ip's prow into shadow. At the same instant,
a man flung forward out of the frost cloud beating for admittance. M.
de Radisson opened.

"The Indians! The Indians! Where are the New Englanders?" cried the
man, pitching headlong in.

And when he regained his feet, Governor Brigdar, of the Hudson's Bay
Company, stood face to face with M. 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. Radisson gave the signal.

Instantaneously half a hundred lights were aflare. Red tongues of fire
darted from the loop-holes. Two lads were obeying our leader's call to
run--run--run, blowing fife, beating drum like an army's band, while
streams of boiling grease poured down from bastions and lookout.
Helmets, hats, and caps sticking round on the poles were lighted up
like the heads of a battalion; and oft as any of us showed himself he
displayed fresh cap. One Indian, I mind, got a stockade off and an arm
inside the wall. That arm was never withdrawn, for M. Radisson's
broadsword came down, and the Indian reeled back with a yelping scream.
Then the smoke cleared, and I saw what will stay with me as long as
memory lasts--M. Radisson, target for