University of Virginia Library

12. CHAPTER XII.

Our hero approached the camp of M'Leod cautiously,
in the Indian manner, without suffering his
party to be seen. He picketed his horses in
a hollow three miles distant, where they might
graze out of sight, and at night sent spies into his
camp; but he only learned that Peter Pangman
was with his enemy, sick of an intermittent fever,
and that M'Leod had forty half-breeds with him.
In this manner four days passed, but on the fifth
night Dés Champs took upon himself the office of
spy, and penetrating farther than his predecessors

had done, brought back information, that on the
morrow, the hunters were to chase the buffalo, and
that M'Leod and Reinhard would be left alone in
their lodge. On the receipt of these tidings Gordon
despatched a man to raise the cattle, and drive
them so far as to insure the protracted absence
of the half-breeds the next day. This being effected,
he moved to within a mile of the enemy with
his men.

At daybreak the bois brulés saddled their horses
and rode off. M'Leod came out of his lodge to
witness their departure, and when they were gone
re-entered it, totally unsuspicious of danger. He
was first apprised of it by the entrance of Gordon
with five followers, into the lodge, whom he at first
mistook for some of his own people returned from
the hunt. He started, and asked what had brought
them back so soon.

`Rise,' said Gordon; `rise and come with us
where you must render an account of your life.'

Recognizing Gordon's voice, he started up, as
did Reinhard. `I see,' he said, `into what hands I
have fallen. But I did not kill Cavenny; no, you
cannot prove it, and the law cannot condemn me.
Are you come to murder me here?'

`No, miscreant; I am not. That were a deed
worthy of you; not of me. Yet if I should slay
you, who could blame me? There hangs a sword:
if you think yourself unfairly treated; draw it, and
come on. If you conquer me, I promise that you
shall go free.'

`And who would trust to such a promise? If

I should kill you, I should fall by the hands of your
men.'

Here Reinhard broke in. `Monsieur M'Leod,'
said he, `if you are inclined to surrender without
a struggle, so am not I. Let Gordon order his
men to retire, and I will trust his word. Come
sir, I see you wear a sword: let us forth, and we
shall see if you know how to use it.'

Gordon spoke to his men. `If I fall,' he said,
`let them go clear. Now, base assassin, come on.'

Reinhard met him boldly. He had expected
to overcome him easily, but Gordon was almost
his equal in skill, and his superior in activity.
Their blades crossed, and the young man attacked
his opponent fiercely. Reinhard defended himself
ably, but finding himself over-matched, he drew a
pistol from his belt and fired at Gordon's head.
He missed, and before the smoke cleared away,
he received a cut across his wrist, and his sword
dropped from his hand. Then he stood still and
sullen, expecting a mortal blow.

His expectations were near being fulfilled: Gordon's
men, who had watched the duel with intense
curiosity, now levelled their weapons, and would
have shot him, had not the bois brulé called to them
to forbear. `Wretch,' he cried, `I scarcely know
what hinders me from staking you to the earth.
Come, my men, bind up his wrist, and tie his elbows
behind him. Do the same for the brave
major. Dés Champs, go and bring Pangman, and
their horses hither.'

M'Leod submitted, in terror, and Reinhard doggedly,
without uttering a syllable. Pangman was

dragged from under a heap of buffalo robes, where
he had concealed himself, without respect to his
feeble condition or his expostulations. Dés
Champs tied his wrists so tight as to give him great
pain, for it must be confessed that the half-breed,
as well as others of his rank and condition, had
little regard for human suffering. When the
wretched invalid was brought before Gordon, the
youth loosened his bonds, and rebuked his follower
for his inhumanity.

`You are the master, Monsieur,' said Dés
Champs. `I hope I know my duty to my bourgeois,
but please to recollect, that if we had fallen
into their keeping, we should have had worse treatment.
If I were master, I would not have all this
trouble with them.'

`What would you do, then?' asked Gordon.

`Carry home their scalps at my horse's bridle,
and help myself to whatever I liked in the camp,'
answered Dés Champs.

But Gordon did not like the counsel. The prisoners
were mounted on their own horses, with
their ancles secured under the animals. If we
were to say that the party left the camp as poor as
they entered it, it would be more than would consist
with strict truth. He who could exchange an
old garment for a new one, did so without scruple.
Sundry knives, blankets, pistols, &c, were taken.
To all this Gordon offered no opposition, for he
knew that the free men might, like the Indians, be
led, but not driven. The spoilers left the camp in
high glee. One of them had decorated his person
with the gorgeous laced coat and epaulettes of

M'Leod; another wore his cap and feather, a
third had girt on his sword. Reinhard's apparel
was disposed of in a similar manner, and the wearers
of these equipments were looked upon with
envy by their less fortunate companions. A great
deal of the baggage of the camp, that could not be
conveniently carried away was wantonly destroyed.

It is unnecessary to relate the incidents of their
return to Pembinaw.

And now, gentle reader, we believe that all the
incidents essential to our story have been recorded.
If thy patience is not already exhausted, we
bespeak thy favor in behalf of our