espite their
sacred calling, which they had so dishonoured.

But Madame was too tender of heart to take such extreme measures. Good
reason as she had to hate the whole Jesuit body, apart from the
villainy of these two members of it, she shrank from following the
advice of her counsellors, and to their frankly-expressed disgust did
no more than to summon Miraband and Oriani before her, upbraid them
with their treachery, adding some bitter words as to their being wolves
in sheep's clothing, and then ordered them to be set adrift in a light
canoe.

"Betake yourselves to your employer," she said with withering scorn,
presenting a splendid picture of righteous indignation, as she towered
above the cowering priests. "He is fit company for you. You have no
right amongst honest men."

Raoul saw them into the canoe. He heartily agreed with Joe and Jean
that the punishment was altogether inadequate, but he was too loyal to
his aunt not to carry out her bidding; and as the Jesuits, who had
wisely kept silence through it all, paddled off, he called after them:

"You've got off with your lives this time. But if my uncle ever
catches you, it will be different."

CHAPTER XII

A GLORIOUS VICTORY

It was not a wise, even if it were a womanly, step on Madame La Tour's
part to let the Jesuits go, for they, of course, made their way
directly to Charnace, and acquainted him with the true state of affairs
at the fort--La Tour absent in quest of reinforcements, only fifty men
in the garrison, and the supply of powder and shot unduly low.

"Ah, ha!" chuckled Charnace, rubbing his hands. "You bring good news.
My time has come. I would prefer not having to fight with a woman, but
since La Tour has seen fit to desert his post, he must take the
consequences."

Meantime, Madame La Tour, with her faithful supporters, strained every
effort to prepare for the assault that could not be long delayed.
Everything that could be secured in the way of food was packed into her
storehouses; the scanty stock of ammunition was carefully examined and
apportioned, so as to be used to the best advantage, and the little
garrison was divided up into four watches, of which Madame took command
of one, while Raoul, Joe and Jean captained the others, and then, as
Madame said:

"We have done all that we can. We now leave ourselves in the hands of
God."

Many days of suspense followed, and then the report came from a watcher
on the headland, t