Heralds of Empire

y; for while Jean delayed the natives we ran overland through the woods, launched our canoe

. "And now, my brave lads," he began, counting in quick, sharp words that rang with command, "keep time-o

ves in hand, men, you can win against the devil's own

swell, dipping, rising buoyant, forward in bounds, with a roar of the nearing rapids, and spray dashing athwart in drifts. M. Radisson braced back. The prow lifted, shot into mid-air, touched water again, and went whirling through the mill-race that boiled below a w

oe as we breasted a turn in the river to calmer currents, "Sainte An

'twould gain his end,"

might rest; but he threw his head back with a loud laugh, more of scorn than mirth, and bade me nurse a wounded hand. On the evening of the third day we came to t

he fort," he remarked; and the canoe glided out t

have surprised us when the craft shot out from river-mouth to ope

was nigh as

vers and an ocean-tide met. The seething waves lashed to foam with the long, low moan of the world-devouring serpent which, legend says, is ever an-hungering to

f the pounding surf receded to the rear. Clouds blew inland, muffling the moon; and M. Radisson ordered us ashore for the night.

ll M. Radisson's comfort, when God

d you must remember, while the diamond and the charcoal are of the same family, 'tis the diamond has lustre, because it is hard. Faults, M. Radisson had, whic

a half-built fort on an island in mid-river. At the water side lay a queer-rigged brigantine, rocking t

w on the high sea," muttere

make a prize worth the taking," added M. Radisson sharply. Then, as if to j

from the fog a stockaded fort with two bastions f

fort," growled Godefroy, w

Radisson. "Easy taking makes so

in his obstinacy. "All very well to talk, sir, but

when it's done," inte

ose obstinates who would b

, sir, what we're

one thing to do always-only one, the right thing! Do it, fool! An I hear mor

lkily back, and M.

odefroy's tongue is out he can't grumbl

from a tree to attract the fort's notice. Then he post

othin

d out the noon hour M. Radis

he vowed. "Losing time is l

on was towering above him. Catching Godefroy by the scruff of the neck, he threw him face down into t

ed. "They will not fire at Indians. Bin

s arms, whistling, and hallooing. With cries of welcome, the fort people ran to the shore and left their guns unmanned. Reading from a syllable book, they shouted out Indian words

called in the Indian tongu

d Radisson, "not the

y approaching nearer. He shouted

, blundered in here

of disguise, he demanded in might

ey called bac

insisted Radisson, with a

rade," came a

m the ground in the woods, or from a far mem

ur license," boldly

ws ashore put the

ee your license instantly," repeated Si

f the men, who was dressed with slash

led and poled a

he taking! If the rascals complain-the g

mistook your firing for more French ships!" Shaping his hands trumpet fashion to his mouth

as if he had tossed a

from their courage! We'll not waste a pound o' powder in capturing that prize!" He turned suddenly to

Gil

he woods. "Ben was tall. The pirate

-grown to a well-timbered rapscallion with head high in air, jack-boots ha

g to the fort, and stood twirling his m

-Radisson!"

y in air like an unbroken colt d

and," he called down

land," Radisson shouted up t

kicked the sand with his heels. Raising a h

you in this warlik

s Most Christian Majesty, the King of Fr

o catch the d

ties!" he ejaculated. "

ng when one is master alread

tongue like an eel, but that's what I mean; a

quietly motioning us to follow ashore. "No need to conque

fly, each with a free hand to his sword-hil

n: "I've seen t

"We captured her from

n. "I meant outside the

e those your ships?" he a

in the way of a f

allest we have," quic

Radisson's eyes closed to the wat

welcome friends! Come aboard all of you and test the Canary we got in the hold of a fine Spanish galleon last week! Such a top-heavy ship, w

Radisson's t

cess of the beaver tr

renchman captive; M. Radisson, with the lightnings under his brows and that

the brain? It was that took me aboard his

there"-his mighty air brought the laugh to my face-

ar to Ben's vanity, "we cannot be debtors altogether. Let two of yo

ile M. Radisson spied out the ship. He signalled, as we thought, for two hostages to come down from the fort; but scarce had he dropped

ged with terror, and my own pulse went a-ho

ast shot went skipping over the water, "you're devilish

ty of powder, and that some fool

powder, there would doubtless be use found for it

and filled the air with powder-dust; but when the smoke cleare

, the Frenchman ran h

the next

d a line on the sand between th

disson. "Now I'll wager you a bottle of Madeira

e gunners ceased firing and M. Radi

er! You'll need it all if he's king who conquers! Besides," he added, turning suddenly se

ave you?" b

s Bay Company ships attacking you, I'd be glad to loan

staches till they were nigh jerked

ys M. de Radisson, with the l

e," laughed Gillam, half-puzzled, half-p

the lace ruffle of Gillam's sleev

uestion

and the common soldiers and my own guard, 'tis all I can manag

thing of a treaty of

on shook

support to do as I

coolness was scurvy trea

he cub's hangdog of a father not offer a thousan

he played t

anced for you to escape,"

t a treaty," an

hs the Frenchman,

em," say

t wish to be

ish to be

to be discovered do

says

discovered, don't let you

en't," sa

ng sharply at me; for we were bo

eft the island,

to us. Then to Gillam, "Don't let your peopl

says

Fur Company to discover

" says

froy, who knew the plays of his master's game better than I. "We can beat

prophecy with an omin

w you are here," M. R

counts

you against th

am laughed

ds the Hudson's B

"but your father doesn't command the governor o

not know that I a

hing on the Company's preserve, the Company's captain and the captain's son might go hang for all the furs they'd get! By

s the first time, I think, the cub realized that t

ised three terms. You will keep your people from knowing I

nst the Indians," coo

ase for all the furs the New Englander would get; and Ben Gillam

e leave the island," warned M. Radisson, "I may let my men

ut out h

treaty,"

the last of us; but M. Radisson was not the ma

did you say, tall and slim? Did you sink her or sell her? Sen