"Do not kill him."
"Certainly not. Reassure yourself, Blanchette. Nobody will be killed."
"Jean! Jean!" called Blanchette, in distress; but he was already out of sight, hastening with eager steps toward the place of danger.
At the stream he stopped and looked about in all directions, but could see no one; and was passing along, disappointed but watchful, on the other side, where the path skirted a great rock, when two men stepped out and stood facing him in the middle of the way. They were Tom Sullivan and Pamphile Lareau.
"Good morning, gentlemen," said Jean, without slackening his pace, but turning aside to give them the path.
"Not so fast," said Pamphile, placing himself directly in front of Jean. "Stop a moment, if you please. We wish to talk to you."
"Certainly," replied Jean, stopping within arm's length of the two men, and measuring them with his eye. "But you will first throw away that pistol, my friend. You will not need it, I assure you."
"No, we shall not need it," said Pamphile, with a harsh laugh, throwing the weapon aside. "Two to one are odds enough, Jean Baptiste."
"Three to one would be still better, Pamphile--two in front and one behind, eh? Tell Paddy to come out where I can see him."
"He is a devil," said Tom, with an oath. "Pat, come around in front. He will not run away, I can see that."