Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 332, 31 December 1906 — Page 7

i he Hichmoncl Palladium, Monday, December 3 1906.

Page Seven.

THE

REFUGEES

Bo

A. CONAN DOYLE,

Author of "The Return COPYRIGHT. 1259 3. BY 1 I," BM4.tXKW.JWI The mate thrust her out with a boat hook. Amos Green and De Catinat rave a cry of dismay. but the stolid New Enjflanders settled down to their oars and pulled off. "The baat leaks like a sieve." said the mate. "I will take her to the berg, leave you all there if we ran find footing and go hark for the captain." lint they had not taken fifty strokes before Adele gave a Midden scream. "My God."' she cried. "The ship is going down!' She had settled lower and lower in the water, and suddenly, with a sound of rending planks, she thrust down ler bows like a diving waterfowl, her stern flew up into the air, and with a Ions sucking noise she shot down swifter and swifter, until the leaping wares closed over her high psop lantern. With one Impulse the boat swept round again and made backward as fast as willing arras could pull it. But all was quiet at the scene of the disnsfer. Not even a fragment of wreckage was left upon the surface to show where the Golden Iiod had found her last harbor. For a long quarter of au liour they pulled round and round In the moonlight, but no glimpse could they see of the Puritan seaman, and at last, when in spite of the bailers the water was washing round their ankles, tbey put her head about once more nnd made their way in silence and with heaTy hearts to their dreary Island of refuge. Desolate as it was, it was their only hopo now, or the lead was increasing, find it was evident that the boat could not be kept afloat long. . The cliff which faced them was precipitous, and it glimmered and sparkled all over where the silver light fell upon the thousand facets of Ice. Right lu the center, however, on a level with the water's edge, there was what appeared to be a huge hollowed out cave, which marked the spot where the Golden Rod had. In shattering herself, dislodged a huge bowlder, and so, nrald her own rain, prepared a refuge for those who had trusted themselves to her. Thjs cavern was of the richest emerald green, light and clear at the edges, but toning away info the deepest purples and blues at the back. But It was not the beauty of this fTrotto, nor was it the assurance of rescue, which brought a cry of joy and of wonder from every lip, but it was that, seated upon an ice bowlder nnd placidly smoking a long corncob pipe, there was perched in front of them no less a person than Captain Epbra'.m Ravage of Boston. ..."Friend. Totnlinson," said he, "when I tell you to row for an Iceberg I mean you to row right away there, d'ye see. nnd not to go philandering about over the ocean. It's not your fault that I'm not froze, and so I. won Id have been if I hadn't some dry tobacco and my tinder box to keep myself warm." Without stopping to answer his commander's reproaches the mate headed for tbe ledge, which had been cut Into a slope by the bow of the brigarrtlne. so that the boat was run up easily on to the Ice. Captain Ephraim eelzed his dry clothes and vanished into iLe back of the cave, to return presently warmer in body and mare contented in mind. The longboat had been turned upside down for a scat, the gratings and thwarts taken out and covered with wraps to make a couch for the lady, and the head knocked out of the keg of biscuits. "We were much' frightened for you. Ephraim," said Amos Green. "I had a heavy heart this night when I thought that I should never see you more." "Tut. Amos; you should have known me better." "But how came you here, captain?" asked Tomlinson. "I thought that maybe you had been taken down by the suck of the ship." - "And so I was. It is the third ship jln which I have gone down, but they nave never kept me down yet. I went Fratfci wen on ice boulder and tlacidI lj smoking a lung corncob pipe. lleeper tonight than when the Speedt ..11 i . . . i . . t vcii sviiuk., uui uui !u uti'p as m lutj overnor Winthrop. When I came up swam to the berg, found this nook knd crawled in. Glad I was to see you. or I feared that you had foundered." "We put back to pick you up, and Ve passed you in the darkness. And What should we do now?" "Rig up that boat sail and make uarters for the gal, then get our sup per and such rest as we can, for there p nothing to be ddne tonight." In the morning Amos Green was roused by a hand upon his shoulder nd, springing to his feet, found De atinat standing beside him. The liter's face was grave, and his friend lead danger in his eyes. "What is it, then?" "The berg. It is coming to pieces. I av been, wa tenia it. xou sea that

of Sherlock Holmes"

