even the white men have overcome us. But we have forgotten that we -formed a league of peace, and our arrows are very sharp. - -"We listened to the blackrobe, but we did not believe that the Great -Spirit had sent him to us. Our medicine men were very angry at him. -Then there came a plague upon us, and many of our warriors died in -the villages. The medicine men said that the blackrobe had brought -the plague upon us, and our young men cried out that he should be -killed. - -"My brothers, you do not know how to torture. You are women. We -took the blackrobe to a stake and builded a fire around him. Before -we lit the fire I jeered at him, and asked him if his Great Spirit -was stronger than our arrows, stronger than our fire." - -There was dead silence, for The Keeper was holding his audience by -the sheer force of his words, and the Chippewas were rapt in his -story. - -"My brothers, he answered that his faith was greater than our fire or -our tomahawks. We were very glad, for we knew that he would die like -a warrior. I myself set the fire around him, but he seemed to feel -no pain. He gazed up at the sky and spoke to the Great Spirit as the -coals fell upon him, so that we became afraid. And, my brothers, -before he died we heard him ask the Great Spirit to bless us and not -to take vengeance upon us. Then in truth we knew that his faith was -greater than our fire, and that his Great Spirit had blunted our -arrows. In the next year I went to seek out the White Father, and -there I learned to know the Great Spirit, and I placed his token -about my neck. - -"My brothers, you have heard my story. You have asked me to deny the -Great Spirit, but He has whispered to me that He is stronger than -your bows and sharper than your arrows. I am sore wounded, and the -end of the trail appears before me, my brothers. I have killed many -of your young men, who shall journey with me on the ghost-trail to -find the Great Spirit. And when I find Him I will ask him to bless -you. - -"Brave Eyes," and for an instant the stern voice faltered, as The -Keeper turned to me, "carry this book to White Eagle, my father, and -tell him that the Chippewas are women. Tell him that Ta-cha-noon-tia -was a great warrior, and that I will wait for him on the Ghost-trail. -Tell the Great Swift Arrow, my brother, that I will wait for him -also. Tell them that we have traveled long together, and that the -Great Spirit has whispered to me that He will not separate us for -long. My brothers, I have spoken." - -Handing the Bible to me, The Keeper turned and folded his arms -calmly. For a moment the Chippewas were held under the spell of his -words, then a word from Gib wakened them. With all respect they led -The Keeper to a large tree outside the lodges, and bound him fast. - -But as for me, I buried my head in my arms, and sobbed--great, dry, -choking sobs that I could by no means check nor hinder, and cared not -who saw them. For I was alone and helpless, and the bitter agony in -my heart was well-nigh unendurable. - -So passed Ta-cha-noon-tia, the Keeper of the Eastern Door--and never -in all the North was there a passing which so truly deserved the name -of martyrdom. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -HUDSON'S END. - -I do not think that this triumph of The Pike was greatly to his -liking, after all. That speech of The Keeper had staggered him, and -I caught him more than once, in the hours that followed, gazing -steadfastly at the track of the Mighty One across the snows. How -that track came there I know not; the moose must have passed from the -forest to the ridge during the night without being seen or heard, -which was like enough. - -So I sat there alone, my head upon my arms, until the thudding of the -arrows had ceased and a single yell from the Chippewas told me that -it was finished. No word or groan had the Mohawk uttered, and the -warriors laid him down beside their own dead and covered him with his -robes in silent respect. - -Gib had stood at my side, watching in stony silence all that passed, -and at the end he turned and strode away, entering one of the lodges. -The Chippewas left me to myself, hovering near and conversing in low -tones. The death of the martyr had cast a gloom over the day, and I -saw the Cree woman, Laughing Snow, moving about among the lodges. -For some reason she had not accompanied us in that mad flight, but I -spared little thought on her. I was too full of my grief and rage, -for him who had died. - -So dragged away an hour or two. Then Gib reappeared and said -somewhat to his men, who bestirred themselves promptly. I gathered -that with the first darkness they would make an attack on Radisson to -recover Ruth from him, and misdoubted me much that he could hold the -ridge single-handed, or even the pass itself. It was not to be -altogether as Gib had planned, however, for before the afternoon had -gone a murmur of amazement from the Chippewas awoke me from my -lethargy. Glancing up, I saw a single figure advancing over the -snows from the ridge. Halting midway to us, it stopped and held up -both hands, and I recognized Radisson. - -Now, at the time, there were only some eight or nine warriors in -camp, the others having gone forth at Gib's command to bring in some -fresh meat. Had the others been here, that which took place had been -next to impossible. Gib strode out and shouted to Radisson to come -forward without fear, assuring him of safety, then he turned back -with a swift word. - -"Bind that white man's hands and gag him," was his order, and the -Chippewas obeyed. In a moment I was trussed and gagged, while Gib -flung another blanket over the still form of The Keeper. That he was -up to some deviltry I guessed, but could not fathom his purpose. - -Radisson slapped along over the snows, and presently came up to us. -He was unarmed, and as he paused I could see his keen eyes searching -as if for someone who was not visible. It took no great thought to -guess who that someone was, and I thought he looked puzzled. - -"Greetings, my brothers," he said courteously enough, paying no heed -to me, but striding to the fire and warming himself. The Chippewas -replied in kind, and Gib smiled craftily. - -"Has White Eagle come to surrender himself?" returned the renegade -softly. - -Radisson smiled. "Nay, but to demand surrender," was his cool -retort, and he turned to the Chippewas, disdaining to speak with Gib. -"My brothers, the end is near. The Great Spirit is fighting against -you. See, he has led me through the hills by a secret path, and -there on the ridge are gathered the Cree warriors. They were very -eager to send their arrows to you, and I cannot restrain them much -longer." - -This created a little stir among the Chippewas, but still Gib smiled -his sneering smile. - -"My brothers, last night you captured Brave Eyes and one of the -Brothers of the Thunder. The Yellow Lily was drooping in your hands, -and she has fled to us. If I let loose my warriors, upon you, they -will eat you up and stamp you into the earth as the herds of bison -stamp the grass. But return me your prisoners, and we will go in -peace." - -My heart gave a bound of joy. So the Crees had arrived with Swift -Arrow! But Gib replied calmly enough. - -"White Eagle, I am not like the fool Englishmen whom you captured in -their forts single-handed in years past. I have not seen your young -men, or heard the sound of their war cries." - -Radisson turned and pointed out toward the westering sun that was -turning the snow and hills and trees to crimson and purple. A -guttural exclamation rose from the warriors, and Gib's smile faded -away; for there we saw plainly a dozen dark figures wending toward us -and dark against the sun. - -"Your road to the west is cut off," continued Radisson. "Your escape -is impossible. The warriors of Talking Owl have