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I built this shelter to die in, and from time to time I crawled out for fuel to keep up the fire. But the end is close now. Don't leave me let me die with white faces round me." "Cheer up, my friend," said Captain Rudstone. "You are going to live." "We have a deer yonder," I added. "We will make you a venison broth, and then take you to the fort, where the rest of our party await us."
I grappled with Mackenzie and overpowered him, and to save my own life I had to stab him to the heart " "He deserved it," said I. "It was a just retribution. And how did the fight turn out?" "Two of Mackenzie's party escaped, and the rest were killed," Captain Rudstone answered. "I knew little of it at the time, for I was shot through the shoulder and fainted from loss of blood.
"By Heavens, Carew I believe you are right!" shouted Captain Rudstone. "We've had a scare for nothing. This follow was certainly alone, or his comrades would have blazed away at us before this. I fancied I saw him stir just now if he's not dead, we may get some information out of him."
"I am quite willing to do that," replied Captain Rudstone. "I will not try your patience long it is a short story. My first meeting with Osmund Maiden was in Quebec, a few days after his arrival from England. There was a certain resemblance between us, and we took a fancy to each other; we decided to cast our fortunes together.
I tried hard to appear unconcerned, for I saw that Captain Rudstone was watching me keenly. "I trust I shall be present for the ceremony," he remarked. "I go south by that route when I have finished with the business that brought me to the bay. I have three forts to visit hereabouts first." The factor sucked thoughtfully at his pipe. "Hawke is a lucky man," he said. "By gad, I envy him!
"Make ready, all!" cried Captain Rudstone, "we must be quick about it, for at any moment the heat or a spark may touch off the powder in yonder back room." That the explosion might come that instant, and so insure us a speedy and merciful death, was my heartfelt wish as I leaned against the wall. I groaned aloud as I pictured Flora lying in the snow, her beautiful face and hair dabbled with blood.
He scanned Miss Hatherton and myself with open amazement, and shook hands heartily with Captain Rudstone. "Glad to meet you again, sir," he cried in a nasal voice. "My mate wakened me up to listen to the row over yonder," pointing to the shore, "and that's why I'm on deck at this hour. I might have guessed you had a hand in the rumpus. But what does it mean, anyway?".
"What am I to do?" whispered Monsieur Ragoul, and so loudly that his wife promptly clapped a hand over his mouth. "They have come to seize us," said I, in a low voice. "I fear we are in a trap, with no choice but to yield or fight." "Resistance would be folly," Captain Rudstone replied quickly, "and for Miss Hatherton's sake we must not be taken.
"It's all right," he said. "The devils rushed us, but we drove them back by volleys from the loopholes, killing half a score and losing one ourselves. The ground dips down to the fort there, and we had a clean sweep. They won't molest us on that side again it was a half-hearted attack, anyway." "I wish they would drop the whole thing," I replied bitterly. Captain Rudstone shrugged his shoulders.
I did not see very much of him, for he and Captain Rudstone became boon companions and stuck well together. It was the same with the captain. Indeed, he seemed to take pains to avoid me, except when others were present, thereby causing me some perplexity and chagrin.
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