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Updated: June 7, 2025
He stretched out and looked into the flames. Teganouan, who had been lying on the sand, heard a rustle far off in the forest and raised his head. He heard it again, and rose, standing motionless; then he took his musket and came toward the fire. The Captain lay at full length, his chin on his hands. He was awake, for his eyes were open, but he did not look up.
They stood listening; and both caught the faint sound of a body moving between the bushes that grew on the higher ground, close to the line of willows. Menard took up his musket and held it ready, for they had not left the country of the Iroquois. "Here he comes," whispered Father Claude. "Yes, it is Teganouan." The Indian was running toward them.
The smoke had brought tears to her eyes, and she was hesitating, laughing in spite of herself. "Oh, M'sieu, will will it make me sick?" He smiled, with a touch of the old light humour. "I think not. We must go, or they will wonder." They found the chiefs waiting before the hut, Father Claude and Teganouan among them.
The Indians sat with their knees drawn up and their blankets wrapped about them, looking stolidly at the fire. Father Claude came quietly into the group, and with a smile extended his hand to the smallest of the three, an older man, with a wrinkled face. "I did not look for you here, Teganouan. Have you gone back to the Mission?" Teganouan returned the smile, and bowed.
The door was slowly closing; Teganouan had gone. Another sun was setting. A single drum was beating loudly as the little garrison drew up outside the sally-port and presented arms. The allies and the mission Indians were crowding down upon the beach, silent, inquisitive, puffing at their short pipes.
The candle was blowing; he caught it up and shielded it with his hand. A figure was crouching in the corner, half hidden behind a cloak that hung there. The Captain sprang forward holding the candle high, tore down the cloak, and discovered Teganouan, the Onondaga, bending over feeling for his hatchet which lay on the floor at his feet.
"Teganouan has heard what the White Chief, the Big Buffalo, has said, that the evil man who was treacherous to the Onondagas shall be punished?" "Teganouan understands. But the evil man is far from the vengeance of the white man. The White Chief is here in our lodges." Menard left the door and came to the priest's side. The jagged piece of glass, his only weapon, he threw to the ground.
Menard caught his shoulders, and dragging him out of reach of the hatchet, threw him full length on the floor. The candle dropped and rolled on the floor, but before it could go out, Menard snatched it up. Slowly Teganouan rose to his feet. "Teganouan comes in a strange manner to the lodge of the white warrior," said Menard, scornfully. "He steals in like a Huron thief, and hides in dark corners."
We have hard work before us, and many a chance yet to run." "Teganouan will watch," said the Indian. Menard's face showed surprise, but Father Claude whispered, "He has learned at the mission to understand our language." They lay on the ground before the hut, in their wet clothes, and in a moment were asleep.
He dropped his musket, and began rapidly to throw great handfuls of sand upon the fire. The two white men sprang to aid him, without asking an explanation. In a moment the beach was lighted only by the moon. Then Menard said: "What is it, Teganouan?" "Teganouan heard a step in the forest. He went nearer, and there were more. They are on the war-path, for they come cautiously and slowly."
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