And you, Ramsay, will keep guard at
the river bastion all night! And you, Jack Battle, will gather all the
hats and helmets and caps in the fort, and divide them equally between
the two front bastions----"
"Hats and helmets?" interrupts La Chesnaye.
"La Chesnaye," says M. Radisson, whirling, "an any one would question
me this night he had best pull his tongue out with the tongs! Go, all
of you!"
But Godefroy, ever a dour-headed knave, must test the steel of M. de
Radisson's mood.
"D'ye mean me an' the pilot to risk crossing the marsh by night----"
But he got no farther. M. de Radisson was upon him with a cudgel like
a flail on wheat.
"An you think it risk to go, I'll make it greater risk to stay! An you
fear to obey, I'll make you fear more to disobey! An you shirk the
pain of toeing the scratch, I'll make it a deal more painful to lag
behind!"
"But at night--at night," roared Godefroy between blows.
"The night--knave," hissed out Radisson, "the night is lighter than
morning with the north light. The night"--this with a last drive--"the
night is same as day to man of spirit! 'Tis the sort of encouragement
half the world needs to succeed," said M. Radisson, throwing down the
cudgel.
And Godefroy, the skulker, was glad to run for the marsh.
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