HARPER BROTHERS crack which extends backward troni the end of our grotto? Two hours ago I could scarce put my hand into it. Now I can slip through it with ease." Amos Green walked to the end of the fuunel shaped recess and found, as his friend had said, that a green sinuous crack extended away backward into the iceberg, caused either by the tossing of the waves or by the terrific impact of their vessel. He roused Captain Epbraim and pointed out the danger to him. - "Well, if she springs a leak we are gone," said he. "She's been thawing pretty fast as it Is." They could see now that the whole hu-je mass was brittle and honeycombed and rotten. "Hello!" cried Amos Green. "What's that? I could have sworn that I heard a voice." "Impossible. We are all here." "It must have been my fancy, then.' Captain Ephraim walked to the sea ward face of the cave and swept the ocean with his eyes. "We should lie in tbe track of some ships," said he "There's the codders and the herring busses. We're overfar south for them I reckon. But we can't be more'n 200 mile from Port Royal, in Acadia, and we're in the line of the St. Lawrence trade. What is It, Amos?" The young hunter was standing with his ear slanting, his head bent forward, and his eyes glancing sidewlse, like a man who listens intently. He was about to answer when De Catinat gave a cry and pointed to the back of the cave. "Look t the crack now!" It had widened by a foot since they had noticed It last until it was now no longer a crack. It was a pass. "Let us go through," said the captain. He led the way, and the other two followed him. It was very dark as they advanced, with high dripping Ice walls on either side and one little zig zagging slit of blue sky above their heads. Tripping and groping their way, they stumbled along until sud denly the passage grew wider and opened out into a large square of flat Ice. The berg was level In the center and sloped upward from that point to the high cliffs which bounded it on each side. With one Impulse they be gan all three to clamber up until, a minute later, they were standing not far from the edge of the summit, sev enty feet above the sea. Amos Green looked about him with startled eyes. "I cannot understand it," said he. "I could have sworn by tbe eternal, listen to that!" The clear call of. a military bugle rang out in the morning air. With a cry of amazement they all three craned forward and peered over the edge. A large ship was lying under the very shadow of the iceberg. They looked straight down upon her snow white decks, fringed with shining brass cannon and dotted with seamen. A little clump of soldiers stood upon the poop, going through the manual exercise, and it was from them that the call had come which had sounded so unexpectedly In the ears, of the cast aways. Standing back from the edge, they had not only looked over the topmasts of this welcome neighbor, but they had themselves been invisible from her decks. Now the discovery was mutual, as was shown by a cho rus of shouts and cries from beneath them. " . But the three did not wait an instant. Sliding and scrambling down the slippery Incline, they rushed, shout ing, through the crack and into the cave, where their comrades had just been startled by the bugle call while in the middle of their cheerless breakfast. A few hurried words and the leaky longboat had been launched, their few possessions had been bundled in and they were afloat once more. Pulling round a promontory of the berg, they found themselves under the stern of a flue corvet, the sides of which were lined with friendly faces, while from the peak there drooped a huge white banner mottled over with the golden lilies of France. In a very few minutes their boat had been hauled up. and they found themselves on board of the St. Chrlstopbe, man-of-war, conveying Marquis de Denonville. tbe governor general of Canada, to take over his new duties. CHAPTER XIX. f SINGULAR colony it was of which the shipwrecked party V"A found themselves now to be members. Tbe St. Christophe had left Rochelle three weeks before with four small consorts conveying 300 soldiers to help the straggling colony on the St. Lawrence. The squadron had become separated, however, and the governor was pursuing his way alone in the hope of picking up the others in the river. Aboard he had a company of the regiment of Quercy, the staff of his own household, St. Vallier. the new bishop of Canada, with several of his attendants; three Recollet friars, five Jesuits bound for the fatal Iroquois mission, half a dozen ladies on the wy to join their husbands, two L'rsuline nuns and ten or twelve gallants whom love of adventure and the hope of bettering their fortunes had drawn across the seas. There was peace between England and France at present, though feeling ran high between Canada and New York, the French believing, "and with, some justice, that the English colonises were whooping on the demons who attacked them. Ephraim and his men were therefore received hospitably on board, though the ship was so crowded that they had to sleep wherever they could find cover and space for their bodies. The Catinats, too, had been treated in au even mora kindly fashion, the weak old man and the beauty of his daughter arousing the interest of the governor himself. De Catinat had durine the vovasre ex

