The Forge in the Forest

rnor's S

down to the edge of the increeping tide. I looked at the shadows, and a shudder passed through me as if a cold hand had been laid upon

a man you are, F

r the long and deadly strain; and I laughed with some pleasure at

a dim light," said I, "though

convenient bundle, there came from the woods, a little way back of

the point of answering in like fashi

ine white line that seethed softly along the dark base of the point. I commended the lad mightily for his swimming, as we scrambled upon th

-scented bushes toward the creek where lay the boat

anger?"

nd see that he's comfortable!" replied Tamin, panting heavily. "

put them in dou

d not strange, if o

e," panted Tamin, as he wen

round near high water. The three of us were not long in dragging her d

taking the tiller, while Marc stood by

the wind for

ust see de Ramezay and settle this hound La G

ith great composure beside the mast, his lean face thoughtful, but untroubled. He looked, I thought, almost as old as his war-battered sire who now watched him with so proud an eye. Presently I heard Tamin fetch a succession of

fe to his scalp. To me this seemed much out of place and time; but Tamin was ever privileged in the eyes of a de Mer, so I grumbled

all it, my Tamin, came so near to-nigh

; for the boat was speeding south-

e, grave mouth opened not to make reply, while the little, twinkling, contradictory eyes were fixed intently on som

e round the point. If they see a sail, at this time o' night, they'll suspicion the whole thing and be after us. Bet

canning eagerly the point

The Black Abbé fooled himself when he

m the sand-spit, Tamin altered our course, and we ran up the basin. Just then we marked two canoes rounding the point. They were plainly visible to us, and I made sure we should b

o small that from where we lay it was not to be discerned; but we observed the Indians run their canoes upon it, disembark,

nough!" s

Tamin's creek, and understand that we've taken the

n, "but no use loafing roun

of Tamin's, we again hoisted

savages would guess our purpose and destination. As we sat contenting our eyes with the great bellying of the sail, and the fine flurries of spray that ever and again flashed up

proofs on which the gent

tly clear at the moment, and I made out the first to be an order, written in English, on one Master Nathaniel Apthorp, merchant, of Boston, directing him to pay Master Marc de Mer, of Grand Pré in Nova Scotia, the sum of two hundred and fifty pound

"but what does it all mean, Marc? How comes the English

nd fifty pounds? That's surel

at him,

't know what is in these papers?

a little irritating. "They were placed in my pocket by the good Abb

at once the whole wicked device, threw up my hands and fell to whistling an i

at would seem to have been written to you by the Governor,

scanned the page. He was trying to prove his own eyesight better t

even wait for daylight. And in the meanwhile I think you had better keep the pack

in a deep pocket which I wore

in my wisdom to conduct the affair. "But trust me to spring it. Whatever this oth

aid Marc, doubtfully, "if it be for

, laid his head on the cuddy and was presently sound asleep. In a low voice, not to disturb the slumberer, I talked with Tamin, and learned how he had chanced to come so pat upon me in my bonds. He had been on the way up to the Forge, coming n

ying far below. By the broad light I could see very we

nd trusted Helper M

Apthorp to speak for me. If I might hope that you would find it in your heart and within your convenience to put me under yet weightier obligations, I w

r Sir, yours with high e

MASCA

en again aloud to Tamin, who cursed the author with su

or never would he have made him write with such courtly circumlocutions. De Ramezay, very like, will

file his tongue too smooth,

th of the Piziquid stream, a bright gap in the dark but vague shore-line. On our right the waters unrolled without obstruction till they mixed pallidly with the sky in the mouth of Cobequid Bay. Five miles ahead rose the lofty shore which formed the northern wall of Minas Channel,-grim a