hill and fever. Late in the evening of this day, my hunters
having drawn off with as little sense as they had hunted me, I edged
cautiously down past Beauport and on to the Montmorenci Falls. I came
along in safety, and reached a spot near the point where Voban was to
hide the boat. The highway ran between. I looked out cautiously. I could
hear and see nothing, and so ran out and crossed the road, and pushed
for the woods on the banks of the river. I had scarcely got across when
I heard a shout, and looking round I saw three horsemen, who instantly
spurred towards me. I sprang through the underbrush and came down
roughly into a sort of quarry, spraining my ankle on a pile of stones.
I got up quickly; but my ankle hurt me sorely, and I turned sick and
dizzy. Limping a little way, I set my back against a tree, and drew my
hanger. As I did so, the three gentlemen burst in upon me. They were
General Montcalm, a gentleman of the Governor's household, and Doltaire!

"It is no use, dear Captain," said Doltaire. "Yield up your weapon."

General Montcalm eyed me curiously, as the other gentleman talked in
low, excited tones; and presently he made a gesture of courtesy, for he
saw that I was hurt. Doltaire's face wore a malicious smile; but when he
noted how sick I was, he came and offered me his arm, and was constant
in courtesy till I was set upon a horse; and with him and the General
riding beside me I came to my new imprisonment. They both forbore to
torture me with words, for I was suffering greatly; but they fetched
me to the Chateau St. Louis, followed by a crowd, who hooted at me.
Doltaire turned on them at last, and stopped them.

The Governor, whose petty vanity was roused, showed a foolish fury at
seeing me, and straightway ordered me to the citadel again.

"It's useless kicking 'gainst the pricks," said Doltaire to me
cynically, as I passed out limping between two soldiers; but I did not
reply. In another half hour of most bitter journeying I found myself in
my dungeon. I sank upon the old couch of straw, untouched since I had
left it; and when the door shut upon me, desponding, aching in all my
body, now feverish and now shivering, my ankle in great pain, I could
bear up no longer, and I bowed my head and fell a-weeping like a woman.

XVIII. THE STEEP PATH OF CONQUEST

Now I am come to a period on which I shall not dwell, nor repeat a tale
of suffering greater than that I had yet endured. All the first ni