changed bis uniform for a plain somber uit, so that, except for his military bearing, there was . nothing to show that he was a fugitive from the army. Old Catinat was now so weak that he was past the answering of questions, his daughter was forever at Ids side, an! the soldier was diplomatist enough, after a training at crsailles. to ;y much without saying anything, and sm their secret was still preserved. On the day after the rescue they sighted Cape Breton in the south, and soon, running swiftly before an easterly wind, saw tbe loom of the east end of AnticostL Then they sailed up the mighty river, though from midchannel ths banks on either side were hardly to be seen. As the shores narrowed in they saw the wild gorge of the Saguenay river upon the right, with the smoke from the little fishing and : trading station of Tadousac ttreamSng up above the pine trees. Thence the ship tacked on up the river

past Mai Bale. Arnos Green, leaning on the bulwarks, stared with longing ej'es at the vast expanses of virgin woodland, hardly traversed save by an occasional wandering savage or hardy coureur de bois. Then the bold outline of Cape Tourmente loomed up in front of them, they passed the rich, placid meadows of Laval's siegneury of Beanpre, and, skirting the settlements of the island of Orleans, they saw the broad pool stretched out in front of. them the falls of Montmorenci, the high palisades of Point Levi, the cluster of vessels, and upon the right that wonderful rock, with its diadem of towers, and Its township huddled round Its base, the center and stronghold of French power in America. The old merchant had pined away since ne iiau left French sou, like a plant which has been plucked from Its roots. The shock of the shipwreck and the night spent in their bleak refuge upon the Iceberg had been too much for his years and strength. Since they had been picked up he had lain amid the scurvy stricken soldiers, with hardly a sign of life save for his thin breathing and the twitching of his scraggy throat. Now, however, he opened his eyes and raised himself lowly and painfully upon his elbow. "What Is It, father? What can we do for you?" cried Adele. "We are In America, and here is Amory and here am I, your children." But the old man shook his head. "The Lord has brought me to the promised land, but he has not willed that I should enter Into it," said he. "But at least I should wish, like Moses, to gaze upon it if I cannot set foot upon it." A minute later the old merchant was on deck, and the two young men had seated him upsn a coll of rope with his back against the mast, where he should be away from the crush. The soldiers were already crowding down into the boats, and all were so busy over their own affairs that they paid no heed to the little group of refugees who had gathered round the stricken man. He turned his head painfully from side to side, and his lids fell slowly over his eyes, which had been looking away out past Point Levi at the rolling