es took in every
feature of door and gate and sally-port and gun. While the cook was
preparing our supper and Ben disguising as a French wood-runner, we
wandered at will, M. Radisson all the while uttering low laughs and
words as of thoughts.

It was--"Caught--neat as a mouse in a trap! Don't let him spill the
canoe when we're running the traverse, Ramsay! May the fiends blast La
Chesnaye if he opens his foolish mouth in Gillam's hearing! Where,
think you, may we best secure him? Are the timbers of your room sound?"

Or else--"Faith, a stout timber would hold those main gates open!
Egad, now, an a man were standing in this doorway, he might jam a
musket in the hinge so the thing would keep open! Those guns in the
bastions though--think you those cannon are not pushed too far through
the windows to be slued round quickly?"

And much more to the same purpose, which told why M. Radisson stooped
to beg supper from rivals.

At sundown all was ready for departure. La Chesnaye and the marquis
had come back with the partridges that were to make pretence for our
quick return to the Prince Rupert. Ben Gillam had disguised as a
bush-runner, and the canoe lay ready to launch. Fools and children
unconsciously do wise things by mistake, as you know; and 'twas such an
unwitting act sprung M. Radisson's plans and let the prize out of the
trap.

"Sink me an you didn't promise the loan of twenty men to hold the
fort!" exclaimed Ben, stepping down.

"Twenty--and more--and welcome," cried Radisson eagerly.

"Then send Ramsay and Monsieur La Chesnaye back," put in Ben quickly.
"I like not the fort without one head while I'm away."

"Willingly," and M. Radisson's eyes glinted triumph.

"Hold a minute!" cried Ben before sitting down. "The river is rough.
Let two of my men take their places in the canoe!"

M. Radisson's breath drew sharp through his teeth. But the trap was
sprung, and he yielded gracefully enough to hide design.

"A curse on the blundering cub!" he muttered, drawing apart to give me
instructions. "Pardieu--you must profit on this, Ramsay! Keep your
eyes open. Spoil a door-lock or two! Plug the cannon if you can! Mix
sand with their powder! Shift the sentinels! Get the devils
insubordinate----"

"M. Radisson!" shouted Gillam.

"Coming!" says Radisson; and he went off with his teeth gritting sand.

[1] See Radisson's own account.

CHAPTER XIII

THE WHITE DARKNESS

How much of th