“Huzzay for Colonel Clark!” he roared. “I'll foller him into Canady, and stand up to my lick log.”
They surrounded Bill Cowan, not the twenty which had flocked to him in the morning, but four times twenty, and they marched in a body to the commandant's house to be reënlisted. The Colonel stood by the door, and there came a light in his eyes as he regarded us. They cheered him again.
“Thank you, lads,” he said; “remember, we may have to whistle for our pay.”
“Damn the pay!” cried Bill Cowan, and we echoed the sentiment.
“We'll see what can be done about land grants,” said the Colonel, and he turned away.
At dusk that evening I sat on the back door-step, by the orchard, cleaning his rifle. The sound of steps came from the little passage behind me, and a hand was on my head.
“Davee,” said a voice (it was Monsieur Vigo's), “do you know what is un coup d' é'tat?”
“No, sir.”
“Ha! You execute one to-day. Is it not so, Monsieur le Colonel?”
“I reckon he was in the secret,” said Colonel Clark. “Did you think I meant to leave Kaskaskia, Davy?”