Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-04-18
THE@
Blu A.. CONAN DOYLE.
Author Of Tho Return of Sherlock Holmes
COPYRIGHT. 1898. BY HARPER & BROTHERS
COPYRIGHT. 1898. BY HARPER & BROTHERS
Blu A. CONAN DOYLE,
Author of Tho Return of Sherlock Holm

For half a century these tribes had
nursed a grudge toward the French
since Champlain and some of his fol-
lowers had taken part with their enc
mics against them. During all these
years they had brooded in their forest
villages, flashing now and again
in some border outrage, but waiting
for the most part until their chance
should come. And now it seemed to
them that it had come. They had de-
stroyed all the 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 English of New York. The
long, thin line of French settlements
lay naked before them.
Such was the situation as the little
party of refugees padded along the
bank of the river, seeking the only
path which could lead them to peace
and to freedom. Yet 1t was, as they
well knew, a dangerous road to fol-
low. All down the Richelieu were the
outposts and b~lockhouses of the
French. The blockhouses themselves
might hold their own, but to the little
party who had to travel down from
one to the other the situation was full
Of deadly peril. 1t was true that the
Iroquois were not at war with the
English, but they would discriminate
little when on the warpath, and the
Americans, even had they wished to
do so, could not separate their fate
from that Of their two French COM
panions.
As they assembled the St. Lawrence
they met many canoes coming down.
More than once these wayfarers
wished to have speech with the fugi-
tives. but they pushed onward, disre-
garding their signs and halls. From
below nothing overlook them, for they
padded 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 Catinat's
friend of the noblesse, who would help
them upon their way. They had spent
the night upon a little island in mid
stream, 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 u across the
water.
A large canoe was coming up the
river, flying along as quick as q dozen
arms could drive 1t. In the stern sat
a dark figure, which bent forward with
every swing of the paddles as though
consumed by eagerness to push on
ward. Even at that distance there
was no mistaking 1t. IT was the fanat-
ical monk whom they had left behind
them.
Concealed among the b~rushwood,
they watched their pursuers fly past
and vanish round a curve In a stream.
WED have done better either to put
him overheard or to take him as bal
last" said Ephraim.
We'll, we can't take the back track,
anyhow" said Amos.
And yet how can we go on 2" said
De Catinat d~espondently. "This vim
dictive devil will give word at the
fort and at every other point along the
river"
LET me cipher 1t 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, go 1t follows that
we must go to the SOUTH
Leave the cancer"
TITS our only chance. We can cut
through the woods and come out near
this friendly house on the Richelleu.
The friar will lose our trail then, and
Wen have no more trouble with him
II he stays on the st. Lawrence"
There's nothing else for it." said
Captain Ephraim ~ruefully. Its not
my way to 60 by land II I can get by
water. so you must lay the course and
keep her straight, Amos"
ut is not far, and 1t will not take
us long. Let us get over to the south
ern bank, and we shall make a start.
II madame tires, De Catinat, we shall
take turns to carry her"
"Ah, monsieur, you cannot think
what a good walker / am! In this
splendid air one might 60 on forever"
I'VE will cross, then" In a very
few minutes they were at the other
side and had landed at the edge Of the
forest. There the guns and ammuni-
ton 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.
CHAPTER Xxx.