Then Ben Gillam again: "Shiver my soul! Let 'im set sail, I say! Aren't you and me to be shipped on a raft for the English fort at the foot o' the bay?"
"We'll send 'em all to the bottom o' hell first."
"An you give the word, all my men will rise!"
"Capture the fort—risk the ships—butcher the French!"
Hortense raised her hand and pointed along the shore. Our two guards were lumbering up and would presently betray our presence. Stealing forward we motioned their silence. I sent both to listen behind the rock, while Hortense and I struck into cover of the thicket to regain the fort.
"Do not fear," said I. "M. Radisson has kept the prisoners in hand. He will snuff this pretty conspiracy out before Brigdar and Ben get their heads apart."
She gave that flitting look which laughs at fear and hastened on. We could not go back as we had come without exposing ourselves to the two conspirators, and our course lay nearer the Indian revel. About a mile from the fort Hortense stopped short. Through the underbrush crawled two braves with their eyes leering at us.
"Hortense," I urged, "run for the rear gate! I'll deal with these two alone. There may be more! Run, my dear!"
"Give me your musket," she said, never taking her eyes from the savages.
Wondering not a little at the request, I handed her the weapon.