Shadows took form in the frost. The slant rays of a southern sun
struck through the frost clouds in spears. Then the frost smoke rose
like mist, and the white glare shone as a sea. In another hour it
would be high noon of the short shadow. Every coat--beaver and bear
and otter and raccoon--hung open, every capote flung back, every runner
hot as in midsummer, though frost-rime edged the hair like snow. When
the sun lay like a fiery shield half-way across the southern horizon,
M. Radisson called a halt for nooning.
"Now, remember, my brave lads," said he, after he had outlined his
plans, drawing figures of fort and ship and army of seven on the snow,
"now, remember, if you do what I've told you, not a shot will be fired,
not a drop of blood spilled, not a grain of powder used, and to every
man free tobacco for the winter--"
"If we succeed," interjects Godefroy sullenly.
"_If_," repeats M. Radisson; "an I hear that word again there will be a
carving!"
Long before we came to the north river near the Hudson's Bay Company's
fort, the sun had wheeled across the horizon and sunk in a sea of snow,
but now that the Prince Rupert had foundered, the capture of these
helpless Englishmen was no object to us. Unless a ship from the south
end of the bay came to rescue them they were at our mercy.
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