gathered against -you, and if you would not be overwhelmed at once, you must act -quickly. These young men come to join us, and there are others -behind them. Say, my brothers, will you release your captives or no?" - -Beneath the stolid calm of the Chippewas it needed no sharp eye to -see that they were wild with fear. Gib's cunning tongue had failed -him for once, and he could naught but gaze out at the little dots -against the sun. They were still a mile or more away, and to detect -more than that they were men was impossible. In that moment it -seemed that Radisson had triumphed utterly, and the oldest of the -Chippewas nodded gravely. - -"My father White Eagle is a great warrior. If he will assure us that -these men will do us no harm, will let us go in peace, and if he will -not bring the warriors of Uchichak upon us, then he may take his -captives. But Brave Heart must also be released." - -"So it shall be," and I detected nothing of the anxiety that must -have underlain Radisson's calm demeanor. "These men shall not harm -you, my brothers, and those who are with me shall not attack you. -Soan-ge-ta-ha shall return home in safety." Gib started to utter a -bitter protest, but the Chippewas waved him into silence, and pulled -me to my feet, shoving me forward to Radisson. He drew out his knife -to cut my bonds, and asked after The Keeper. It was Gib who made -answer, accepting the situation. - -"The Mohawk is out with some of our young men, Radisson. He will be -back shortly, and he shall join you then. Brave Eyes must remain as -he is, lest he attack us, for he is strong." - -For an instant Radisson hesitated, and a swift flash of -disappointment ran over his stern face. Then it came to me that he -must have played a desperate game, and vainly I strove to warn him. -The flimsy excuses of the renegade seemed to be accepted, however, -for without a word he stepped forward and led me away, none hindering. - -When we had gone a hundred yards from the camp he whipped out his -knife, gave one quick glance to the west, and cut through my bonds. - -"Run for it, lad!" he cried. "Some of the Chippewa hunters have met -the others--we are lost unless we break away to the ridge!" - -I did not pause to question him, but ran. For a moment I thought we -would be safe enough, but the Chippewas must have been watching that -party to the west also, for we had barely started when from the camp -behind went up a shrill yell of rage, and I heard Gib's shout. - -I knew without his telling me that he had tried for one of those -audacious coups which had made his name famous, even as Gib had said. -The Crees had not arrived; the party to the west was the party of the -Chippewas who had been left to guard the retreat, and who for some -reason had come on to join Gib. Had the hunters from the camp not -met them, in plain sight of all, we had got clean away. - -As it was, I was handicapped by having no snowshoes, but even so I -could outrun the Chippewas, as I knew well. Then something whistled -over my shoulder, and a gunshot rang out behind us, and another. -Those Chippewas were well armed, doubtless from the post, and in -their rage at being tricked so easily they spared no powder. - -I dared not try to jump from side to side, nor could Radisson by -reason of his snowshoes, so we plunged straight for the ridge. The -bullets whistled past us and over, and I had just begun to rejoice -that we had escaped, when I saw Radisson stagger heavily. Then came -wild fear to me, and I reached his side and caught his arm in mine. - -"'Tis naught, Davie," he muttered as he ran on, and shook me off. -"We have distanced them--courage! Where is The Keeper?" - -Before answering I glanced behind. The Chippewas had spread out, but -were making no further effort to catch us. Another spurt of smoke -darted out, and another bullet sang past faintly. A hundred yards -farther on and we would be out of range, so I waited until we had -gained it, with the ridge near ahead. - -"The Keeper is dead," I answered him bluntly enough. "They shot him -to death with arrows at midday." - -Radisson stopped short and turned a stricken face to me. Terrible -was that face, unbelieving my tidings, yet with fear and horror -stamped upon it. The old man staggered as he stood, swaying back and -forth, but his eagle-eyes were never brighter and keener. - -"Dead? The Keeper dead?" he repeated hoarsely. In a few words I -told him all that had passed. He bowed his head slowly, and two -great tears trickled down over his beard, but no more. When he -raised his countenance again I scarce knew it, so deep-sunken was it -all in a moment, so ghastly pale. - -"Come, Davie," he muttered as if his spirit had broken beneath the -weight of sorrow. "Swift Arrow has not yet arrived. We are in bad -case, and--and--I am hard hit." - -I caught him with a cry of grief, but he gathered himself together -and once more we went on. My mind was in a whirl, for I knew the old -man was wounded and badly, yet I was thinking more of his terrible -grief than of his wound. And so we came to the ridge again, and when -we reached bare rock Ruth sprang forward and into my arms, Grim -leaping up on me. - -"Davie--Davie!" she cried, sobbing, then lifted her face to mine. I -held her for an instant, and kissed her on the brow. But as I looked -across her shoulder to Radisson I bethought me that he was hurt, and -so I loosed her again and would have gone to him, but he stopped me. - -"Listen, David! My strength is sore spent--we must leave this cranny -in the rocks for the mouth of the pass, for with the darkness the -Chippewas will be upon us. Stop not for talking, lad, but catch up -the muskets and powder and hasten!" he said. - -Seeing that it was useless to irritate him by not obeying, I loaded -myself with the weapons and horns of powder, Ruth helping me bind on -my snowshoes. Radisson stood, swaying a little, but gazing at the -rock walls above as if searching for aid. We set out, Ruth at his -arm, and wended beneath the cliffs toward the mouth of that valley of -shadow through which we had come hither, striking a path through the -great bowlders strewed around while Grim followed sedately. I cast -watchful glances down toward the camp, but Gib seemed to be waiting -for his hunters and for that second party before he moved on us. On -a sudden the old wanderer paused, and his voice rang out as firm as -ever. - -"Look! The Mighty One has come again to lead us!" - -And there in the snow were the tracks of that gigantic moose, fresh -and new-made, and leading toward the mouth of the valley! We -followed them as speedily as might be, and in ten minutes more the -great rock walls had towered above and closed us in. Ruth had come -to my side now, and she pressed close to me in fear. - -The track suddenly turned away from those old tracks of ours, to one -side of the rocks. Without hesitation Radisson followed, until we -came to where the moose had milled around and around in the snow, -possibly to make a bed--but as Radisson firmly believed, to point us -to something. And great fear came upon me when Ruth gave a little -cry and showed a long, narrow cleft in the black rocks at our side. - -"Said I not that he was leading us?" cried Radisson triumphantly. -"It is a cave, lad! There we can stand off the Chippewas as long as -need be. Forward!" - -I took out flint and steel, kindled my tinder, and presently had a -roll of birch flaring. Above stretched that cleft in the granite, -silent, black, grim with unseen terrors. I led the way gingerly -enough, for the passage seemed to zigzag before me, as if some giant -hand had smitten into the heart of the cliffs. - -Then I paused abruptly, holding my flare high, as the passage opened -out. Surely, it was a cave--small, but large enough to hold us in -comfort. The room was a dozen feet across and at my