Jules was silent; in his brain was the thought, the wild fear, for Marie and Le Grand.
“Speak oop, mon, speak oop!” the stranger said harshly, and Verbaux turned to him.
“Ah comme ici loook for ma wife an’ ma fr’en’; Ah tin’k dat dees poste ees to Nor’ouest,” he said.
The two men chuckled. “So she war, lad, so she war, tull four days ago; thin the Hudson Coompany tookit posseesion,” the factor grunted.
Jules stepped backward and leaned against the log wall, tumultuous and furious thoughts passing in whirlwinds through his mind.
“Den ma wife and ma fr’en’?” he asked huskily.
“Don’t know who they may be, but the place was gien oop tae us quiet-like; there was nae fecht; them that wanted to leave I let gang, an’ mony deed go, bad luck to ’em!”
A cold grip of despair came over Jules and he staggered. “Parti! Parti!” he whispered dully.
“Now, Verbaux, ye can bide here, an’ hount for us, or I wull hae to keel ye, mon!”
“Nevaire Ah mak’ la chasse for you; Ah mus’ go. Oh, bon Dieu!” and Jules shook in his pain.