Part 4 (1/2)

”Pardon, Marie.”

”We have come with despair on account of the previous abounding kindness of monsieur, to divulge him--”

”A secret! A secret terrible!” exploded the old man, who was nervously standing first on one foot and then on the other.

”Jean!”

”Oui, Marie.”

”If you have an important secret to confide, had we not better enter the house?” suggested the major, who saw from the excited earnestness of the worthy couple that something very unusual had occurred to agitate them.

They accepted this invitation, and the major finally gleaned from their combined and interjectory statements that on the previous day Madame St. Aubin, visiting the Ottawa village, had surprised a number of warriors in the act of cutting off the long barrels of their guns, until the entire length of each weapon was not more than a yard.

Moreover, she had overheard an Indian who was somewhat under the influence of liquor boast that ere many days he would have English scalps with which to fringe his leggings.

”Has any one else seen these things or noted symptoms of uneasiness among the Indians?” demanded the major.

”Yes. Basil, the blacksmith, has been troubled for days by Indians begging for loans of files and saws, for what purpose they would not state.”

”But why do you not carry this matter to Major Gladwyn, who is in command, instead of to me, who now possess no authority?”

”Because, monsieur, the commandant makes of us a jest and cares not to listen. Aussi, because we care not for him; but to you, monsieur, who have formerly turned many of our sorrows into joys, we wish not that harm should come. For ourselves, we have no fear. The savages will not harm the French. But for the English, whom they love not--well, there it is different.”

”You think, then, that the fort is in danger?”

”Of an attack, monsieur. Yes.”

”How soon?”

”Who can tell? Perhaps in one week. Perhaps even to-morrow.”

”Will you come again this evening, before the gates are closed, and bring any further information you may gain during the day?”

”We dare not, monsieur. All the French are now too closely watched.

This morning we sell eggs. In the evening it would be known that we had no business.”

”If I leave the post an hour after sunset and walk just beyond the church, will you meet me there and deliver to me your information?”

”If it is possible, we will; for the thing that monsieur demands must be granted on account of his, ofttimes of the heart, kindness.”

After the departure of these people, Major Hester thoughtfully made his way to the quarters of the commanding officer, whom he found at breakfast.

Gladwyn, though a brave man and a thorough soldier, was a high liver, inclined to dissipation, impatient of advice, and held an undisguised contempt for all Indians. To crown all, he was extremely jealous of the ascendancy over the native tribes gained by his predecessor in command, whom he cordially disliked and wished out of the way. On the present occasion he greeted him in courteous terms, but coldly and without rising.

”This is indeed an early call, major. I suppose I am indebted for the pleasure to the fact that Ensign Hester took an early departure, according to instructions, and your paternal instinct led you to speed his journey. I must confess my surprise that you did not accompany him. I suppose you are waiting for the opportunity of a more comfortable pa.s.sage by schooner. For my part, I prefer the excitement of a canoe voyage; but I suppose as one grows old--”

”A soldier never grows so old as to forget his duty, Major Gladwyn,”

answered the elder officer, stiffly. ”And I can a.s.sure you that only a strong sense of duty causes me to linger in a place where my presence is so evidently undesirable. But I have not interrupted your breakfast for the purpose of discussing personalities. I desire to lay before you a bit of information that has just come to my knowledge, regarding certain suspicious movements among the Indians, who, as you must be aware, are gathered about the post in unusual numbers. They are cutting off their gun-barrels to such a length that the weapons may be concealed beneath their blankets. I have this direct from St. Aubin, whose wife, visiting the Ottawa village yesterday, discovered its inmates to be thus engaged.”

”It must have been an interesting sight,” replied Gladwyn, carelessly, ”but I fail to perceive what possible interest it can have for me. I suppose the rascals have learned that they can shoot just as effectively, or rather as ineffectively, with short gun-barrels as with long, and so have wisely decided to do away with useless weight. By Jove, Hester, I have laughed more than once at the shrewdness of our traders who sell cheap flint-lock muskets to the redskins for as many otter or beaver skins as can be piled between stock and muzzle, and have these trade guns built with an increased length each year. Rather clever, is it not?”