The Corporal touched his cocked hat, swung his powerful horses. I am sure they were of Sir William's stock and came from the Hall.
"Mr. Drogue!" wailed the doomed wretch, "let God curse me if I meant any harm——"
I think the soldier beside him must have placed his hand over the poor wretch's mouth, for I heard nothing more except the rattle of wheels and the corporal-driver a-whistling "The Little Red Foot."
In my absence that day my men had erected an open-face hut for our stores.
Here we set lanterns, and here divided the clothing, including the stockings given me by Penelope—which I distributed with a heavy heart.
There was laid aside new buckskin clothing and fresh underwear for Luysnes, for Nick, and for Johnny Silver.
Then I paid the men, and gave a cash bonus to every Indian, and also a new rifle each,—not the trade-gun, but good weapons carrying an ounce ball.
To each, also, a new hatchet, new knife, blanket, leggins, tobacco, paints, razor, mirror, ammunition, and a flask of sweet-smelling oil.
I think I never have seen any Iroquois so overjoyed as were mine. And as for my Saguenay, he instantly squatted by the fire, fixed his mirror on a crotched stick, and fell to adorning himself by the red glow of the coals.