ny had fallen, huddled in a heap on the grass, and I dragged
myself across to him on my knees. I heard oaths, a shuffling of feet,
a rush of bodies, a voice I did not recognize shouting some
order--then the sharp crack of a rifle, and silence. I cared not what
had occurred; I had De Artigny's head in my arms, and his eyes opened
and smiled up at me full of courage.

"You are badly hurt?"

"No, I think not; the thrust was too high. Lift me, and I breathe
better. The man must have been mad."

"Surely yes, Monsieur; think you he had hope of escape?"

"'Tis likely he thought only of revenge. Ah, you are here also, De
Tonty."

"Yes, lad; there is small use for me yonder. You are not seriously
struck?"

"I bleed freely, but the thrust was in the shoulder. I could stand, I
think, with your aid."

On his feet he leaned heavily on us both, yet would not be led away,
until La Forest joined us. He held in his hand some papers, yet
neither of us questioned him.

"Monsieur de Tonty," he said, "I would have private word with you."

"When I help De Artigny to his bed, and have look at his wound. Yet is
it not matter of interest to these as well?"

"I take it so."

"Then speak your message--M. Cassion is dead?"

"The sentry's bullet found his heart, Monsieur."

"I saw him fall. Those papers were upon him--are they of value?"

"That I know not; they possess no meaning to me, but they were
addressed to the man killed at St. Ignace."

"Hugo Chevet?" I exclaimed. "My uncle; may I not see them, Monsieur?"

De Tonty placed them in my hands--a letter from a lawyer in Quebec,
with a form of petition to the King, and a report of his search of the
archives of New France. The other document was the sworn affidavit of
Jules Beaubaou, a clerk of records, that he had seen and read a paper
purporting to be a restoration from the King to the heirs of Captain
la Chesnayne. It was signed and sealed. I looked up at the faces
surrounding me; startled and frightened at this witness from the
dead.

"They are papers belonging to Chevet?" asked De Tonty.

"Yes, Monsieur--see. He must have known, suspected the truth before
our departure, yet had no thought such villainy was the work of M.
Cassion. He sought evidence."

"That is the whole story, no doubt. La Barre learned of his search,
for he would have spies in plenty, and wrote his letter of warning to
Cassion. The latter, fearing the worst, and desperate, did not even
hesitate at m