feet lay a -little store of wood as if someone else had been there, while skins -were piled in the corner. My torch sputtered, and I swiftly lit the -pile of sticks, which flared up instantly, flickering in a draught. -Then at the far end of the chamber I saw a second opening, smaller -than the first, and clad in darkness. - -"We have an hour," muttered Radisson thickly, as he sank down upon -the skins. "What is this place?" - -"Let us tend your wound first," I besought him, whereat Ruth gave a -little cry and came to his side. - -"Oh, are you hurt?" she exclaimed softly, catching his head as he -sank back. "Where is The Keeper?" - -"He has gone before me," returned Radisson with more strength. "Nay, -let be, lass. You can do me no good now, for I have come to the end -of the trail. Eat of the food that is left, both of you; we will -have need of all your strength ere morning, lad." - -We obeyed him, while Ruth heard the story of The Keeper's passing, -and wept as she ate until the tears choked her. Radisson spoke, -dry-eyed and smiling, with Grim curled at his side. - -"Lad, see what lies in that farther chamber, for it has taken strong -hold on my mind." - -Willing to humor him, I caught up a burning stick and went to the -entrance, which was about mine own height. All was dark beyond, -until I turned a sharp corner of the rock. I near dropped the light, -and my heart leaped in fear, for a great bearded face was staring out -upon me! Then I knew all. - -Staring from across a rude table where it sat, was the figure of a -man--in one hand an ancient pistol, in the other a quill, with paper -before it. Upon the table sat a keg, with the word "Hudson" painted -on it, and I needed not to look at that high brow encased in the -frozen drippings from the rock above, to know that here had been the -ending of Henry Hudson. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -THE MIGHTY ONE. - -"What is it, Davie?" called the soft voice of Ruth, awaking me from -my horrified stupor. - -"Wait," I made hoarse answer, still dazed by my startling discovery. -Looking closer at that figure before me, I saw that it was as if -cased in ice, and as something splashed on my neck I knew that the -rock-drippings from above had covered it. With trembling fingers I -wiped the sweat from my brow, then caught at the sheet of paper -before me and incontinently fled. - -The horror of it unnerved me, and must have shown in my face. -Gradually I told the others of what I had seen, and Radisson started -up on his elbow, his old face alight with a great amazement and joy. - -"The paper, lad--the paper!" he cried out. "Hendrik Hudson--ah, but -this is the greatest discovery of all! Naught matters now--for I -have goodly company on the Ghost-trail! Read the paper, lad!" - -I held down the dry paper--for it seemed to have escaped those -drippings, by some trick of Fate--to the light, and with Ruth peering -over my shoulder made shift to read the words written there in -English. It was in the same hand which had written in the Bible, and -the two lie here before me now. It seemed to be one of other sheets, -for at the top it was numbered in Roman. - - - "XI - - shall beeware how you doe deal my Truste. In Time shall come - Them of mine own Race, to whom doe I graunt all thyngs Herein. - This bee a rich laund & worthe ye keeping for Britain. Soe now - farewell. I grow weak. - - Henry Hudson." - - -I looked up from the paper amazed, and met the exultant eyes of -Radisson fixed upon me. The old man clutched at the scrap and held -it to him fiercely. - -"Radisson has won again!" he exclaimed, his dark eyes shining bright. -"I have found a new country and with it Henry Hudson--ah, get you -outside, lad! Take the fusils with you, and keep guard! I had -forgot our danger, and the night must be coming on. They will trail -us here, for The Pike must know the place. Yet it is strange that he -knew naught of the passage through the hills behind!" - -I loaded the fusils afresh and left him in the care of Ruth. When I -gained the entrance to the cave I saw that it must have fallen dark -outside, yet the mouth of the passage from the ridge was lit by the -fires in the sky, which seemed faintly ablaze. As I set down the -guns and drew my furs about me, shivering in the bitterness of the -cold, I was thankful that at least I was sheltered from that great -wind that tore down through the gap moaning and shrieking. - -Where had that moose-track come from? It seemed hard to believe that -the mighty animal had passed from woods to ridge, and so on into the -passage without having been seen by any. Yet it must have been even -so, for the trail was a fresh one, and I wondered at the thing. - -With it all I was mightily afraid, nor hesitated to admit it to -myself. The death of The Keeper had been a great shock to me, and -the finding of Hudson, the mere knowing that his earthly form lay in -that cave behind me, was horrible. The fearsomeness of that -passageway through the cliffs, lying so dark and ghostly in front of -me, added in no small degree to my shakings of soul. - -And to cap all, Radisson lay stricken mortally. This I guessed from -his manner of speaking and from the fact that he would not allow us -to care for his wound. The great wonder of the whole thing, from the -trail of the Mighty One to the martyrdom of the Mohawk, oppressed me, -and I remembered how The Keeper had prophesied that he would not go -on the spirit-trail alone. - -Then I fell to thinking of Hudson. So the little boat had not been -lost, as all men had thought, but had reached land. Who might know -the tale of all that had happened? The stout seaman must have seen -his friends and his son perish one by one, yet have struggled on to -the west until he had come to the Ghost Hills and found there the -rest denied him in life. - -So I sat there half in dream, thinking bitterly on what was to be the -end of it all. For myself I cared little, but I could not see Ruth -in red hands. Why did not Swift Arrow and Uchichak arrive? Almost -on the thought, it seemed that a dark shadow flitted down through the -pass, whereat I caught up one of the guns and cried out. - -"It is Ca-yen-gui-ha-no," came the voice of the Mohawk. "Where is my -brother?" - -"Here," I shouted, great relief in my heart, and had like to fling my -arms about the tall old man as he clambered up to me. "But -Uchichak--where are the Crees? We are in sore need, Swift Arrow!" - -"They come," he grunted in surprise as he saw where I stood. "The -Mighty One met us. I fired and drove him back. The Crees are slow. -Swift Arrow came on quickly, and passed the Mighty One, who follows -behind me." - -He peered about, and I motioned him back into the cave, whither he -vanished. A moment later there came a yell from the mouth of the -gap, and I knew that the Chippewas were upon me. A number of dark -shapes flitted across the opening, a hundred paces away, and I fired -at one of these, the echoes rolling up and up in weird echoes of -sound. - -"Let my brother load," and Swift Arrow stood beside me again. "I -will shoot." - -Cheerfully enough I resigned my place to him. Now came two shots, -and the bullets pattered on the cliffs behind. But to reach us the -Chippewas would have to cross that open gully where lay the deep, -hard snow, and even in the half-light from the closed-out skies their -figures would show plainly against the white snow. And we had four -guns, with a good store of powder and balls close to hand. - -After those first shots, there came no sign of danger, but I knew -that the cunning brain of The Pike would not rest idle for long. The -Chippewas could not reach us from below without making a straight -charge, which they would have little stomach for, and they could not -get at us from above, since those high walls of granite could hardly -be scaled. - -Yet