I’m afraid it’s a useless search—so many years have passed since the man disappeared.
“I agree with you,” I replied. “But he is a plucky fellow, and sticks on in spite of failure. He deserves to win. I don’t suppose he told you what he wants with the man?”
“No; he was close-mouthed about that, Carew. Fill up your glass again. That rare old Scotch I get straight from Edinburgh, and the tobacco is the best crop of the Virginias. You see, we try to live up to the mark here in the wilderness.”
“Royally,” said I. “I have tasted no such tobacco or whisky since I was in Quebec last.”
We smoked for awhile in silence, and then Macdonald suddenly blurted out:
“If the Northwest people make trouble, my supplies will be cut off.”
“Any news to-day?” I asked.
“A little,” he replied. “It may mean nothing—or much. Certainly our enemies are growing bolder. Last night a lot of half-breeds marched through our colony, making murderous threats and singing war songs.”
“And a week ago two swivel guns and a howitzer were stolen,” said I; “and a week before that there was a brawl up at Isle-a-la-Crosse, in which a man was killed on either side. Mr. Macdonald, the situation is becoming intolerable. How will it end?”
The factor brought his fist heavily down on the table. “In a general fight—perhaps in a war spread over the whole territory,” he declared. “By Heaven! sir, if I had authority from Governor Semple, I would take stern measures at once—I would make the Northwest people show their hand, and then attack and crush them. We have borne insults and affronts too long.”