woods and the faroff mountains. Adele gave a quick cry of despair and threw her arms round the old man's neck. "He is dying, Amory; he is dying!" she cried. A stern Franciscan friar who had been telling his beads within a few paces of them heard the cry. "He is indeed dying,", he said as he gazed down at the ashen face. "Has the old man had the sacraments of the church?" But the old Huguenot had opened bis eyes, and with a last flicker of strength he pushed away the gray hooded figure which bent over him. "I left all that I love rather than yield to you," he cried, "and think you that you can overcome me now?" The Franc! "nn started back at the words, and L.j hard, suspicious eyes shot from De Catinat to the weeping girl. "So!" said he. "You are Huguenots, then!" "Hush! Do not wrangle before a man who is dying!" cried De Catinat in a voice as fierce as his own. "Before a man who is dead," said Amos Green solemnly. As he spoke the old man's face had relaxed, his thousand wrinkles had been smoothed suddenly out as though an invisible hand had passed over them, and his head fell back against the mast. Adele remained motionless, with her arms still clasped round his neck and her cheek pressed against his shoulder. She had fainted. De Catinat raised his wife and bore her down to the cabin of one of the la dies who had already shown them some kindness. A brief order was given that the old merchant should be buried in the river that night, and then, save for a sailmaker who fas tened the canvas round him, mankind had done its last for Theophile Catinat. With the survivors, however, it was different, and when the troops were all disembarked they were mustered In a little group upon the deck, and an offi cer of the governor's suit decided upon what should be done with them. He was a portly, good humored, ruddy cheeked man, but De Catinat saw with apprehension that the Franciscan friar walked by his side as he advanced along the deck and exchanged a few whispered remarks with him. It shall be seen to, good father; it shall be seen to," said the officer im patiently. I am a zealous servant of the holy church." "I trust that you are, M. de Bonne ville. With so devout a governor as M. de Denonville it might be an 111 thing even in this world for the offi cers of his household 'to be lax." - The soldier glanced angrily at his companion. I would have you remember, fa ther," said he. "that if faith Is a virtue charity is no less so." . Then, speaking in English, "Which is Captain Savage?" "Ephraim Savaga of Boston." "And Master Amos Green?" "Amos Green of New York. "And Master Tomlinson?" "John Tomlinson of Salem." "And Master Mariners Hiram Jeffer son, Joseph Cooper, Seek-Grace SpauldIng and Paul Cusbing, all of Massachu setts Bay?" "We are here." "It Is the governor's orders that all whom I have named shall be conveyed at once to the trading brig Hope, which is yonder ship with the white paint line. She sails within tbe hour for thy English nrocincss." "

