: I hope that they will fight while remains a chance.
And be sure, sir, I should not have yielded here, but that I foresaw
hopeless slaughter. Nor would I ask your favour there, but that I know
you are like to have bloody barbarians with you--and we have women and
children!"

"We have no Indians, we are all French," answered Iberville quietly, and
sent the messenger away.

At that moment Perrot touched his arm, and pointed to a man whose
shoulder was being bandaged. It was Radisson, who had caught Iberville's
sword when the abbe diverted it.

"By the mass," said Iberville; "the gift of the saints!" He pricked
Radisson with the point of his sword. "Well, Monsieur Renegade, who
holds the spring of the trap now? You have some prayers, I hope. And
if there is no priest among your English, we'll find you one before you
swing next sundown."

Radisson threw up a malignant look, but said nothing; and went on caring
for his wound.

"At sunset, remember. You will see to it, Perrot," he added.

"Pardon me, monsieur," said the governor. "This is an officer of our
company, duly surrendered."

"Monsieur will know this man is a traitor, and that I have long-standing
orders to kill him wherever found. What has monsieur to say for him?"
Iberville added, turning to Gering.

"As an officer of the company," was the reply, "he has the rights of a
prisoner of war."

"Monsieur, we have met at the same table, and I cannot think you should
plead for a traitor. If you will say that the man--"

But here Radisson broke in. "I want no one to speak for me. I hate you
all"--he spat at Iberville--"and I will hang when I must, no sooner."

"Not so badly said," Iberville responded. "'Tis a pity, Radisson, you
let the devil buy you."

"T'sh! The devil pays good coin, and I'm not hung yet," he sullenly
returned.

By this time all the prisoners save Gering, the governor, and Radisson,
were secured. Iberville ordered their disposition, and then, having set
a guard, went down to deal with the governor for all the forts on the
bay. Because the firing had ceased, he knew that the fort had been
captured; and, indeed, word soon came to this effect. Iberville then
gave orders that the prisoners from the fort should be brought on board
next morning, to be carried on to Fort Albany, which was yet for attack.
He was ill-content that a hand-to-hand fight with Gering had been
prevented.

He was now all courtesy to the governor and Gering, and, offer