How Canada was Won

eghany

lived and the forest region beyond, stretching right away to the Alleghany mountains; for each one of the forty or more persons of whom the pa

party gathered about Steve's pony and discussed the matter.

his bitterness increased. "Yer don't say as it's an easy thing fer a man what's fifty and more to turn his back on what he's given years of his life to make, to steal like a skunk out'

ac, nor Steve, the young Hawk as he's known hereabouts, likes havin' to git at the word

t in Mac. "Sure, 'twould be the death of many a one, the poor

d looked at this sudden exodus from a different point of view, and he was filled with bi

, and now that you've put it before me, why I'm downright glad tha

her settlements, and they have not even been able to leave. The Indians gave no warning. The French did not trouble to

want to walk in and find the hul place burnt by his Injuns. So he sends along and gives us the warnin' to quit, knowin' that once we've took the trail he can send the hul crowd of his Injun varmint after us. Waal. He ain't a go

d sometimes vying with them in their cruel practices, were scores of French voyageurs and settlers, and even many young officers from the regular forces; whilst behind these leaders, stimulating them with promises of land, and aiding them with money, guns, and powder, were the authorities living in Quebec. It was really a matter for wonder that Steve and his friends had not been disturbed before, for they had carved out from the virgin forests a most valuable settlement, and one which may be said to have stood in the direct line of the French advance. It may have been that they owed their security from interference so far to the fact that the land nearest to them was owned by Jules Lapon, and he happened to be away in other parts murdering and slaying, and taking stores from any party of trappers

their hunting shirts, their coon-skin caps, their fringed leggings and moccasins. "We ought to feel glad that we and

upon colonial troops. There ain't many of 'em, but they'll be enough to keep these redskin skunks away, and

farthest over in that direction, and Silver Fox here can tell

uld make, for Silver Fox had brought information that roving bands

say that the best way would be to send the women and children and half the men ahead,

Married men goes in advance ef possible. Mac, guess you'll lead. You're a good trapper and woodsman, and yer

searching closely for the blazings on the trees which would tell him that he had come across the trail which led to the mountains. After him went the married men, with their wives and children. The ponies, upon the backs of which the children and some of th

k and keep an eye on the river with Silver Fox. If all is right I'll strike

y left. It was black with canoes which were passing to and fro, while a number were drawn up in front of the bank where Steve had had his encounte

r some little while. "They think that they will easily come up with us. In two days the

at the river. Then he got to his feet, picked up a fallen branch and struck the tr

Now we will return, Silver Fox. H

wk," was

ls lying a day's march f

tared into Steve's face. "The Hawk is sharp," he said, with a flash of hi

tives in advance. And when the morning of the second day broke they struggled up to the rising ground which Steve had mentioned to Silver Fox. It was a rugged and precipitous ridge, with trees growing thickly up to its foot, and thick, long s

e of our party after it has climbed over this ridge, for the land rises again, and you can see for yourself that it towers above this place. Now what do you say to this? We send on the best of

every sign of satisfaction. "Steve, you air 'cute. I 'lowed that many a d

t was almost unclimbable, and at this point it happened to be less severe, so much so that many a colonist making east into the promised land, the valley of the Ohio, had followed the blaze marks of those who had gone before him, and had clambered over the rise where others had found a road. It was the mo

lot of us out," our hero had said to hi

y now and again of the track far in advance, for the country to the west rose again, less sharply to be sure, but to a greater elevation. A party making th

know that the enemy are not yet up with us, though they were on our trail last night. Then we have plenty of time. I

hounds," growled Jim. "This air the place

till he fired his musket. Then he himself took cover close to the edge of the track and waited. Presently two slim fi

ago, and then me and Stubbs come along at a dog trot. They'll be in sight in less than no time. Reckon they'll spot the res

BARREL IN THE FORK

air one of

trees and stood in the open, staring up over the ridge to the high land beyond. They saw him turn and call softly, and then, one by one, some hundred of his comrades flit

scalps shall hang at our belts. Climb the rise and enter the trees. Do not

his muzzle in the fork of a dwarfed tree and aligned the sights on the feathered chief who led the party. And there he waited, his cheek well down on the stock, his eye glued to the sights, and his finger pressing ever so gently on the trigger. He was as steady as the fork in which his weapon rested, for Steve was a hardened fig

ive him another two seconds. That will get the others up a little c

s. A second later a volley came from the surrounding bushes, from behind rocks and boulders, while a storm of bullets plunged into the very centre of the huddled enemy. When the smoke blew away, Steve and his friends looked down upon an almost deserted track, cleared of Indians save for the bod

Jim, his face lighting up with joy. "Reckon they'll run till they've come b

d, "and it air you as'll lead us out of this country. Boys, you've heard tell of our trip up to Albany, and of how young

a shout of

name, and air real keen and 'cute. Reckon I don't

ore," said Jim easily. "We air out of the muss

ered from his embarrassment. "We will march with scouts out behind and in

on an open space, where the blackened logs spoke of a settlement which had been fired. And often enough there were signs of the struggle which had taken place. The bodies of murdered colonists lay among the grass, while such relics of the former inhabitan

long and weary foot hills, and at length struggled to

r slopes. "Pete reports as he's dropped on fresh fires, where the embers air quite wa

high peak distinguishable above the forest trees. "They've been watchin' us, and the

tle while his messengers came back with four trappers similar to themselves. They were hard

e. "There's been few come through safely since the Fre

rap for them, and they walked into it. That's the last we saw of

say as all the backwoods huts air fired and men scalped, and that the bigger settlements just near the Alleghany range have also been fired. Then some of the varmint have been over the range, and they've wiped out big farms and hul villages. It makes a man swear to hear it all, a

eated or had failed to effect their object. They knew too that massacres had taken place here and there. But this was indeed news. It was terrible to learn that all along this frontier, extending over some four hundred miles, farms and settlements had been exterminated, that bands of Indians had ravaged the possessions of the colonists, and had even carried their

urely there are men in the colonies! Why, if this sort of thing is allowed, the

ed as a hunter like the rest, but with something about him which attracted more than usual attention, had joined the group, slipping up to it un

s have not done more. Pooh! They call a blush of shame to the cheek of every honest and patriotic colonist. While the shrieks of these unhappy settlers ring almost in their ears and almost within hearing of the coast towns, these comfortable stay-at-home planters and traders and country gentlemen sit in their council rooms and squabble. They set aside all thought of assisting their hap

whom every trapper and hunter had heard. Steve regarded him with

, then, Colonel," he said

tretching out a big brown paw to grip that of the colonel. "Cap'n St

ng colonial officer. "You will come to our camp,

in the middle of the hutted encampment where George Washington and his men had their quarters.

t will be nice to have a companion to chat with. Besides, I want to hear all abo

gh wooden form, staring at the embers and chatting quietly with George Washington,