“I should rather think not,” said Madame Schuyler; “but do you really consider it safe for your family to remain in such an out-of-the-way place? Every day we hear of villages and settlements burnt and pillaged. At least, it seems to me it would be better for your womankind if they came into a city for protection.”
“I have no womankind,” said Roger sternly, looking straight before him, so as to avoid Lord Howe’s eye; “and no power on earth would drag my father away from the Marshes as long as there is one stone left upon another. The settlement is large and well defended. I should say they ran less danger than most of the border villages; and, in any case, it would not do for the heads to take flight.”
“But at Alpha Marsh they are only women,” said Lord Howe.
“Marcus is there; he must decide. I have no word in the matter,” said Roger, turning away to greet William Parkmann.
In the course of the evening, to Roger’s annoyance, the danger to the colonists on the border was again discussed.
“My father has offered to send an escort to bring Mistress Langlade and her daughters to Boston,” said William Parkmann; “but neither Loïs nor her mother will move, and of course the younger girls will not leave them. Surely you might use your influence and represent to them the risk they are running,” he said, turning to Roger.
“I have no influence,” was the stony answer. “My father and Marcus will do all that can be done to protect them; besides, as I told you before, I hardly think the Indians will attack the Marshes. Their chief has surely power enough to protect his own people!”
“I doubt it; besides, Langlade cannot be everywhere,” said Howe; “and the Indians will owe you a worse grudge than ever now. Be warned, Roger, and send word for the women to be sent to Boston.”
“If I did, Loïs would not obey me,” he said slowly. Neither Lord Howe nor William Parkmann had ever heard him pronounce her name before. “He who ought to have been there to defend his own has forsaken them; can she do likewise?” he added, turning away with an angry gesture.
“There is nothing for it, William,” said Howe gently, “but to leave them in God’s hands and trust to His mercy.”