oft nearly full of hay, and I
crawled up, and dug a hole far down against the side of the building,
and climbed in, bringing with me for drink a nest of hen's eggs which I
found in a corner. The warmth of the dry hay was comforting, and after
caring for my wounds, which I found were but scratches, I had somewhat
to eat from my knapsack, drank up two eggs, and then coiled myself for
sleep. It was my purpose, if not discovered, to stay where I was two
days, and then to make for the point below the Falls of Montmorenci
where I hoped to find a canoe of Voban's placing.

When I waked it must have been near noon, so I lay still for a time,
listening to the cheerful noise of fowls and cattle in the yard without,
and to the clacking of a hen above me. The air smelt very sweet. I
also heard my unknowing host, at whose table I had once sat, two years
before, talking with his son, who had just come over from Quebec,
bringing news of my escape, together with a wonderful story of the fight
between Gabord and myself. It had, by his calendar, lasted some three
hours, and both of us, in the end, fought as we lay upon the ground.
"But presently along comes a cloaked figure, with horses, and he lifts
m'sieu' the Englishman upon one, and away they ride like the devil
towards St. Charles River and Beauport. Gabord was taken to the
hospital, and he swore that Englishman would not have got away if
stranger had not fetched him a crack with a pistol-butt which sent him
dumb and dizzy. And there M'sieu' Lancy sleep snug through all until the
horses ride away!"

The farmer and his son laughed heartily, with many a "By Gar!" their
sole English oath. Then came the news that six thousand livres were
offered for me, dead or living, the drums beating far and near to tell
the people so.

The farmer gave a long whistle, and in a great bustle set to calling all
his family to arm themselves and join with him in this treasure-hunting.
I am sure at least a dozen were at the task, searching all about; nor
did they neglect the loft where I lay. But I had dug far down, drawing
the hay over me as I went, so that they must needs have been keen to
smell me out. After about three hours' poking about over all the farm,
they met again outside this building, and I could hear their gabble
plainly. The smallest among them, the piping chore-boy, he was for
spitting me without mercy; and the milking-lass would toast me with
a hay-fork, that she would, and six thousan