A buzz of joy broke from the castaway mariners at tbe prospect of being so speedily restored to their homes, and they hurried away to gather together the few possessions which tbey

had saved from the wreck. The otti-i- ... .. . . , - . . . i cer put nis list m uis jv.t:t uu stepped across to where De Catinat leaned moodily against the bulwarks. "What is to be done with us?" asked Ie Catinat. "You are to be confined to the ship until she sails, which v.ill be in a week at the furthest." ' "And then?" "You are to be carried home in her and handed over to the governor of I Rochelle, to be sent back to Paris Those are M;' de. Denonville' s orders.' De Bonneville left De Catinat with a few blunt words of sympathy, but j the friar still paced the deck, with a time, and two soldiers who were sta t toned upon the poop passed and re passed within a few yards of him They had orders evidently to watch his movements. As ne stood gazing his attention was drawn away by the swish of oars, and a large boat full of men passed immediately underneath where he stood. It held the New Engenders, who were being conveyed to the ship which was to take them home. There were the four seamen huddled together, and there in the sheets were Captain Ephraim Savage and Amos Green con versing together and pointing to the shipping. Tbe grizzled face of tbe old Iuritan and the bold features of the woodsman were turned more than once In his direction, but no word of fare well and no kindly wave of the hand came back to the lonely exile. He stooped his face to his arms and burst In an instant into a passion of sobs Before he raised bis eyes again the brig bad hoisted her anchor and was tack ing under full canvas out of the Que bee basin. De Catlnat's bunk was next to a porthole, and it was his custom to keep this open, as the caboose in which the cooking was done for the crew was close to him and the air was hot and heavy. That night he found it Impossible to sleep, and he lay tossing under his blauket. thinking over every possi ble means by which they might be able to get away from this cursed ship. But even if they got away where could they go to then? All Canada was sealed to them. The woods to the south were full of ferocious Indians. The English settlements would, it was true, grant them freedom to use their own religion. but what could his wife and he do without a friend, strangers among folk who spoke another tongue? Had Amos Green remained true to them, then Indeed all would have been well. But he had deserted them. But what was that? Above the gen tle lapping of the river he had suddenly heard a sharp, clear "Hist!" Perhaps It was some passing boatman or In dian. Then it came again that eager, urgent summons. He sat up and stared about him. It certainly must have come from the open porthole. Something fell upon his chest with a little tap and, rolling off, rattled along the boards. He sprang up, caught a lan tern from a hook and flashed it upon the floor. There was tbe missile which had struck him a little golden brooch As he lifted it up and looked closer at it a thrill passed through him. It had been his own, and he had given it to Amos Green upon the second day that he had met him. This was a signal, then, and Amos Green had not deserted them, after all. He dressed himself, all In a tremble There teas standing the grim figure of a Franciscan friar. with excitement, and went upfcn deck. It was pitch dark, and he 'could see no one, but the sound of regular footfalls somewhere in the fore part of the ship showed that the sentinels were still there. . The guardsman walked over to the side and peered down Into the darkness. He could see the loom of a boat. "Who is there?" he whispered. "Is that you, De Catinat?" "Yes." "We have come for you. "God bless you. Amos!" ; "Is your wife there?" "No, but I can rouse her." "Good! But first catch this cordNow pull up the ladder." De Catinat gripped the line which was thrown to him and on drawing it up found that It was attached to a rope ladder furnished at the top with two steel books to catch on to the bulwarks. He placed them in position and then made his way very softly to the cabin amidships in the ladies quarter, which had been allotted to his wife. In ten minutes Adele had dressed and. with her valuables In a little bundle, had slipped out from her cabin. Together they made their way upon deck once more and crept aft under the shadow of the bulwarks. They were almost there when De Catinat stopped suddenly and ground out an oath through his clinched teeth." Between them and the rope ladder, there was standing In a dim patch of murky light the grim figure of a Franciscan friar. But De Catinat was not a man with whom it was safe to trifle. His life had been one of quick resolve and prompt action. Was this . vindictive friar at the last moment to stand between him and freedom? It- was a

dangerous position to take. Tbe guardsman pulled Adele Into the shadow of the mast, and then, as the monk advanced, he sprang, out upon him and seized him by the gown. As he did so the other's cowl was pushed back, and instead of the harsh features of the ecclesiastic De Catinat saw with amazement the shrewd gray eyes and strong, stern fa-e of Ephraim Savage. At the same instant another figure an-