Gib solved the problem, for presently a musket roared over -against us on the opposite side of the cliffs, and a bullet whistled -into the cleft behind. There was no danger that those within the -cavern could be injured, by reason of the twists in the passage, but -the mouth of the cave where we lay could be raked easily enough, and -the Arrow grunted. - -"We must hit or be hit, Brave Eyes," and he laid his fusil in rest, -aiming at the place whence had come the flash. A moment later it -came again, but the Arrow fired almost with it. A single yell echoed -up, and thereafter came no more shots from across the way. - -"Think you they will try to rush upon us?" I whispered fearfully. - -"They are women," he grunted disdainfully. "The Mighty One will -scatter them." - -"How mean you? Where is the moose?" - -"He is near. The Crane will drive him before, and when he comes the -Chippewas will scatter from before him." - -Then I remembered what the Mohawk had first said, upon his arrival. -He had met the moose traveling toward the open country, and had -driven him back toward us, passing him later as he hurried on ahead -of the Crees. But soon I had other things to bother my head with -than the moose. - -For as we lay watching, something came down from the skies and -shattered on the rocks beside me. Feeling about, I found that it had -been an arrow, and now we were in grave danger indeed. If we -withdrew under the shelter of the cave, we would lose sight of that -open gully beneath us; but if we lay there without covering above, -the Chippewa arrows could descend full upon us. Gib was having his -men shoot straight up, so that the arrows would fall with fearful -force, and against such shooting we were defenseless. - -They pattered down all around, shattering on the rock and yet seeming -to miss us altogether. Before long the Mohawk, who had refused to -listen to my word that we should seek shelter inside the cave and -defend its mouth, began to chant something in a low voice that -swelled louder and louder. A wild, barbaric chant it was, in words -that I knew not, but ever and anon he would lift one of the fusils -and shoot, though I could see no object at which to aim. When his -chant died down again I asked him the meaning of it. - -"I go on the Ghost-trail, my brother," he responded after a moment. -"The Chippewa arrows are very sharp, and the Great Spirit has called -me. I hear the voice of the Keeper of the Eastern Door. He asks me -why I wait. I am waiting for my father the White Eagle, oh -Ta-cha-noon-tia!" With which he trailed off into his own tongue once -more and paid no further heed to me. - -I knew not whether he had been struck with one of those falling -arrows, for he had made no sign. A moment later he pressed a fusil -into my hands. - -"They come, brother! Be ready!" - -I loaded it as rapidly as might be, but had not finished when a great -yell went up from the darkness, and across the snow came the -Chippewas--dark splotches that seemed to leap over the white ground. - -The Arrow waited, and then when they seemed to be almost upon us, he -began firing. One after another of the foremost figures went down, -and I managed to get the first gun to him as he fired the fourth. -Before that rain of lead the Chippewas broke and fled, but I heard -the voice of Gib ring out, and knew that he was still unharmed. When -the muskets were once more loaded, I left the ledge for an instant, -and ran back to the cave, in order to reassure Ruth. I found her and -Radisson just as I had left them, on the pile of skins, and although -the fire had died down, there was plenty of wood in the cave from -which to replenish it. In a few words I told them of the repulse. - -"And Swift Arrow?" demanded Radisson quickly. "Why was he singing -the death-chant? Is he also hurt? - -"I know not," was my hesitating answer, and the tears could not be -kept back--nor were they the tears of a boy. "He is waiting for you, -he said." - -"Ah! Then he will not have long to wait, methinks," Radisson -breathed, holding the hand of Ruth. At sight of Grim I bethought me -that he might well prove of service, and so I called him to follow me -out to the front of the cave. - -"Ready!" thrilled a sharp whisper from Swift Arrow, who had the guns -close to his hand. Grim growled. This time the attack came with no -forewarning until we saw the approach of the Chippewas, creeping -stealthily forward through the snow. But as they came, arrows -pattered around us from those behind, who covered their advance. - -And this time, there was no stopping them. Five times did the Arrow -fire, but then came a rush, and he had but time to draw his knife and -put his tomahawk ready. I caught up one of the heavy fusils and -swung it about my head, and then they were upon us--a mad swirl of -men who seemed to spring out of the darkness and up the path to our -ledge. - -Now, when it came to hand-to-hand fighting, my great strength proved -its worth. The Arrow had crawled to my side, and as only one or two -men could reach us at a time, we managed to fling them back with -gun-butt and tomahawk, while the shrill yell of the Mohawk rose madly -over the shrieks of the Chippewas. - -Time after time my heavy piece rose and fell, sometimes parried and -sometimes not, while at my side glittered the steel of the old chief, -rapid and deadly; but ever the voice of Gib urged on the warriors, -and ever they pressed up that narrow path in mad resolve. On a -sudden I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder, and the fusil dashed out -of my hands against the rock wall as I staggered back. - -An instant, and I had pulled out the knife with a shudder of pain, -but that instant had been well-nigh fatal, for the Chippewas poured -over us. Then, while I was still faint with the shock and the pain -came Grim to the fore. Swift Arrow had risen to his feet, still -plying his deadly steel desperately, when the great sheep-dog -crouched and sprang, snarling and tearing in the midst of them -beneath us. - -The Chippewas fell back before him in wild affright, leaving two of -their number at handgrips with us. One of these went down under the -knife of the Mohawk; the other I seized by the throat and dashed back -against the rock, where he lay silent. Then I whistled sharp and -shrill, and Grim came back to me--bleeding and torn, but still not -hurt unto death. So near had they come to taking us, that but for -him we had assuredly perished. - -But the Chippewas had not retreated far, and the evil tones of Gib -showed me where he stood out there on the snow. The Arrow had fallen -forward against the rock, helpless; when next they charged, his aid -would be of no avail. And the blood was running fast from my -shoulder, as I reloaded one of the weapons. - -Gib was standing out in the center of the pass, and of a sudden I -heard what seemed to be a bellow of rage, followed by a wild shriek -from the Chippewas. Turning, I saw a mighty form leaping through the -darkness--great horns outspread, giant shoulders rising high over the -group of warriors, huge hoofs striking to right and left. In the dim -light, I thought I saw Gib raise a musket, and for an instant the -flash of it showed me the Mighty One himself, poised high in air as -he leaped upon the terror-struck men. - -Then all went dark again. One horrible, long-drawn shriek wailed out -down the great cliffs as I raised my musket and aimed at the huge -shape below, from which men fled every way. I fired, and saw it -stumble forward over a smaller form in the snow; then I felt the -faintness of my wound come upon me again, and had but strength enough -to stagger back through the cave, meet the staring eyes of Radisson, -and fall at the feet of Ruth. But as I fell, I heard from without -the war-cry of Uchichak, and knew that the Mighty One had saved us; -then I fell asleep, with the tongue of Grim hot on my cheek. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -HOW PIERRE RADISSON SLEPT. - -When I woke, it was in the midst of a grave silence. That may scarce -mean sense, yet to the full it expresses the feeling that came upon -me when I opened my eyes and looked about me. I was sitting against -the cave wall, Ruth at my side, and Grim, his great honest dog's eyes -full of pain, crouching and looking up at me. - -Now the little cave was full of light and men--Uchichak and other -chiefs of the Crees, who were standing silent before me, while the -light smoke from the dry wood drove past us in the draught. Ruth was -bathing my face with water, but I pushed her hand away. This silence -among so many boded ill, and oppressed me strangely. I remembered -Radisson, and sought for him through the crowding forms. - -He was sitting against the wall, with the Swift Arrow at his side, -their hands clasped. But, although the Mohawk was well-nigh gone, -never had Radisson's face seemed happier, younger and nobler. Hope -leaped into my heart that he had not been as sore stricken as we had -thought. - -Ruth helped me to my feet. We went over and sat beside him. His -hand closed on ours, and he smiled kindly on Ruth. - -"Well does the Great Swift Arrow deserve his name," he said softly, -so that the dying eyes of the old chief lit up. "He brought Uchichak -to us and sped on ahead of him, and so saved us all." - -"Then you are not so badly hurt?" I exclaimed joyfully. Radisson -chuckled, and made answer in his old rich, laughing voice. - -"Hurt? Why, lad, I have triumphed! The Keeper, the Swift Arrow and -I will travel the last trail together ere long, but see!" And he -waved the paper of Hudson aloft as might a boy, then his eyes went to -the Cree chiefs, and he spoke in their own tongue. - -"My brothers, White Eagle goes upon the spirit-trail. But first he -would tell you that in the days to come, white men shall arrive among -you. Do not make war upon them, my brothers. They will trade with -you for your furs, and will bring much good to you. Will you -remember this?" - -"We will remember," answered The Crane gravely, and a murmur passed -around among the other chiefs. The head of Swift Arrow suddenly sank -forward and his hand dropped from that of Radisson. The Mohawk had -not waited. - -Radisson's face never changed as he asked the Crees how the fight had -gone, and if Gib had been slain, and then drew Ruth and me down to -him while he waited the answer. - -"My father," said Uchichak slowly, "the Crees did not fight, for the -enemy had gone. The Mighty One had fought for us and scattered them. -But--" and he hesitated an instant, "as we came near, a gun was fired -from the cave, and lightning shot across the snow. When we had -sought the Chippewas, we found the Mighty One lying dead, and beneath -his hoofs was the form of The Pike." - -Uchichak paused. With a little shudder I remembered how I had seen -the giant moose uprearing and striking out with hoofs and horns, and -how he had stumbled across a man even as I fired. Ruth was sobbing -quietly on Radisson's shoulder, and the old wanderer addressed us in -English. - -"Children, do not grieve. I am an old man, and have lived through -more than most men. As for Gib, he has perished by the hand of God, -even as I foretold that he would. Now listen carefully. - -"You, Ruth, are of right named Marie de Courbelles. It were best to -visit Montreal and Quebec, for there live your father's people, -though he is dead long since, and there you may obtain your -inheritance, which is a goodly one." - -Ruth sobbed out that she wanted none of it, whereat the old man -petted her head and smiled on me suddenly. - -"Davie, you will care for the little maid?" - -"An' she will let me, I will," was my low reply. - -"Then I shall pass happy," and Radisson sighed as if a burden was off -his mind. "I would that you had the old Bible of which you spoke, -lass. I would like to hear once more the story of those days Christ -spent in the wilderness. It hath ever attracted me strangely--I -would that my days had been set where I might have known Him!" - -And as Radisson voiced the age-old wish of the world, I bethought me -that I still had the packet which The Keeper had put in my hands, and -so drew it out hastily. - -"I have it here--read it, Ruth!" - -The little maid took the Book with trembling hands. The translation -was Englished by Wicliff, and when she had found the place she put it -into French again for Radisson. He listened gravely, his head -drooping while she read, the stately chiefs standing around in silent -attention, though they understood it not. When it was finished he -sighed again. - -"Thanks, my daughter. Brave Eyes, help me to my feet, for I would -fain look upon the face of Hudson ere I pass." - -With The Crane, I helped him to gain his feet, and he leaned heavily -upon us. I motioned Ruth not to follow, for that sight was none for -her eyes, and so we led him through the inner passage to the second -chamber where sat the great mariner in his eternal silence. The glow -from our torch lit up his face, and Radisson sank down against the -table. - -"Henry Hudson and Pierre Radisson!" I heard him murmur. "It were a -fitting ending, and a noble one!" Pulling himself up, he signed to -us that we should help him back again, which we did, nothing loath. -Uchichak was trembling when we reached the outer cave, for that man -who sat with quill in hand had frighted him mightily. Yet Radisson -had been more observing than I, for all his weakness. - -"Davie," he said, more faintly, when he was again sitting upon the -skins, "I wish that you do one more thing for me. When I have -entered upon the spirit-trail, then carry me into that chamber and -let me sit at the table over against Henry Hudson. Place there The -Keeper and The Swift Arrow also, for such greatness is worthy them. - -"That keg upon the table holds powder, I think. When we are placed, -lad, do you set that keg of powder in the narrow entrance and--" - -He went no farther, for Ruth fell upon his neck with a great cry. -But he knew that I had understood, and that I would obey. Nothing -could better show the fantastic, grim spirit of the old wanderer than -this last desire of his--to be tombed in the living rock, with Henry -Hudson and the two Mohawks beside him. Nor, as I think now, was it -so mad a wish after all; for what better tomb could Pierre Radisson -have, in all this land he had found and loved and given to the world? - -Now, since we had to pass the night here at least, I had the body of -Swift Arrow carried within the second chamber. The Crees had already -formed a camp outside, and as Radisson wished to taste fresh meat -once more before he passed--for we had gone hungry of late, through -having brought little food with us--I went outside with Uchichak. -The Cree camp was in a place sheltered from the terrific, howling -wind, and as the fires in the sky had now risen high overhead and -sent down a ghostly light into the deep gulch, I was enabled to see -the Mighty One where he lay--for the Indians had not dared to touch -him. - -That last chance shot of mine had pierced through his heart, striking -him just behind the shoulder and going true. And what a great beast -he was! I had shot moose ere this, with my arrows, and had seen full -many, but never so huge a beast as this Mighty One. Still beneath -his great body lay Gib o' Clarclach, his evil face untouched and -grinning its last defiant grin up at the sky which he had blasphemed. - -In that moment I was glad that no blow of mine had laid him low. He -had lived wrongly, and died wrongly. What a contrast between his -death and that of The Keeper! Yet the white man was of a race which -we call superior, he knew of things which the Mohawk had never -dreamed of, he had had advantages which The Keeper could never have -had--and he had lost his soul alive. Nay, I am not judging him, God -forbid! It may be that even such as he are not without hope -elsewhere. - -Uchichak plucked up his courage and together we cut off the choicest -portions of the giant moose and carried them over to the fires of the -camp in the shelter of the walls. Many of the Crees had gone on to -the lodges, there to rescue Laughing Snow and to await the coming of -Talking Owl from the western pass. - -When the meat was cooked I carried it back to the cavern, where we -found Radisson as we had left him, and but for his weakness I had -never known that he was hurt. He seemed to have become twenty years -younger in an hour. - -Only Uchichak and one of two of the older chiefs had remained with -us. We all partook of the meat, and I even forced a portion upon -Ruth, who was in sore need of it. She, poor girl, had little heart -for eating, but managed to do well enough, as did we all. - -"Now let us consider," said Radisson, to whom the meal had given -strength. Not even when he was facing death would he give up -planning. "How are you to reach home again?" - -"We have no home," said Ruth sadly. - -"Ayrby is sold, and we may not return." - -"Tut, child," he responded. "I make no doubt you can get the farm -back again, if so you wish. Once I am gone, neither English nor -French will molest you. Indeed, you might make for the nearest post -and there take ship for the colonies. I would have you visit -Montreal, if possible, and there regain the inheritance which awaits -you. There will be ships in the Bay from Boston, mayhap, who will -set forth in the spring." - -Straight upon this there entered four warriors who bore the silent -form of The Keeper. Radisson demanded to look upon the face of his -friend once more, and I would have drawn Ruth aside, but she would -not. And when The Keeper's face was uncovered, I was glad that this -was so; for the noble old face was strangely exalted and lit with a -great beauty such as never in all my life had I seen. I cannot -describe it fittingly, yet it was a memory that has ever-remained -fresh and vivid--as if God's hand had touched the worn features -lightly, ere they fell into the repose of death. - -Then they covered him again and bore him into the inner chamber, -where they stayed no longer than might be. The old wanderer, I could -see, was now sinking fast, and his hand would tremble as it clutched -mine and Ruth's. Presently he pulled from about his neck a gold -medal--the same, it proved, that had been given him long years before -by the English king, ere his shameful betrayal. This he pressed into -Ruth's hand. - -"Here, my daughter--keep this in my memory, and with my blessing. It -is a poor thing to remember me by, and yet it is all I have; it is -the sole trace of honor that has come to me for all my labors, and I -would that you keep it alway." - -"Oh, we need naught to remember--" began Ruth, but ended in a sob. -Perhaps to check her grief, Radisson asked her to read to him from -the Book, and so she took it up again and after a little began to -read, while the tears ran over her cheeks. Whether by accident or by -design she never told me, but the passage was that wherein the -prophet met and spoke with his God upon the mountain. - -I watched Radisson as she read, and saw his face light up, then the -look passed into one of awe and wonder. Slowly his head bowed down, -until I checked Ruth with my hand, for I thought that the end had -come; but it was not so, for he signed to her to continue, and raised -his head once more, looking up at the roof of the cave with startled -eyes, as though he saw there more than the bare rock. And with that -he stretched out his arm, and I helped him to his feet. He shook me -off and took one step forward alone. - -"Not in the whirlwind," he cried passionately, his voice ringing deep -echoes from all around, "not in the whirlwind, O Lord, nor in the -fire, nor in the storm have I found Thee! But in the--still--small--" - -He swayed forward, all the life gone out of him suddenly, and when I -lowered him to the skins I knew that Radisson had departed upon the -spirit-trail. I signed to The Crane, and we carried him into the -inner chamber and seated him across the table from Hudson. Then--for -I knew that in the morning no power would tempt me to enter that room -again--I carried out the keg, which proved to be nearly full of -coarse, dry powder, and left it in the passage. - -"Come," said Ruth, catching at my arm, "we will sleep out by the -fire. Here I--I cannot, Davie." - -I held her to me for a moment, then told The Crane to lead her to the -fire. When she had gone I gathered up the skins and furs, and after -a little time we had fixed up a shelter for her in a cranny of the -rocks, where I left her. I rejoined the silent Crees and flung -myself down in the warmth of the fire to sleep, for I was very weary. - -The day was high when I wakened. Ruth, it seemed, was still asleep. -In the early morning the band of Talking Owl had arrived, and with -Uchichak's warriors had swept away those that remained of the -Chippewas. The days of the band were over; few ever returned to -their villages, and those that did bore with them such a tale as kept -Chippewa hunters in their own country for many winters to come. - -My first duty before Ruth was up, was to clear away all signs of -conflict. Gib and his dead were laid to rest in the outer cave, -decently enough. The giant moose had already been quartered and the -great antlers were preserved for me as trophies. So when Ruth -appeared, naught remained of the struggle save the trampled snow and -a few shattered fragments of arrows. - -The Crees were anxious to be home again, having raided the lodges in -the basin and burned them. So without delay I whistled Grim and -entered the cave. Placing the keg of powder in the narrowest part of -the entrance, I set a long train with a final fuse of birch bark. -When all was ready I warned off the curious Crees and lit the bark -with a stick from the fire. - -For a moment it blazed up, and when I had turned from my hasty flight -I saw only a tiny flicker of flame from the powder. Then came a -cloud of smoke from the entrance, a low, thunderous roar that -reverberated from the high cliffs overhead, and the great rocks -crashed down in utter ruin. The cave was no more. Pierre Radisson -slept with those whom he had chosen for company in his last long -sleep. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS. - -With saddened hearts we turned our faces toward the Barren Places -once again. Swift Arrow had killed two of the dogs in his dash for -help, but the others were sufficient to draw the sled bearing Grim -and Ruth. The old dog's wounds had become too stiff and sore to -permit of his traveling afoot, so he curled up at Ruth's feet. - -The antlers of the Mighty One were lashed to the sled behind the -little maid, forming a rest for her to lean back upon. My wound did -not prevent traveling, and there was no great need of haste. A band -of the warriors pushed on to provide food for us who followed, and at -length we emerged from that dismal, howling passage through the -cliffs into the frozen silence of the desolate wastes. - -Not until the second evening did we reach the village once more. On -the journey I initiated Uchichak into the mysteries of a musket, for -although the Crees had often seen our guns and knew their uses, they -had never heard them fired until that shot wherewith I killed the -Mighty One. The chief was delighted with the weapon which I gave to -him, as were the other chiefs, for I kept only one fusil for my own -use. - -At the village the party of Talking Owl remained for a great feast. -On the second evening of this feast a great council was