Major Hester, who had intended to return East about this
time, suddenly decided to remain at Detroit a while longer. He
therefore intrusted a number of private despatches to the young
courier, both for Sir William and General Amherst. Besides its more
important despatches, Donald's canoe was freighted with a large packet
of letters from members of the garrison to distant friends and loved
ones. Thus it set forth on its long and perilous voyage followed by
fond hopes and best wishes from every member of the band of exiles left
behind.

CHAPTER IX

ST. AUBIN'S STARTLING INFORMATION

When Major Hester slowly and thoughtfully returned to his quarters
after witnessing the departure of his son, he found sitting on the
doorstep, and patiently awaiting his coming, a Canadian woman. Beside
her stood her stolid-looking husband, whom the major recognized as a
well-to-do farmer of the settlement, to whom he had granted some
trifling favors while in command of the post.

"Good-morning, madame. Good-morning, St. Aubin. To what am I indebted
for the honor of this early call? What can I do for you?" asked the
old soldier, in answer to the humble salutations with which they
greeted his approach.

"Ah! monsieur, we have come," began the woman.

"Certainment, we have come," echoed her husband.

"Jean!"

"Pardon, Marie."

"We have come with despair on account of the previous abounding
kindness of monsieur, to divulge him--"

"A secret! A secret terrible!" exploded the old man, who was nervously
standing first on one foot and then on the other.

"Jean!"

"Oui, Marie."

"If you have an important secret to confide, had we not better enter
the house?" suggested the major, who saw from the excited earnestness
of the worthy couple that something very unusual had occurred to
agitate them.

They accepted this invitation, and the major finally gleaned from their
combined and interjectory statements that on the previous day Madame
St. Aubin, visiting the Ottawa village, had surprised a number of
warriors in the act of cutting off the long barrels of their guns,
until the entire length of each weapon was not more than a yard.
Moreover, she had overheard an Indian who was somewhat under the
influence of liquor boast that ere many days he would have English
scalps with which to fringe his leggings.

"Has any one else seen these things or noted symptoms of uneasiness
among the Indians?" demanded the major.

"Yes.