The English fugitive lifted his bloody head and came to one knee. Crawford broke from his covert and, discarding the snowshoes, ran to help the man, catching him in his arms. A glance showed that the wound was mortal, but the dying eyes widened on Crawford.
“Who are ye?”
“A friend,” said Crawford, unwonted kindness in his cold eyes. “I tried to get the rogue before he let fly, but failed. Who is he? What does it mean?”
“English, be ye? On guard, on guard!” A flicker of energy filled the fading voice. “I run away from ’em—the devils are sweepin’ the coast! It’s Iberville himself, they say—Canadians, Injuns! St. John’s captured, burned; they’ve burned Heart’s Content, Havre de Grace, all the settlements! Carbonear Island holds out—whence come you that you know not these things?”
“I landed yesterday,” said Crawford.
“Then flee with your ship!” cried the dying man. “There is no rescue—all is slaughter! Old Perlican is burned—sloops burned—ship captured—ship from England at Bay de Verde was taken last night—full of provisions—the Irish slaves have risen against us—murder——”
The man’s head joggled forward in death.
So there was war in the land! Crawford stood for a little in thought, astounded beyond measure by this news. He had heard of Iberville ere this; that name was both famous and infamous in New England, for it was Iberville who had raided Schenectady with his Mohawk brethren—a gentleman, an officer of the French navy, a wild adventurer who halted for no odds, a Mohawk by adoption. Such was Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville.
“So Iberville is ahead of us, eh?” thought Crawford, and his lips twitched whimsically at the thought. “And he took a ship of provisions last night, at Bay de Verde! And what was that about Irish slaves? Poor devils of Jacobites sent over here and branded! Sink me if all this hasn’t a significant hint for my ears! M. d’Iberville, I salute you! Now, my Star of Dreams—lead on!”
Pausing only to retrieve his tomahawk and take the fusil and munitions carried by the dead Canadian, he turned about and hastened on the back trail to rejoin his men.