held of the -two bands, for so Ruth had urged upon me that day. - -"We must not forget, Davie, that our task is not finished here," she -said gravely, as we were discussing what we had best do. "See if you -can get them to admit me to a Council again, to read to them from the -Book. I can put it into Cree, I think." - -So we crowded into the lodge of council in the evening, and among -others who were admitted was Soan-ge-ta-ha the Chippewa. The -destruction of his band and the death of Gib seemed to have broken -the old chief, and he had readily agreed to return home in peace and -to lead no more war-parties into the Ghost Hills. Three of the -foremost seats, however, were left empty out of respect, while from -the top of the lodge was suspended the great pair of antlers which -the giant moose had borne. The first who addressed the Council was -Uchichak, when the calumet had been ceremoniously passed around, -Brave Heart accepting it in silence. - -"My brothers," he began gravely, "once before has Yellow Lily been -admitted to the Council. Then she told us about the Great Spirit and -His Son, and about the Book, of which we understood little. But in -the Ghost Hills, my brothers, she found this same paper-talk, sent to -her by the Great Spirit, and she wishes that we should hear it. - -"My brothers, I am old. I have seen the Mighty One fall under the -hand of Brave Eyes. I do not know whether our Great Spirit sent him -or not, but we decreed in Council that if he slew the Mighty One, -then would we listen to his Great Spirit." - -Uchichak resumed his seat. Talking Owl and his chiefs, who had of -course heard the tale of the previous Council, objected to allowing -Ruth or any other woman to enter the lodge. They were, however, -overruled, and finally assented. - -[Illustration: _She selected parts of the Gospels--The chiefs -understood and listened absorbedly._] - -When Ruth entered, she stood beside the fire so that the flickering -light would enable her to read from the little Book. I had not known -what portion she would give to them, but she started with the -Creation, wisely enough. Then she selected parts of the Gospels -which gave short sketches from the life of the Master, and concluded -with the great story of Saint Paul. She turned the whole into Cree -as she went, stumbling in places where she knew no words, altering -other parts to simpler language, but on the whole the chiefs -understood and listened absorbedly. They were little more than -children in spirit, loving a story for its own sake, but over-quick -to catch the sense of a parable, so that Ruth read them many of these. - -It was a lengthy reading, and when it was done I had thought the -chiefs were asleep but for their glittering eyes centered on the -little maid. When I had led her out and come back to my seat there -was a very long silence, until at last the oldest chief stepped out -and made the smoke-offering to the four corners of the heavens. - -"My brothers, there were four chiefs who sat in the Council, and who -defied the Mighty One, saying that he was not sent by the Great -Spirit to us his children. My eyes are very feeble, yet I see only -one of these four. There are three vacant places before me. Perhaps -White Eagle and the Brothers of the Thunder have not yet come?" - -His gaze swept around as if looking for the absent ones, but none -answered. - -"My brothers, I see before me Brave Eyes, whose name shall be -Moose-slayer hereafter. Over his head swing the horns of the Mighty -One. I am too old to take the war-trail, and my limbs are feeble. -Perhaps Moose-slayer will tell me how the Mighty One was slain." - -A whisper of approval passed around as he sat down, and after a -little the eyes of the chiefs were fixed upon me, waiting. So, when -the silence had become unendurable, I came to my feet and faced them. - -Painting the picture before them as well as I might, for so they love -to have their stories told, I related how The Keeper had died beneath -the Chippewa arrows, a martyr to his faith, and retold his words. -Then on to the fight at the cavern and the silent man whom we had -found sitting therein, and I laid emphasis on how the little Bible -had been his, telling them something of his life. I concluded the -whole by reciting the death of the Mighty One, which had brought me -the high honor of a new name. I urged naught upon them, merely -pointing out how the Great Spirit had directed my bullet to its mark, -and so made an end of speaking. I could tell that my words had -impressed them, but I did not know how deeply until Uchichak arose. - -"My brothers, we have listened to the Yellow Lily, we have heard the -words of Moose-slayer," for such is the best translation I can give -of the Cree term applied to me. "I have never met the dead, my -brothers, yet in the paper-talk the Great Spirit has said that we -should meet them upon the spirit-trail. I would like to meet White -Eagle once again, and my father Gray Fish, and my other friends and -kinsmen. Our hearts are open; but first I would listen to the words -of Talking Owl." - -The latter chief, who was gaunt and hollow-eyed, surprised me greatly -by his words. - -"There can be but one Great Spirit, my brothers. The Crane has told -you that our hearts are open, and it is true. The Mighty One was -very strong. Our young men dared not stand against him, and our old -men said that he was a messenger from the Great Spirit. We believed -that this was true. - -"Then came this white man to our villages. We hunted with him, and -we found that his tongue was straight. When he told The Crane that -the Mighty One was not sent by the Great Spirit and that he would -hunt the moose, we were sorry, for we loved him and we loved White -Eagle his brother. The Chippewas, my brothers, believed in our Great -Spirit, yet the Mighty One attacked and scattered them, and the white -man slew him in a moment. Talking Owl thinks that the Great Spirit -of the white man and the Great Spirit of the red man are the same, -and that He has sent Moose-slayer as a messenger to us." - -With that I knew that the cause was won. The Council lasted a great -while longer, each of the older chiefs speaking in turn while the -warriors listened, but they all agreed with Uchichak and Talking Owl, -and in the end it was decided that they should accept the "sign in -the water" at another council to be held the next night. - -I hastened back to Ruth with the good news, and she was mightily -rejoiced. As it was late, we made no preparations until the next -day. The Crees had decided that Soan-ge-ta-ha should return -scatheless to his people, but somewhat to my surprise the Chippewa -announced that he, too, would receive the "sign in the water" with -the Cree chiefs. This was more than we had looked for, and it -greatly strengthened our influence, for Brave Heart was a famous -chief in his own nation. - -So in the great council-lodge we met and there the chiefs and -warriors received baptism. I felt keenly mine own unworthiness in -the matter, but for this there was no help. The squaws could by no -means enter this lodge, and so we visited them outside by the light -of great fires, afterward returning to the Council. There I set -before them all, the fact that it was time that Ruth and I returned -to our own people. - -"The spirit of White Eagle will be very happy," I told them, "as he -looks down and sees that you also are followers of the Great Spirit, -my brothers. And now that we have fulfilled our mission, we would -fain depart. First, however, I bid you to send messengers to all the -other villages, and cement a League of Peace here in the northland, a -silver chain of peace which shall bind you together strongly. You -shall have a council from all your tribes and villages which shall -rule you justly, and if this be done there shall no war or