“Lieutenant Boyd, I am going to put this mission into your hand,” he said, “and I hope you understand its delicate nature. Take twenty men armed and mounted. Follow the road that swings off to the left of the settlement, and then ride straight on to Lagarde’s; the night is dark, and the crust is in fine condition for horses. These are your orders: First make sure that the ruffians have a prisoner; then compel them to deliver him up. But let there be no fighting or bloodshed, if possible. Don’t fire a shot unless you are fired on yourselves.”
“I understand, sir,” replied the officer. “I will do my best. With your permission I will take McKay and Nicoll”—pointing to his fellow-officers. “And perhaps Mr. Carew would like to come?”
“With all my heart!” I exclaimed eagerly; for the adventure promised to be to my taste.
A moment later, Macdonald, having added a few words of instruction, we were out of the house and hastening toward the men’s quarters.
CHAPTER XL.
A STARTLING CHANGE.
We found a few men up, but most of them had turned in, and thus some little time was lost in selecting and rousing them. As quietly as possible—for we did not want to alarm the whole fort—the horses were led out and saddled. Then the twenty of us mounted, filed through the gates and rode off to the north. Among those chosen—it was my suggestion—were Luke Hutter and Carteret. I was up in front, with Lieutenant Boyd and his fellow officers.
Our destination, Lagarde’s store, was a stoutly-built log house standing quite by itself, and near a lonely trail that led into the wilderness. It had been erected a few years before, and served the Northwest people for a small trading post until they constructed larger ones. Then it was turned over to Pierre Lagarde, one of their own men, who ran it as a combined supply store and lodging house for passing voyageurs and hunters. It was a rough place in these times of ill feeling, and was avoided by Hudson Bay Company men. I knew a good bit about it myself, and what more there was to know Lieutenant Boyd vouchsafed as we rode along.