iwared over the side, and the warm hearted Frenchman threw himself into the arms of Amos Green. "It's all right." said the young hunter, disengaging himself with some embarrassment from the other's embrace. "We've got him in the boat, with a buckskin glove jammed Into his gullet." "Who, then?" "The man whose cloak Captain Ephraim there has put round him. He came on us when you were away rousing your lady. Is the lady there?" "Here she is." "As quick as you can, then, for some one may come." Adele was helped over tbe side and seated In the stern of a birch bark canoe. The three men unhooked the ladder and swung themselves down by a rope, while two Indians who held the paddles pushed silently off from the ship's side and shot swiftly up the stream. A minute later a dim loom behind them and the glimmer of two yellow lights were all that they could see of tbe St. Christophe. "Take a paddle. Amos, and I'll take one," said Captain Savage, stripping off his monk's gown. "I felt safer In this on tbe deck of yon ship, but It don't help in a boat." "I hope, madame, that all is well with you." said Amos. "Nay. I can hardly understand what has happened or where we are." "Nor can I, Amos." " ' "Did you not expect us to come back for you. then?" "I did not know what to expect." "Well, now, surely you could not think that we would leave you without a word." "I confess that I was cut to the heart by It." "I feared that you were when I looked at you with the tail of my eye and saw you staring so blackly over the bulwarks at us. But if we had been seen talking or planning they would have been upon our trail at once." "And what did you do?" "We left the brig last night, got ashore on the Beaupre side, arranged for this canoe and lay dark all day. Then tonight we got alongside and Id roused you easily, for I knew where you slept. The friar nearly spoiled all when you were below, but we gagged him and passed him over the side." "Ah, it is glorious to be free once more! And where are' we going?" "Ah, there you have me. It is this way or none, for we can't get down to the sea. We must make our way overland as best we can, and we must leave a good stretch between Quebec and us before the day breaks, for, from what I hear, they would rather have a Huguenot prisoner than an Iroquois sagamore. By the eternal, I cannot see why they should make such a fuss over how a man chooses to save his own soul." All night they toiled up tbe great river, straining every nerve to place themselves beyond the reach of pursuit. By keeping well into the southern bank and so avoiding the force of the current tbey sped swiftly along. for both Amos and De Catinat were practiced hands with the paddle, and the two Indians worked as though they were wire and whipcord instead of flesh and blood. When at last morning broke and the black shaded imperceptibly into gray they were far out of sight of the citadel and of all trace of man's handiwork. Virgin woods In their wonderful many colored autumn dress flowed right down to the river's edge on either side, and In the center was a little island. "I've passed here before," said De Catinat. "I remember marking that great maple with the blaze on Its trunk when last I went with the governor to Montreal. That was In Frontenac's day, when the king was first and the bishop second." The redskias, who had sat like terra cotta figures, without a trace of expresslqn upon their set, hard faces, pricked up their ears at the sound of that name. My brother has spoken of the great Onontio," 6aid one of them, glancing round. "We have listened to the whis tling of evil birds who tell us that be will never come back." He is with the great white" father," answered De Catinat. "I have myself seen him in his council, and he will as suredly come across the great water If his people have need of him." Tbe Indian shook his shaven head. "The rutting month is past, my broth er," saul he. speaking In broken French, but ere tbe month of the bird laying has come there will be no white man upon this river save only behind stone walls." What then? We have heard little. Have the Iroquois broken out so fiercely?" The Indian waved his hand along the whole southern and western horizon. "Where are they not? The woods are rustling with them. Tbey are like a fire among dry grass, so swift and so terrible." "On my life," said De Catinat, "if these devils are indeed unchained they will need old Frontenac back if they are not to be swept into the river." "He was an enemy of the church, and the right hand of the foul fiend In this country," said a voice from the bottom of the canoe. It was the friar, who had succeeded in getting rid of the buckskin glove and belt with which the two Americans had gagged him. "Why should we take him farther?" asked Amos. "He is but weight for us to carry, and I cannot see that we profit by his company. Let us put him out." "And have him maybe In front of us, warning the biaekjackets," said old Ephraim.. "On that Island, then." "Very good. He can bail the first of hi folk who pass. They shot over to the Island and landed the friar, who said nothing, but cursed them with bis eye. They left with him a small supply of biscuit and of flour to last him until he should be picked up. - Then, having passed a bend injthe river, they ran their canoe ashore in a Little-cove, where ther laid

out xnetr small stock or provisions and ate a hearty breakfast while discussing what their plans should be for the fu-

