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I heard a couple of voices that sounded kind of familiar. And no mistake either! We're in luck to find friends and shelter at one stroke. What a snug place you've got here!" A scene of merriment and excitement followed, and hands were clasped all round; for the most of our party and of the new arrivals were acquainted with one another, even Captain Rudstone finding a friend or two.
All was seemingly confusion and panic, and the skipper's orders were being tardily obeyed. I moved forward a little, and recognized Captain Rudstone holding to the snapped-off end of the mast. "What has happened?" I demanded anxiously. "Are we in danger?" "Little doubt of it, Mr. Carew," he answered calmly.
Two minutes of work sufficed. The stone fell inward, and we shouted with delight when we saw a yawning black hole before us, large enough for two stooping men to walk abreast. Captain Rudstone hurried upstairs with the glad news, and meanwhile Menzies and I ventured some distance into the passage, finding the air sweet and pure.
But I have much to do before I can return to England. The task that brought me to this barbarous country this land of snow and ice is of a most peculiar and difficult nature. I will take the present opportunity to inquire " "Enough!" suddenly interrupted Captain Rudstone in a harsh voice. "Your tongue is rambling sir. I am doing you a service by requesting you to sit down."
"I perceive you have grasped the delicate nature of this affair, Captain Rudstone. By the way, I understand you are the bearer of dispatches. Do you still retain them?" "That is a misapprehension, sir," was the reply. "I have no dispatches; nor did I stop at any of the company's forts on my journey from the north. I am bound for Fort Garry on a private and personal matter."
The frozen crust was an incentive to them to make a final attack, and I expected it during the day. I ate a hasty breakfast, and then Menzies summoned me to the factor's house, where he had called a meeting to consider the situation. In all five of us assembled five low-spirited, grave-faced men: the others were Menzies and Captain Rudstone, Dr.
I cried, thinking I knew what it meant. Captain Rudstone entered, closing the door softly behind him. With a nod he threw himself into a chair, helped himself to a pipeful of my tobacco, and looked inscrutably at me through a cloud of smoke. "So you are still up?" he began. "I expected to find you in bed. Have you been away from the hotel?" "Not outside of the door," I replied.
I had a distant view of Christopher Burley, and closer at hand I saw Captain Myles Rudstone in conversation with a group of men. By-and-by he discovered me, and strolling forward he gave me a pleasant word of greeting. "It is quite an event, the arrival of a ship from England," said I. "An event of importance," the captain replied. "But for the early hour the quay would be crowded."
The matter was quickly settled. There were to be three watches, Carteret following the captain, and a Fort Charter man named Humphrey taking the last turn. The orders were to pace a short distance right and left of the camp at intervals, and to keep up the fire; each sentry was to rouse the next man at the proper time. We smoked a last pipe, and turned in leaving Captain Rudstone on guard.
"One redskin the less," he added, peering out the loophole; "he sprang three feet in the air when I plugged him. As for your plan, Mr. Carew, I think the odds are about evenly divided. There's the chance that the varmints will suspect something of the sort, and watch the stockade on all sides." "Likely enough," assented Captain Rudstone; "but it's not to that quarter I look for the danger.
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