“Ici; qu’est-ce?” answered he.
Verbaux told him what he had heard.
“Ah-h-h, at las’!” growled Gregoire, brutally. “Ve show dose mans vat ve do, hein?”
Jules did not answer at once; then Morning Star’s dream came to him, powerful and compelling. He again saw the white wolf in memory.
“Ve goin’ try!” he said in solemn tones.
“Bon! Ah go fin’ le facteur; toi tell to de oddaires la bataille come maintenant!” Gregoire said and ran off.
XVIII
FULFILMENT OF THE DREAM
Jules spread the news fast, and although a tremendous hurrying and running about took place, still everything was done in an orderly way and with significant purpose. The roofs of the buildings were quickly covered with green wolf-hides as a protection against firebrands; the women and children were placed in the strongest log house; tepees were pulled down and the poles thrust sharp end upward against the stockade. The gates were double-barred and braced, and big logs rolled against them. The factor dealt out guns and ammunition, also axes to the men. In an hour everything was ready; many of the Frenchmen had tied their bright handkerchiefs over their foreheads, thrown off their mufflers, and rolled up their shirt-sleeves, showing the weather-blackened and muscle-knotted arms. The Indians were quiet and grave, the white men joking and laughing, some in earnest, a few to hide their fear. The squaws wept and wailed in unison in their strong house; their voices sounding discordant and shrill, mingled with the tearful screams of children. Then the factor came among the defenders.
“Me lads, do the best ye can, and God forgie us and them,” he said.