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Updated: May 1, 2025
Both Du Mont and Xavier realized that their only hope for clemency lay in their ability to aid the authorities in building up a clear case against Lapierre, and during the ten days of snow-trail that ended at Athabasca Landing each tried to outdo the other in explaining what he knew of the workings of Lapierre's intricate system.
With my own hands will I settle the score; and now listen well to the final word: "Drag the ladders to the edge of the clearing, scatter along the whole front in the shelter of the trees, and at the call of the hoot-owl you shall commence firing. Shoot whenever one of Lapierre's men shows himself. But remain well concealed, for the men of Lapierre will be entrenched behind the loop-holes.
"Mebe so com' de storm. What den? We was'e de time wit' Baptiste Chambre. We no mak' de Clearwater de Chrees'mas Day eh?" Xavier growled. "De Chrees'mas Day, damn! We no mak' de Chrees'mas Day, we mak' som' odder day. Lapierre's damn' Injuns com' for de wheeskey on Chrees'mas Day, she haf to wait. Me I'm goin' to Baptiste Chambre. I'm goin' for mak' de beeg dronk.
But her chiefest anxiety was a more material one, and Lapierre's appearance with the supplies became a matter of the gravest importance, for upon their departure the trappers had drawn heavily upon the slender remaining stores, with a result that the little colony on the Yellow Knife was already reduced to half rations, and was entirely dependent upon the scows for the winter's supply of provisions.
With clubbed guns and axes, Lapierre's men were meeting the Indians who swarmed over the walls. Once more the wild wolf-cry rang in the girl's ears as MacNair leaped into the thick of the fight. The girl became conscious that someone was pounding at her feet. She glanced downward. Two Indians were upon the ladder waiting to get over the wall.
The fingers released their grip, Lapierre's gun was jerked from its holster, and a moment later thumped heavily upon the floor of the kitchen fifteen feet away, while the woman pointed grimly toward the overturned chair.
Young Lapierre's action was condemned and he was dismissed from the Company's service with a payment of three years' unearned salary whereupon, he promptly turned free-trader, and his knowledge of the methods of the H.B.C., the Indians, and the country, made largely for success. The life of the free-trader satisfied his longing for travel and adventure, which his life as a post-trader had not.
The inspection was perfunctorily made. And as for the manifest I did not say it was your whiskey. I said, 'whiskey from your storehouse. It was Lapierre's whiskey. And he succeeded in running it in by the boldest, and at the same time the cleverest and safest method disguised as your freight. Tell me this: Did you check your pieces upon their arrival at your storehouse?"
She smiled, and Lapierre, who was watching her intently, smiled in return. "We are approaching quick water; we will cover many miles today, and tonight beside the camp-fire we will talk further." Chloe's eyes searched the scows. "Where are the two who attacked Lena? Your men captured them." Lapierre's smile hardened. "Those who deserted me for Vermilion? Oh, I dismissed them from my service."
By the fire Lapierre's eyes followed the girl until she disappeared within the tent, and as he looked a huge figure arose from the deep shadows of the scrub, and with a hand grasping the flap of the tent, turned and stared, silent and grim and forbidding, straight into Lapierre's eyes. The man turned away with a frown. The figure was Big Lena.
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