de Radisson.
"A right warm welcome, Your Excellency," bowed M. de Radisson, bolting
the gate. "The New Englanders are in safe keeping, sir, and so are
you!"
The bewildered governor gasped at M. Radisson's words. Then he lost
all command of himself.
"Radisson, man," he stormed, "this is no feint--this is no time for
acting! Six o' my men shot on the way--four hiding by the ship and the
Indians not a hundred yards behind! Take my sword and pistol," he
proffered, M. de Radisson still hesitating, "but as you hope for
eternal mercy, call in my four men!"
After that, all was confusion.
Foret and the marquis rushed pell-mell for the fort with four terrified
Englishmen disarmed. The gates were clapped to. Myriad figures darted
from the frost mist--figures with war-paint on their faces and bodies
clothed in white to disguise approach. English and French, enemies
all, crouched to the palisades against the common foe, with
sword-thrust for the hands catching at pickets to scale the wall and
volleying shots that scattered assailants back. The redskins were now
plainly visible through the frost. When they swerved away from shelter
of the ship, every bastion let go the roar of a cannon discharge.
There was the sudden silence of a drawing off, then the shrill
"Ah-o-o-o-oh! Ah-o-o-o-oh! Ah-o-o-o-oh!" of Indian war-cry!
And M.
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