The Forge in the Forest

Run of

ng the gunwale, and saw Marc just catching my knee to rouse me. The boat, heeling far over, and hauled close to the wind,

asked sharply, being nettled by a sudden notion that

Father!" said

wrath and apprehension. Behind us followed

ail us?" I

M'sieu!" said Tamin. "On this t

ere trap we are running

e through the woods, Father," explained Marc; "that is, i

them or outfoot them," said I; "but th

sed Tamin. "And I know the way over the hills. We'll cheat the rogue of a pries

running from thes

wering darkly at the canoes. "Do you

" grunte

Indians, finding themselves tricked, have gone back on the Pereau trail and most inopportunely have released the gentle Abbé from his bonds

his voice, "is that they're gaining on us fast. They've put down

o think to save time and not go back for our weapons! Trust me, lad, it's the f

not so naked as we might be. Here's your two pistols, my good whinger, and Tamin's fishy dirk. And Tamin's gaff here will make a pre

war song; and I said to myself, "The boy is a fighter, and the fire is in his blood, for all his scholar's pratin

un in the cuddy!" grunted Tamin,

t. It was a huge weapon, and my heart beat high at sight of it. Marc caresse

id he, "but I would be presumptuous

rply; "don't think you can shoo

, as he handed me out a pouch o

ome within fair range. There came

, or we

powder which I had poured into my hand. I followed it wit

bobbing his head lo

n the instant two red flames blazed out, with a redoubled bang

, glancing tranquill

vages in the pay of our own party,-never before had Jean de Briart been put to such indignity. I knee

we could desire. As I made haste to load again I noticed that the savage in the bow had fallen backward in his plac

like a cannon, and kicke

r!" said Marc, in a to

Tamin. "They don

the stern to paddle the damaged canoe to land, being loth to lose a serviceable craft. With broken bow high in air the canoe spun around, and sped off u

hem to be within gunsho

the gun again to my shoulder. As I did so t

h fools as I had

some complacency, "that they won't trust themselve

estuary, and a steep, wooded point thrust out upon ou

tains to your good man's good boat at Shulie, my Tamin. Put her about, and we'll sail in

Tamin; and with a lurch and

whence, in a few minutes, we shot out again into the moonlight. It was pleasant to see our antagonists making such courteous ha

rashing bump that tumbled us headlong, the mast went overboard, and there we were stuck fast upon a sharp rock. The boat was crushed in like an egg-shell, and lay over on her side. The short, chopping seas huddled upon us in a smother. As I rose up, sputtering, I took note of Tamin's woollen cap washing away debonairl

ething too heavy to swim with. I emptied the slugs from my pocket. Tamin ducked his head under water and fumbled in the cuddy till I was on the point of plucking him forth, fearing he would drown,-Marc

ding up the drenched sack in

me within gunshot. Running swiftly along the strip of beach that skirted the steep, we

eu!" cried Tamin, i

t along the beach, till I give

t now!" grumbled Tamin, running beside m

s doing, my Tamin?" interrupted Marc.

led, but s

where a spring bubbled out of the wood's edge and spread itself over the stones, and sprang behind a thick screen of viburnums. My companions wer

into the darkness of the woods, aiming for the seashore a

straight up yon

ree that we have gone that way. Knowing that I am a cunning woodsman, they will say, 'He will ma

two rivers," o

divide their party, and giv

meanwhile?"

The stars and the sun are guide enough!