Part 33 (1/2)

”Drag the ladders to the edge of the clearing, scatter along the whole front in the shelter of the trees, and at the call of the hoot-owl you shall commence firing. Shoot whenever one of Lapierre's men shows himself. But remain well concealed, for the men of Lapierre will be entrenched behind the loop-holes. At the call of the loon you shall cease firing.”

MacNair rapidly tolled out twenty who were to man the ladders.

”At the call of the wolf, rush to the stockade with the ladders, and those who have guns shall follow. Then up the ladders and over the walls! After that, fight, every man for himself, but mind you well, that you take Lapierre alive, for Lapierre is mine!”

The laddermen stationed themselves at the edge of the timber, and the men who carried guns scattered along the whole width of the clearing.

Then from the depths of the forest suddenly boomed the cry of the hoot-owl. Heads appeared over the edge of Lapierre's stockade, and from the shelter of the black spruce swamp came the crash of rifles.

The heads disappeared, and of Lapierre's men many tumbled backward into the snow, while others crouched upon the firing ledge which Lapierre had constructed near the top of his log stockade and answered the volley, shooting at random into the timber. But only as a man's head appeared, or as his body showed between the s.p.a.ces of the logs, were their shots returned. MacNair's Indians were biding their time.

For an hour this ineffectual and abortive sniping kept up, and then from the walls of the stockade appeared that for which MacNair had been waiting--a white flag fluttering from the end of a sapling. Raising his head, MacNair imitated the call of the loon, and the firing ceased in the timber. Having no white rag, MacNair waved a spruce bough and stepped boldly out into the clearing.

The head and shoulders of Lapierre appeared above the wall of the barricade, and for several moments the two faced each other in silence.

MacNair grim, determined, scowling--Lapierre defiant, crafty, with his thin lips twisted into a mocking smile. The quarter-breed was the first to speak.

”So,” he drawled, ”my good friend has come to visit his neighbour!

Come right in, I a.s.sure you a hearty welcome, but you must come alone!

Your retainers are too numerous and entirely too _bourgeois_ to eat at a gentleman's table.”

”But not to drink from his bottle,” retorted MacNair. ”I am coming in--but not alone!”

Lapierre laughed derisively. ”O-ho, you would come by force--by force of arms, eh! Well, come along, but I warn you, you do so at your peril. My men are all armed, and the walls are thick and high.

Rather, I choose to think you will listen to reason.”

”Reason!” roared MacNair. ”I will reason with you when we come to hands' grips!”

Lapierre shrugged. ”As you please,” he answered: ”I was only thinking of your own welfare, and, perhaps, of the welfare of another, who will to a certainty fare badly in case your savages attack us. I myself am not of brutal nature, but among my men are some who--” He paused and glanced significantly into MacNair's eyes. Again he shrugged--”We will not dwell upon the possibilities, but here is the lady, let her speak for herself. She has begged for the chance to say a word in her own behalf. I will only add that you will find me amenable to reason. It is possible that our little differences may be settled in a manner satisfactory to all, and without bloodshed.”

The man stepped aside upon the firing ledge, evidently in order to let someone pa.s.s up the ladder. The next instant the face of Chloe Elliston appeared above the logs of the stockade. At the sight of the girl MacNair felt the blood surge through his veins. He took a quick step toward and at a glance noted the unwonted pallor of her cheeks, the flas.h.i.+ng eyes, and the curve of the out-thrust chin.

Then clear and firm her voice sounded in his ears. He strained forward to catch the words, and at that moment he knew in his heart that this woman meant more to him than life itself--more than revenge--more even than the welfare of his Indians.

”You received my letter?” asked the girl eagerly. ”Can you forgive me?

Do you understand?”

MacNair answered, controlling his voice with difficulty. ”There is nothing to forgive. I have understood you all along.”

”You will promise to grant one request--for my sake?”

Without hesitation came the man's answer; ”Anything you ask.”

”On your soul, will you promise, and will you keep that promise regardless of consequences?”

”I promise,” answered the man, and his voice rang harsh. For revenge upon Lapierre with his own hands had been the dearest hope of his life.

At the next words of the girl, an icy hand seemed clutching at his heart.

”Then fight!” she cried. ”Fight! Fight! Fight! Shoot! And cut!

And batter! And kill! Until you have ridded the North of this fiend!”

With a snarl, Lapierre leaped toward the girl with arm upraised. There was a chorus of hoa.r.s.e cries from behind the walls. Before the uplifted arm could descend the figure of Lapierre disappeared with startling suddenness. The next instant the gigantic form of Big Lena appeared, head and shoulders above the walls of the stockade at the point where Lapierre had been. The huge shoulders stooped, the form of Chloe Elliston arose as on air, shot over the wall, and dropped into a crumpled heap upon the snow at its base. The face of Big Lena framed by flying strands of flaxen hair appeared for a moment above the wall, and then the sound of a shot rang sharp and clear. The face disappeared, and from beyond the wall came the m.u.f.fled thud of a heavy body striking the snow.