Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 15, 2025
Colin Robertson, a former Nor'-Wester, to proceed to Red River settlement by way of the Ottawa and the Sault instead of entering the fur preserve by the usual route of Hudson Bay and York Factory. From Le Grand Diable's former association with the North-West Company it was probable he would be in Robertson's brigade.
He would temporize and rely on Le Grand Diable's covetous disposition bringing him to our terms; but Hamilton would hear of neither caution nor delay. The ransom price was at once collected. Next morning, Little Fellow, on a fresh mount with a string of laden horses on each side, went post haste back to the Sioux. In all conscience, Hamilton had been wild enough during the first parley.
My horse, I knew, could outrace any cayuse of the Sioux band. "Miriam," I whispered back, lifting the canvas, "they will take you away to-morrow my horse is here! Come! We must risk all!" And I shoved myself bodily in under the tent wall. She was not a hand's length away, sitting with her face to the entrance of Diable's lodge, her figure rigid and tense with fear.
A voice screamed through the opening and in hurtled a round, nameless, blood-soaked horror, rolling over and over in a red trail, till it stopped with upturned, dead, glaring eyes and hideous, gaping mouth, at the very feet of Hamilton. It was the scalpless head of La Robe Noire. Our Indian had paid the price of his own blood-lust and Diable's enmity.
He confessed Miriam is held by Diable's squaw. Then we discovered someone was listening to the confession and pursued the eavesdropper into the bush. When we came back, Laplante had been carried off. I found one of my canoemen had your lost fowling-piece, and it was he who had listened and carried off the drunk sot and tried to send that spear-head into me at the Sault. 'Twas Diable, Eric!
In defiance of Le Grand Diable's conditions, which an arrow from an unseen marksman might enforce, Eric saddled his mare and rode out to meet the men. Of course Father Holland and I peltered after him; but it was only because gathering darkness prevented travel that we prevailed on him to dismount and await the Indians' coming at the edge of the village.
Thereupon I would rush into the village road, where the shamefaced greetings of guilty Indians recalled another horror. If I ventured into Le Grand Diable's power a fate worse than La Robe Noire's awaited me. That there would be a hostile demonstration over the Sioux messenger's death I was certain.
That was how Louis Laplante told us of bringing Diable's squaw and her captives back to Red River. And that was how Father Holland and Eric and Louis and Mr. Sutherland and myself came to be embarking with a camping outfit for a canoe-trip down the river. "Have the Indians passed, or are they to come?" I asked Louis as Mr.
I tell you it was the devil, himself, snatched my martyr's crown." "Le Grand Diable?" "Le Grand Diable's own minion. I saw his devilish eyes leering from the back o' the crowd, when I was tied to a stake. 'Bring that Indian to me, sez I, transfixing him with my gaze; for you understand I couldn't point, my hands being tied. Troth! But ye should 'a' seen their looks of amazement at me boldness!
By his confused words, I knew he was in great trepidation. "Why, there are my horses!" I exclaimed, seeing all six standing before Diable's lodge. "You do your do before morning! Take one of my saddles!" said Louis.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking