The Forge in the Forest

r

oint. We pushed straight down to the water, here sheltered from the wind and little troubled. That our footprints might be hidden, at least for a time, we ran, one behind the o

y, "that there is noise and to spare where

oke again, pointing

ty in his voice. He was no trembler; but it fretted him to be taking what he deemed the weaker course. "Nothi

dismay. But my

stoop low, and lose no time in the p

went a little deeper in the tide, and bowed our bodies with great humbleness, and so passed over with painful effort but not a little spe

step over the beach, there'd be

s strike inland at once!" And I led the w

kness of hemlocks. Again the forest would be more open, a mingling of fir trees, and birches, and maples. Coming at last to more level ground, we were still much hindered by innumerable rocks, amid which the underbrush and wild vines prepared pitfalls for our weary feet. But I was not yet willing to call a halt for breath. On, on we stumbled, the wet branches buffeting our faces, but a cool and pleasant savour of the wild herbs which we trod upon ever exhaling upwards to refresh our senses. As we crossed a little grassy glade, I observed that Marc had come to Tamin's help, and was carrying the sack of bread. I obse

burning face into the babbling chill of it, and drank luxuriously. Tamin was beside me in an inst

ves. Then we made our meal,-a morsel each of the salt hake which I had clung to through our flight, and some bits of Tamin's black bread. This brea

presence come behind me. I turned my head with a start, and at the sam

e Fair, for the day of

ed breast was white. He wore leathern breeches, and the upper portion of his body was covered only by a cloak of coarse woollen stuff, woven in a staring pattern of black and yellow. On his head was a rimless cap of plaited straw, with a high, pointed crown; and this was stuck full of gaudy flowers and feathers. From the point

the cud, when the wolves are on the

to his feet and thrusting a piece of

side, while those wide eyes f

ed. "I hear their feet even now! Go! Run! Fly!

should be heeded or derided. I could see that neither Marc nor Tamin had a

upon the throats of the people!" he continued, his voice rising keenly, his white staff, with its grinning scarlet head, waving in strange, intricate curves. We were already off, making at almost full speed up the brook

e Fair, for the day of

ff the trail!" said

y ever get on it

rreached by any one in woodcraft. "If we outwit them now, it's no thanks to my tactics, but only to that generous and astonis

no more, discreetly husbanding h

he wears always; and the Indians, as well as our own people, reverence him mightily. It is nigh upon three years since he first appeared in Acadie. He hates the Black Abbé,-who, they say, o

the good father's wrath?

But the Indians could not be persuaded, or bullied, or bribed,

not far wrong!"

, wherein our footsteps left no trace, and we ascended it for perhaps a mile, by many windings. Then, with crafty care, we crept up from the stream, in such a fashion as to leave no mark of our divergence if, as I thought not likely, our pursuers should come that way. After that we fetched a great circuit, crossed the parent brook, and shortly before noon judged that we might acco

e us. Coming at length to the edge of a small lake set with is

in's good black bread, two loons laughed to each other out on the silver surface. We saw their black, watchful heads, moving slowly. Then we slept. It was high day when we awoke. The bread was now scarce, so we husbanded it, and made such good sp

etty, I rejoiced to see the boat. The man of the house, one Beaudry, was in the woods looking for his cow, but the goodwife made us welcome. When Beaudry came in

tree by the porch, we told our late adventures. I say we, but Tamin told them, and gave them a droll colouring which delighted me. It must have tickled Marc's fancy, too, for I took note that he let his pipe out many times during the story. Beaudry kept crying "Hein!" and "Bien!"

upon Tamin's wiry black hea