Half
a mile away Godefroy hallooed aloud. A dozen New Englanders, led by
the lieutenant, ran to meet us.
"Where is Master Ben?" demanded the leader.
"Le capitaine," answered Godefroy, affecting broken English, "le
capitaine, he is fatigue. He is back--voila--how you for speak
it?--avec, monsieur! Le capitaine, he has need, he has want for you to
go with food."
At that, with a deal of unguarded gabbling, they must hail us inside
for refreshments, while half a dozen men ran in the direction Godefroy
pointed with the food for their master. No sooner were their backs
turned than Godefroy whispers instructions to the marquis and his man,
who had been left as hostages. Foret strolled casually across to the
guard-room, where the powder was stored. Here he posted himself in the
doorway with his sword jammed above the hinge. His man made a
precipitate rush to heap fires for our refreshment, dropping three logs
across the fort gates and two more athwart the door of the house.
Godefroy and I, on pretext of scanning out the returning travellers,
ran one to the nigh bastion, the other to the fore-deck of the ship,
where was a swivel cannon that might have done damage.
Then Godefroy whistled.
Like wolves out of the earth rose M.
Pages:
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175