; ture. I They were not badly provided for their j journey. The captain of the Glouces ter brig in which the Americans had started from Quebec knew Ephraim Savage welL as who did not upsn the New England coast? He had accepted liis bill, therefore, at three months date, and he had let him have in return three excellent guns, a good supply of ammunition and enough money to provide for all his wants. In this way he Lad hired the canoe and the Indians and had fitted her with meat and bis cuit to last them for ten days at the ! least. "It's like the breath of life to me to feel the beft of a gun and to smell the trees round me." said Amos. "Why. It cannot be more than a hundred I leagues from here to Albany or Schenectady rlsrht through tbe forest." "Aye. lad. but how Is the gal to walk j a hundred leagues through a forest? No, no: let us keep water under our keel and lean on the Lord." 'Then there is only one way for It. We must make the Richelieu river and keep right along to Lake Champlaln and Lake St. Sacrement. There we should be close by the headwaters of the Hudson." "It Is a dangerous road," said De Catinat. who understood the conversa tion of his companions even when be was unable to join in it. "We should need to skirt the country of tbe Mo hawks." "It is the only one, I guess. It is that or nothing." "And I have a friend upon the Rich elieu river who, I am sure, would help us on our way," said De Catinat. with a smile. "You have heard me talk of Charles de la Noue, . Seigneur de Ste. Marie. His seigneury lies on the Rich elieu. a little to the south of Fort St Louis." "Good!" cried Amos. "If we have a friend there we shall do well. That clinches It, then, and we shall hold fast by the river." And so for a long week the little par ty toiled up the great waterway, keeping ever to the southern bank, where there were fewer clearings. The clear ings radiated out from the villages, and every cottage was built with an eye to the military necessities of the whole, so that the defense might make a stand at all points and might finally center upon the stone manor house and the mill. At every step In this country, whether the traveler were on the St. Lawrence or west upon the lakes or down upon tbe banks of the Mississippi or south in the country of the Cherokees and of the Creeks, he would still find the inhabitants in tbe same state of dreadful expectancy and from the same cause. The Iroquois, as they were named by the French, . or the Ftve Nations, as they called them selves, hung like a cloud over the whole great continent. For half a century these tribes had nursed a grudge toward the French since Champlain and some of his fo! lowers had taken part with their ene mies against them. During all these years they had brooded in their forest villages, flashing out now and again in some border outrage, but waiting for the roost part until their chance should come. And now it seemed to them that it had come. They had destroyed all tbe tribes who might have allied themselves with the white men They had isolated them. They had supplied themselves with good guns and plenty of ammunition from the Dutch and Engllsn of New York. The long,, thin line of French settlements lay naked before them. Such was the situation as the little party of refugees paddled along the bank of the river, seeking the only rath which could lead them to peace and to freedom. Yet It was, as they well knew, a dangerous road to fol low. All down the Richelieu were the outposts and blockhouses of ' the French. The blockhouses themselves might hold their own, but to tbe little party who had to travel down 'from one to the other the situation was full of deadly peril. It was true that the Iroquois were not at war with the English, but, they would discriminate little when on tbe warpath, and the Americans,, even-had they wished to do so, could ' not separate their fata from that of their two French com panions. As they ascended the St. Lawrence they met many canoes coming down More than once these wayfarers wished to have speech with the fugi tlves, but they pushed onward, disregarding their signs and hails. From below nothing overtook tbem, for they paddled from early morning until late at night. On the seventh day they rested at a point but a few miles from the mouth of the Richelieu river, where a large blockhouse. Fort Richelieu, had been built by M. de Saurel. Once past this, they had no great distance to go to reach the seigneury of De Catlnat's friend of the noblesse, who would help them upon their way. Tbey had spent the night upon a little island in midstream, and at early dawn they were about to thrust the canoe out again from the sand lined cove in which she lay when Ephraim Savage growled in his throat and pointed out across the water. A large canoe was coming up the river, flying along as quick as a dozen arms could drive it. In the stern sat a dark figure, which bent forward with every swing of the paddles as though consumed, by eagerness to push onward. . Even at that distance there was no mistaking it It was the fanatical monk whom they had left behind them. . Concealed among the brushwood, they watched their pursuers fiy past and vanish round a curve in a stream. "We'd have done better either to put him overboard or to take him as ballast," said Ephraim. "WelL we can't take the back track, anyhow," said Amos. "And yet how can we go on?" said De Catinat despondently. "This vindictive devil will give word at the fort and at every other point along the river." "Let me cipher It out" Amos Green sat on a fallen maple with his head sunk upon his hands. "Well." said he presently, "If it's no good going on and no good going back, there's only one way, and that Is to go to one side. We can't go to the north, so It follows that we must go to the south."

