ard in front of the main building.

From my place I saw how it happened.

The lieutenant stepped back to let M. de Radisson pass up the ship's
ladder first. The New Englanders followed, the lieutenant still
waiting at the bottom step; and when M. Radisson's back was turned the
lieutenant darted down the river bank in the direction of Governor
Brigdar's fort.

The flag went up and M. Radisson looked back to witness the salute.
Then he discovered the lieutenant's flight. The New Englanders'
purpose was easily guessed--to lock forces with Governor Brigdar, and
while our strength was divided attack us here or at the Habitation.

"One fight at a time," says Radisson, summoning to council in the
powder-house all hands but our guard at the gate. "You, Allemand and
Godefroy, will cross the marsh to-night, bidding Chouart be ready for
attack and send back re-enforcements here! You two lads"--pointing to
the stowaway and scullion--"will boil down bears' grease and porpoise
fat for a half a hundred cressets! Cut up all the brooms in the fort!
Use pine-boughs! Split the green wood and slip in oiled rags! Have a
hundred lights ready by ten of the clock! Go--make haste, or I throw
you both into the pot!

"You, Foret and La Chesnaye, transfer all the New Englanders to the
hold of the ship and batten them under! If there's to be fighting, let
the enemies be outside the walls. And you, Ramsay, will keep guard at
the river bastion all night! And you, Jack Battle, will gather all the
hats and helmets and caps in the fort, and divide them equally between
the two front bastions----"

"Hats and helmets?" interrupts La Chesnaye.

"La Chesnaye," says M. Radisson, whirling, "an any one would question
me this night he had best pull his tongue out with the tongs! Go, all
of you!"

But Godefroy, ever a dour-headed knave, must test the steel of M. de
Radisson's mood.

"D'ye mean me an' the pilot to risk crossing the marsh by night----"

But he got no farther. M. de Radisson was upon him with a cudgel like
a flail on wheat.

"An you think it risk to go, I'll make it greater risk to stay! An you
fear to obey, I'll make you fear more to disobey! An you shirk the
pain of toeing the scratch, I'll make it a deal more painful to lag
behind!"

"But at night--at night," roared Godefroy between blows.

"The night--knave," hissed out Radisson, "the night is lighter than
morning with the north light. The night"--this with a las