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Updated: May 16, 2025
She made a deprecating gesture. "I'll write it at once," he said. He carried the tray to the bed. Colina gave him the chair. "They let me have writing materials," Ambrose went on with a rueful smile. "I think they hope I may write out a confession some night." To Germain Grampierre he wrote a plain, brief account of Nesis, and made clear what a desperate need he had of finding her.
The wide room with its one spot of light and all the still, shadowy figures conveyed an effect of grimness. Simon Grampierre opened the meeting. Out of courtesy to Ambrose all the talk was in English. "Men!" said the patriarch. "John Gaviller send word that he will pay only one-fifty a bushel for our grain. We meet to talk and decide what to do. All must agree. In agreement there is strength.
They were almost ready to wish that the savages might attack them and have done with it. They endlessly and vainly discussed what might be passing in the red men's minds. Tole Grampierre, hearing this talk, offered to go and find out. There was no danger to him, he said. Even if they should discover that he was not one of themselves, they had no quarrel with his people. Ambrose let him go.
"I know w'at Simon Grampierre goin' to say!" he cried, pointing. "He goin' to say if you break the law you fix yourselves. They send many police and put you all in jail. Simon Grampierre got good property. He not want lose it. "Me, I say all right! I go to jail. There is a trial. Everything got come out. John Gaviller he cannot make slaves after that. I say let them send me to jail.
"I'd like to see him if he's willing to come." "Whom do you mean?" "Simon Grampierre." The inspector looked grave. "He's under arrest," he said. "I can't let you communicate." "Can I see his son then, Germain Grampierre?" "Sorry. He's on parole." Ambrose had been counting on this more than he knew, to talk with some man, even a breed, who believed in him.
"Stand, or I fire!" It was the voice of Macfarlane. "It is Ambrose Doane and Tole Grampierre," cried Ambrose. They heard an exclamation of astonishment from the door. "What do you want?" demanded the voice. "To help you defend yourselves." From the sounds that reached him, Ambrose gathered that the door was open and that Macfarlane stood within the hall.
Will you help us break our chains? Buy our grain?" An absolute silence followed Simon Grampierre's unexpected words. The astute old man had withheld his proposal until the psychological moment. Ambrose was a little dazed by it. He rose, feeling every eager eye upon him, and said slowly: "I must have a little time to consider. I must talk with Simon Grampierre.
With luck they could be back with the red-coats in two weeks or three. Meanwhile the mill was grinding blithely. Ambrose, who desired at all costs to keep the Indians in ignorance of what was happening, for fear they might get out of hand, sent Germain Grampierre to his father's house to get what little flour they had, and carry it to Watusk to feed the Kakisas for that day.
Colina bowed. "I will tell Germain Grampierre," she said. Her hand rose to the door. Ambrose's heart failed him. "Ah, Colina!" he cried reproachfully and imploringly. She slipped out without answering. Ambrose flung himself on his bed and cursed fate again. He was not experienced enough to realize that this was not necessarily a fatal break.
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