How Canada was Won

in

e prayed and prayed offen, and sometimes I think you neve

ped into the hut. He was busy superintending the roasting of a wild turkey which hung to a

Sammy wonder and wonder when yo gwine to come to

them through his tears while he

llow had given them. "Let us have something to eat, and afterwards we'll lie down and take

at his master. Then he let his hand fall, and began to bustl

" he said, giggling between the words. "Den yo'se lie down, and Sa

l, S

the door and speak to Sammy? P'ra

Father and I have not had a peaceful meal for many a day.

musket in his hand, spilled the powder from the pan, and blew the last of the grains away. Then he laid the weapon across the buck horns nailed to the logs, stringing the powder horn to one of the antlers, an

t them throughout the winter. Very early that day Sammy and Steve had been out in the forest, and having blazed certain of the maples, had set their jars beneath the slashes to catch the sap. And now they were boiling the latter down, throwing fresh sap into the larger cauldrons as the bubbling mass threatened to overflow the sides. It was a long pr

ing away. I'll be back in a couple of

from the settlement on some business on several oc

ere and look out for your return. It will

t the Indian summe

at his son as he

ere is a lot that you should learn in the next few years. Things you have never dreamed of. If I am not back in

e coast, while our hero stepped back to the settlement. And there for a little more than a month he went on quietly with the usual routine. He fished and shot and laid in a store of corn and dried bear's meat for the coming winter, the grinning Sammy looking afte

ptember, when there was a crispness in the air which denoted the comin

here's people sure on the w

ed they turned towards the bank, with the evident intention of

rays of the sun. "There are three white men in the first canoe, and three Ind

m the hut. By this time the strangers had landed, and as Steve walked down towards them the three white men moved towards a giant tree which grew within a few paces of the bank,

halt at the foot of the tree and lift an object against t

lung his rifle, for with a start he recognised one of the strangers. It was Jules Lap

ool and satirical smile. "I wish you a fine day and prosperity. You will be

triumph. Our hero stepped closer and stared at the strip of tin which the Frenchman had pointed out. It was nailed to the bark of the tr

zon de Saint-Véran, Captain-General of the Forces in North America, and others of the King's servants, renew our posses

re so that there might not be wanting evidence in the future to prove the aims and aspirations of France and her king. Nor was this the first time that Steve had

flush of anger to Steve's cheek. "The orders are that you depart peacefully and without delay. You will go this

en, too, there was this preposterous demand. For three miles on either hand the land belonged to Tom Mainwaring. He had paid dues for it to a land company, and he had settled the place. His labour had cleared the forest till there was sufficient open space to grow corn. The hut was his, the bank of the river, a

are playing with me, just as you and your band of Indians played with our hunting party in the

the Frenchman was utterly taken aback. He staggered, flu

ead a band of redskins nea

"Yes, it is you who say that, and I hear. But my eyes are good. I know that you l

say that it was near Albany? Monsieur is mad

was more than possible that this Steve might have seen him there. But then Frenchmen were much alike, and the glimpse he ha

nded brazenly. "I have lands to look to across

w that you were in that camp in the woods at Albany, where Hunting Jim and I saw you distinctly. That was a long chase, Monsieur Jules, and I fancy it must have been somew

of malice light up the eyes of the ruffian, a gleam which seemed to say, "I will kill you at the first opportunity, Steve Mainwarin

ve been killed, or of my presence at Albany," he said ea

hav

ou will

ot? Suppos

yes. "You observe that little toy, monsieur? Ah. Now I will tell you. Supposing you are so rash as to stay, I sha

dians, monsieu

ort to control his anger. "I was saying that the Indians would come. They would hound you

rs and looked significa

ly. But for all your threats, I will not give up my father's property. He was here long before the French had advanced south of Lake Erie.

o the tree. Plunging his hunting knife under the sheet of tin, he levered

ou come with your Indians and drive me away, I and my father will hound you off the place. For a time we

d the inscription into the water. Then no sooner h

ill give you a minute. If you are not then out of sight I will shoot you. Yes, I will sho

presented it at Steve's head. Indeed, for an instant or tw

shouted, as he looked along th

nder the circumstances, and it may be wondered that he did not do so. But he knew the m

bullet sometimes if one keeps one's eye on the weapon. Monsieur, I will stay here. Get into yo

lling the barrels at Steve's head. And there for a moment they stood, Steve holding his ground stubbornly, while the Frenchmen looked alon

he forest, some twenty paces away, and the tall gaunt figure of Hunting Jim appeared amidst the leaves, the a

e approach of the trapper. He stood there, outlined grimly amidst the leaves, for all the world as if he had sprung out of the grou

ow Jules Lapon, murderer and robber, I reckon you can git, you and the hul crowd. Ef we had shot yer down as yer stood,

f looking into three very startled faces. The Frenchmen stepped backward involuntarily, and lowered their weapons as Jim began to speak. T

wanted to get our scalps over by Albany, jest hook that ere whistle out'er yer belt. Now yer can go, and jest remem

inute passed before Steve turned to look at those who had come so opportunely to his help. Beside the lanky form of Jim was Mac, his beard flaming in the sun, his broad hand gripping the stock of his musket, and a look of bitterness on his usually jolly feat

Jim, and young Steve here too if they like, but faith whin they come to huntin' the women and childer it makes m

t. You've gone and put yer broad carcass in the way of this her

d recovered the plaque, the sun glancing from the bright tin

s precious near to death, and of the pluck as a youngster kin show. Re

roval from the others, wh

. The best man will hold it in the end. But I suspect it is not his Majesty of France. Louis XV. can have no great use for our little holding. But Jules

d, he's goin' to have it for a time. Me and Mac and Silver Fox guessed as there was somethin' up, and ever since daylight we've had our eyes on the varmint. There was a lot too much movement amongst

t they will drive us out

ttlements attacked and taken, men and women scalped, and children carried off by them redskin devils. We've heard the same before, and I don't know ho

log cabin which was his home must be given up to these Frenchmen and their allies! The thought

ese thavin' damons here in our very own places, or to see ivery mother's son of us, and the women and childer too-God bless the darlints!-scalped and kilt by these fellers. Sure, Steve, better to see the settlements burn, to put fires to ivery roof and watch 'em flare, than have them fellers settin' in o

be a case with yer. Best get back to the hut and take what yer want. You've a bit of a pony, and I fancy you'll be able to take most of ye

peaceful stretch of the river to the far bank, under the shade of which Jules Lapon and his comrades were paddling. Th

. There is no other course open. We have often talked over the possible coming of the French, and decided that we shoul

up in his eyes as he did so. When all was ready Steve took a brand from the fire, looked once more upon his old home, the cabin in which he had lived sixteen happy years, and then fired the shingles. There was an air of resolution on his f

ou too, Silver Fox, old friends, we will go where we can be of use to our country, and one of

rica," growled Jim. "Pick up yer traps, Steve. The other

us did Steve leave his home, not to return again till many an adventure had befallen him, and not till many and