"It's our only chance. We can cut through the woods and come out near this friendly house on the Richelieu. The friar will lose our trail then, and we'll have uo more trouble with" him If be stays on the St Lawrence." "There's nothing else for It" said Captain Ephraim ruefully. "It's not my way to go by land if I can get by water, so yon must lay the course and keep her straight. Amos." "It Is not far, and it will not tako us long. Let us get over to tbe south

era nr.nc. ana we snail make a stare If madame tires. De Catinat, we shall take turns to carry ber." "Ah. monsieur, you cannot think what a good walker I am! In this s;'eudid air one might go on forever." "We will cross, then." In a very few minutes they were at the other side and. had landed at tbe edge of the forest. There the guns and ammunition were allotted to each man, and his share of provisions and of the scanty baggage. Then, having paid the Indians and having instructed them to say nothing of their movements, they turned their backs upon the river and plunged into the silent woods. CIIA1TER XX. K BAYING Fort St. Louis upon their right, the travelers pushed onM ward as swiftly as they could, for the sun was so low In the heavens that the bushes In the clearings threw shadows like trees. Then suddenly as they peered in front of them between the trunks the green of the sward turned to the blue of the water, and they saw a broad river running swiftly before them. Amos and De Catinat had both been upon tbe bosoru of the Richelieu before, and their hearts bounded as they looked upon it, for tbey knew that this was tbe straight path which led them, the one to home and the other to peace and freedom. Across the river was the terrible Iroquois country, and at two points they could see the smoke of fires curling up Into tbe evening air. They followed the track which led down the eastern bank. As they pushed onward a stern military challenge suddenly brought them to a stand, and . they saw the gleam of two musket barrels which covered them from a thicket overlooking tbe psth. "We are friends," cried De Catinat "Whence come you, then?" asked an Invisible sentinel. - "From Quebec." "And whither are you going?" "To visit M. Charles de la Noue, seigneur of Ste. Marie." "Very good. It is quite safe, Du Lhut. Tbey have a. lady with them too. I greet you, madame. In the name of my father." Two men had emerged from the bushes, one of whom might hare passed as a full blooded Indian had it not been for these courteous words, which he uttered In excellent French. He was a tall, slight young man, very dark, with piercing black eyes and a grim, square, relentless mouth which could only have come with Indian descent The other was undoubtedly a pure Frenchman, elderly, dark and wlry, with a bristling black beard and a fierce, eager face. Leaning upon his long brown gun, be stood watching tbe party, while his companion advanced toward them, "You will excuse our precautions, said he. "We never know what device these rascals may adopt to entrap us. I fear, madame, that you have had a long and very tiring 'journey. My mother will be very glad to welcome you and to see to every want. But you, sir, I have surety seen you before." "And I you," cried the guardsman. "My name is Amory de Catinat, once of the regiment of Picardy. Surely you are Achille de la Noue de Ste. Marie." "Yes, it is I." the young man answered, holding out his hand and smiling In a somewhat constrained fashion. "I do not wonder that you should hesitate, for when you saw me last I was in a very different dress from this. We have one life for tbe forest and one for tbe iurn, iuuuU, iiiurrvif a i.v to .ataia. will not have It so and carries Versailles with him wherever he goes. But it is time for our relief, and so we may guide you home." . Two men in the rude dress of Canadian censitaires, or farmers, but carrying their muskets in a fashion which "I'ce, it is i," tfc young man answered. told De Catlnat's trained senses that they were disciplined soldiers, had suddenly appeared upon the scene. Young De la Noue gave them a few curt injunctions and then accompanied the refugees along tbe path. "You mar not know my friend here," said he, pointing to the other sentinel, ''but I am guite sure that bis name is not unfamiliar to yon. This Is Grey(Continued Monday.) CASTOR I A For Infanta and Children. Tb Kir. i Yea i::i3 Ab:p C::St Bears the Signature of