The Forge in the Forest

é Strik

abroad among the surrounding settlements. And I spent many hours planning with de Ramezay a fort which should be built on the site of this camp, in case the coming campaign should fail to drive the English out of Acadie. De Ramezay, as was ever his wont, was full of confide

Pré, well content with the jade Fortune whose whims had so far favoured us. De Ramezay and his officers were at the wharf-end to bid us God-speed; and as I muse upon it now they may have thought curiously of

fell that not until evening of the second day did we come into the Gaspereau

urlongs, returning many a respectful salutation from the doorways as we passed, we then turned up the hill by a little lane which was bordered stiffly with the poplar trees of Lombardy, and in short space we came to a pleasant cottage in a garden, under s

told him our adventures, and rehearsed the doings of the Black Abbé. He got up from time to time and paced the room, muttering once

ortune of war, English troops should come to be quartered in Grand Pré, they would be careful for the property of the villagers; but the house and goods of an enemy under arms, such would belike fare ill. I collected, also, certain moneys due me in the village, for I knew that the people were prosperous, and I did not know how long their prosperity might continue. This done, Marc and I set out for my

e with news and messages. At the Forge, too, I would receive payment from my tena

led thunder of a cock-partridge drumming. But there was no sound of hammer on clanging anvil, no smoke rising from the wi

vexation. "If he got my message, the

on some errand of yours, then he is sick abed, or dead

iche thus revealed was a scrap of birch bark scrawled with some rude characters of Babin's, whence I learned tha

of the stick was cut down to a flat surface, and on this was drawn with charcoal a straight line, having another s

-+-

" said Marc, the instant t

hat?" said I, turning it ov

peeled stick is Grill's sig

said I, with great seriousness; "but doubtless you will

it was puzzling to me to hear him laugh at the mere absurdity which I had just uttered, when my most polished witticisms, of which I had shot off many of late at Chignecto, and in conve

y the sun at high noon. At high noon, therefore, we may surely expect to see G

call that the sun, lad? It i

nce, his eyes glittering and piercing like sword points. His long white hair and beard were disordered with haste, the flowers and feathers in his pointed cap were for the most part broken, even as when we had last seen him, and his gaudy mantle was somewhat befo

stioned. "And fo

e stopped. Giving me a glance of scorn he

gone, springing with incredible swiftnes

!" cried Marc; and in t

I now declared certainly to be mad. But Marc had gone, so I had no choice, as I conceived it, but to s

I asked angrily, panti

ed suddenly before us, and our guide stopped. Instinctively we imitated his motions, as he stole forward and peered through a screen of leafage. We were on a bank overlooking the C

his breath, "'tis the child!

his wild e

g!" he muttered, "th

ion, turning to go, and looking at me with passionate appeal. But befo

ly but with noiseless caution. I expected Marc to demur, but not so. He evidently had a childlike faith in this fantastic being. He followed without a p

took on a like inclination of intentness; even the grim little scarlet head upon his staff seemed to listen with its master. And Marc did as Gr?l did. Then came a sound as of a woman weeping, very close at hand. Gr?l motioned us to pass

ion, kept me from springing to my feet and calling him. But my suspicions wer

ne; 'tis

in some wonder, an

ther; that's

we had better go anoth

ore distinctly. Something in the sound seeme

om between his teeth. "Come! come! Oh, I know

ourse, I