danger -come upon you for ever. I would fain stay and see that this is done -rightly, yet I am far from mine own people and my home, and the trail -is a long one to follow." - -As you may imagine, Uchichak and the rest were in huge consternation -at this, but in the end they promised to follow my advice and form a -peace-league among the peoples of the snows. Whether this was ever -done I know not to this day. - -As to the manner of our return, few of the Crees hereabouts had ever -visited the shores of the Great Bay, for the trail led across the -Barren Places and their hunting grounds lay rather to the west and -south. Soan-ge-ta-ha, however, offered to guide us to one of the -posts as soon as we should come to the Chippewa country, and this -offer we accepted right willingly. - -Talking Owl and his warriors remained a few days longer for a last -grand hunt, and a dozen Crees, with Uchichak, arranged to accompany -us to the Chippewa country. When the time of parting came, I told -them that if possible I would send other messengers to them from the -Great Spirit, who should tell them more of Him than could I; but I -laid no great weight upon this promise, knowing the men who made up -the Adventurers, and indeed the first to come among them with the -Word after our leaving, were missionaries from the Canadas. - -So once more we turned our backs upon friends and faced, this time -eastward, the waste places. The trip to the Chippewa country was a -hard one, but Ruth got through it well enough and Grim remained -constant at our side. At the Chippewa villages we parted with -Uchichak, and there still hang upon the wall before me the -magnificent moccasins which he gave me as a parting gift, while to -Ruth was given a shirt of doeskin with quill workings in many hues. - -Brave Heart kept his promises faithfully, although the Chippewas were -bitter against us for the loss of so large a party, and with some of -his men led us eastward, thinking to hit upon the Bay and so cross -the ice to Albany. But to the post we never came, for we had no -sooner come to the Bay, a desolate waste of ice stretching into the -distance, than we saw a smoke from a river-mouth, and when we had -come to it found there a ship laid up for the winter, and near the -ship a little fortified camp of men. - -I left our party and advanced down the slope toward them, and when -our coming was seen, a man came forth to meet me, while over the camp -was run up the flag of France. The man was also French, and I -greeted him in his own tongue, asking for refuge and shelter. He -tendered us a warm greeting, and therewith we went down to the camp, -wondering how this ship of France came to be in the territory of the -Adventurers. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -THE END OF THE LONG TRAIL. - -It was simple enough. The ship was the barque Pelican, out of New -France, and her company were fur-pirates in the Bay. They had been -caught by the ice, but as none at the Company's posts knew of their -presence, they were safe enough. In the barque was great store of -furs bartered from the Indians, and her master, one de Croissac, -sought only to win home again safe ere the Company's ships came from -England in the spring. - -They were warm-hearted men, these Frenchmen, and gave us of their -best. I told de Croissac all our tale, whereat he marveled much, and -promised to take us safe to Montreal, whence we could get ship for -France or New England, and so home again. Moreover, he knew of the -de Courbelles, and that Ruth's heritance was great. - -This troubled me no little. At last the spring came and the ice went -out in its warmth, and the "Pelican" was ready. On the day we -sailed, Ruth and I stood on the hilltop above, gazing out across the -land and the water. - -"Somewhere in that ice-dotted blue," Ruth said softly, "sleeps the -'Lass o' Dee,' with all those whom we knew and loved, Davie." - -"Yes," I made heavy-hearted answer, "and we leave them here for ever. -When we get to New France, and you become a great lady, Ruth, I will -leave you there also among your kin, and go--where I know not." - -"Why, Davie," and she slipped her hand into mine gently, "do you -think so hard of me as to leave me among strangers? I had thought we -would go back to Ayrby together--" - -"Lass, lass," I cried out in the old Gaelic we had not spoke for so -long, "an' you stay in New France you shall be a great lady, rich and -be-suitored. Would you then come back to the little stead on the -moors, where wealth is naught, where all is rude and homely and--" - -"Yes, Davie," she whispered, "because it is rude and homely -and--beautiful, I love it. So you thought I had rather be a great -lady! Truly, you might have known me better than that." - -Aye, and I had, but I had wished for her to say it. So we stood for -long, until a gun crashed out from the "Pelican," warning us to come. -As we turned to go, I caught her to me and my heart swelled with the -knowledge that though the New World had taken much from me, it had in -the end given me more a thousandfold. - -In the Straits we were sighted by an English ship, but the "Pelican" -was too fast for her, and not another sail did we see until we -reached New France and were safe. De Croissac, who knew our story -and our love, advised that we be married before seeking out Ruth's -people, for were our story and the ending of Radisson to become -known, there was no telling but that she might be sent to France as a -ward of the Governor. - -So it came about that we stepped ashore and sought out a friend of -the kindly captain, a priest whose little chapel nestled in the -shadow of the citadel, and from which we went as man and wife, -soberly and happily. - -Before leaving the Bay, Soan-ge-ta-ha had conveyed to me a parting -gift from Uchichak and the Crees, in the shape of a packet of furs. -These I had not opened until the cargo of the "Pelican" came to be -examined, when it was found that they were of the choicest beaver and -fox, and that their sale would afford us much ready money. - -Thus it chanced that when we left Montreal for Boston town, aboard a -trader of that port, both Ruth and I were like to be well off upon -our return to the Old World. Of the finding of Hudson I had said -nothing, keeping the little Bible and the scrap of written paper safe -stowed away, for our tale seemed wild enough as it was, in all sooth. - -One more package there was, in two pieces, but very large and bulky. -What this contained I did not know. It had been Ruth's secret from -the time we left Uchichak's village until we reached Rathesby once -again, and so on to the stead at Ayrby, which Ian MacDonald yielded -up readily enough, being glad to go back to his nets. At the -unpacking of this thing, Ruth bade me begone for a time. I returned -from the moors to find, hung over the broad fireplace, the massy -antlers of the Mighty One! She had fetched them where I had clean -forgot them, to be a lasting memorial of the days that had been. - -So here endeth my tale. There is another Grim now to tend the sheep, -yet still about us are things whereby to remember him and his. But -the things we fetched back from the New World were more than we had -gone to seek there. We had dreamed of fortune, and we came home with -love. We had looked for struggle and hardship, and we had found -them, but we had come home again with peace. Ruth, bending over my -shoulder as I write this last, would have me say one word more of -Radisson--nay, she shall write it herself, here at the end. - -"Trust thou in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and He shall give -thee thy heart's desire!" - - - -THE END. - - - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONQUEST *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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