The Road to Frontenac Part 27

Menard was on them with a leap. They did not see him until a musket whirled about their ears, and one man fell, rolling, at the maid's feet.

"Back into the hut!" he said roughly, and she obeyed. As he turned to aid the priest he called after her, "Pile up the logs, quick!"

She understood, and with the strength that came with the moment, she dragged the logs to the door.

Menard crushed down the two remaining Indians as he would have crushed wild beasts, without a glance toward the mob that was running at him, without a thought for the gash in his arm, made first by an arrow at La Gallette and now reopened by a knife thrust. The Father, too, was wounded, but still he could fight. There was but a second more. The Captain threw the four muskets into the hut, and after them the powder-horns and bullet-pouches which he had barely time to strip from the dead men. Then he crowded the priest through the opening above the logs, and came tumbling after. Another second saw the logs piled close against the door, while a shower of bullets and arrows rattled against them.

"Take a musket, Father. Now, fire together! Quick, the others! Can you load these, Mademoiselle?"

"Yes." She reached for them, and poured the powder down the barrels.

"Not too much, Mademoiselle. We may run short."

"Yes, M'sieu."

To miss a mark in that solid mob would have been difficult. The first four shots brought down three men, and sent another limping away with a bleeding foot.

"Keep it up, Father! Don't wait an instant. Fast, Mademoiselle, fast!

Ah, there's one more. See, they are falling back. Take the other wall, Father. See that they do not come from the rear."

The priest ran about the hut, peering through the c.h.i.n.ks.

"I see nothing," he called.

"You had better stay there, then. Keep a close watch."

The maid laid two loaded muskets at the Captain's side.

"Can we hold them off, M'sieu?"

His eye was pressed to an opening, and he did not turn.

"I fear not, Mademoiselle. A few minutes more may settle it. But we can give them a fight."

"If they come again, will you let me shoot, M'sieu?"

He turned in surprise, and looked at her slight figure.

"You, Mademoiselle?"

"Yes; I can help. I have shot before."

He laughed, with the excitement of the moment, and nodded. Then they were silent. She knelt by his side and looked through another opening.

The women and children had retreated well up the path. The warriors were crowded together, just out of range, talking and shouting excitedly. A moment later a number of these slipped to the rear and ran off between the huts.

"What does that mean, M'sieu? Will they come around behind?"

"Yes. Watch out, Father. You will hear from them soon."

"Very well, M'sieu. It will be hard. There are trees and bushes here for cover."

Menard shrugged his shoulders, and made no reply. Time was all he wished.

"If the Big Throat started with the first light, he should be here before another hour," he said to the maid, who was watching the Indians.

"Yes," she replied.

"Is there any corn in the basket, Mademoiselle?"

"I think so. I had forgotten."

"We shall need it. Wait; I will look."

He got the basket, and brought it to her.

"There is no time for cooking, but you had better eat what you can.

And keep a close watch."

"Here, M'sieu." She spread her skirt, and he poured out half of the corn.

"You give me too much. You must not."

He laughed, and crossed to the priest, saying over his shoulder:--

"Mademoiselle is our new recruit. And the recruit must not complain of her food. I cannot allow it."

The moments pa.s.sed with no sign of action along the line of redskins on the path. They were quieter since the flanking party had started.

To Menard it was evident that a plan had been settled upon. In a like position, a dozen Frenchmen would have stormed the hut, knowing that only two or three could fall before they were under the shelter of the walls; but even a large force of Indians was unwilling to take the chance.

"Father," called the Captain, "it may be better for you to take the doorway. Mademoiselle and I will watch the forest."

"Very well, M'sieu."

The exchange was made rapidly.

"Will you look out at the sides, as well?" Menard said to her. "Keep moving about, and using all the openings. There are too many chances for approach here."

"If I see one, shall I shoot, M'sieu?"

He smiled. "You had better tell me first."

She stepped briskly about, peering through the c.h.i.n.ks with an alert eye. Menard found it hard to keep his own watch, so eager were his eyes to watch her. But he turned resolutely toward the woods.

"M'sieu!" she whispered. They had been silent for a long time. "To the left in the bushes! It looks like a head."

"Can you make sure?"

"Yes. It is a head. May I shoot?"