Part 2 (1/2)

She did not note that Iberville had risen, and had come round the table to look over Councillor Drayton's shoulder at a map spread out. After standing a moment watching, the councillor's finger his pilot, he started back to his seat. As he did so he caught sight of her still in that poise of wonderment and sadness. He stopped short, then glanced at Colonel Nicholls and the councillor. Both were bent over the map, talking in eager tones. He came softly round the table, and was about to speak over her shoulder, when she drew herself up with a little s.h.i.+ver and seemed to come back from afar. Her hands went up to her eyes. Then she heard him. She turned quickly, with the pageant of her dreams still wavering in her face; smiled at him distantly, looked towards the window again in a troubled way, then stepped softly and swiftly to the door, and pa.s.sed out. Iberville watched the door close and turned to the window. Again he saw, and this time nearer to the window, Radisson, and with him the man who had so suddenly mastered Jessica.

He turned to Colonel Nicholls. ”Your excellency,” he said, ”will you not let me tell Count Frontenac that you forbid Radisson your purlieus? For, believe me, sir, there is no greater rogue unhanged, as you shall find some day to the hurt of your colony, if you shelter him.”

The governor rose and paced the room thoughtfully. ”He is proclaimed by Frontenac?” he asked.

”A price is on his head. As a Frenchman I should shoot him like a wolf where'er I saw him; and so I would now were I not Count Frontenac's amba.s.sador and in your excellency's presence.”

”You speak manfully, monsieur,” said the governor, not ill-pleased; ”but how might you shoot him now? Is he without there?” At this he came to where Iberville stood, and looked out. ”Who is the fellow with him?” he asked.

”A cut-throat scoundrel, I'll swear, though his face is so smug,” said Iberville. ”What think you sir?” turning to the councillor, who was peering between their shoulders.

”As artless yet as strange a face as I have ever seen,” answered the merchant. ”What's his business here, and why comes he with the other rogue? He would speak with your excellency, I doubt not,” he added.

Colonel Nicholls turned to Iberville. ”You shall have your way,” he said. ”Yon renegade was useful when we did not know what sudden game was playing from Chateau St. Louis; for, as you can guess, he has friends as faithless as himself. But to please your governor, I will proclaim him.”

He took his stick and tapped the floor. Waiting a moment, he tapped again. There was no sign. He opened the door; but his Scots body-guard was not in sight. ”That's unusual,” he said. Then, looking round: ”Where is our other councillor? Gone?” he laughed. ”Faith, I did not see her go. And now we can swear that where the dear witch is will Morris, my Scotsman, be found. Well, well! They have their way with us whether we will or no. But, here, I'll have your Radisson in at once.”

He was in act to call when Morris entered. With a little hasty rebuke he gave his order to the man. ”And look you, my good Morris,” he added, ”tell Sherlock and Weir to stand ready. I may need the show of firearms.”

Turning to Iberville, he said: ”I trust you will rest with us some days, monsieur. We shall have sports and junketings anon. We are not yet so grim as our friends in Ma.s.sachusetts.”

”I think I might venture two days with you, sir, if for nothing else, to see Radisson proclaimed. Count Frontenac would gladly cut months from his calendar to know you ceased to harbour one who can prove no friend,”

was the reply.

The governor smiled. ”You have a rare taste for challenge, monsieur.

To be frank, I will say your gift is more that of the soldier than the envoy. But upon my soul, if you will permit me, I think no less of you for that.”

Then the door opened, and Morris brought in Radisson. The keen, sinister eyes of the woodsman travelled from face to face, and then rested savagely on Iberville. He scented trouble, and traced it to its source.

Iberville drew back to the window and, resting his arm on the high stool where Jessica had sat, waited the event. Presently the governor came over to him.

”You can understand,” he said quietly, ”that this man has been used by my people, and that things may be said which--”

Iberville waved his hand respectfully. ”I understand, your excellency,”

he said. ”I will go.” He went to the door.

The woodsman as he pa.s.sed broke out: ”There is the old saying of the woods, 'It is mad for the young wolf to trail the old bear.'”

”That is so,” rejoined Iberville, with excellent coolness, ”if the wolf holds not the spring of the trap.”

In the outer room were two soldiers and the Scot. He nodded, pa.s.sed into the yard, and there he paced up and down. Once he saw Jessica's face at a window, he was astonished to see how changed. It wore a grave, an apprehensive look. He fell to wondering, but, even as he wondered, his habit of observation made him take in every feature of the governor's house and garden, so that he could have reproduced all as it was mirrored in his eye. Presently he found himself again a.s.sociating Radisson's comrade with the vague terror in Jessica's face. At last he saw the fellow come forth between two soldiers, and the woodsman turned his head from side to side, showing his teeth like a wild beast at sight of Iberville. His black brows twitched over his vicious eyes. ”There are many ways to h.e.l.l, Monsieur Iberville,” he said. ”I will show you one.

Some day when you think you tread on a wisp of straw, it will be a snake with the deadly tooth. You have made an outlaw--take care! When the outlaw tires of the game, he winds it up quick. And some one pays for the candles and the cards.”

Iberville walked up to him. ”Radisson,” he said in a voice well controlled, ”you have always been an outlaw. In our native country you were a traitor; in this, you are the traitor still. I am not sorry for you, for you deserve not mercy. Prove me wrong. Go back to Quebec; offer to pay with your neck, then--”

”I will have my hour,” said the woodsman, and started on.

”It's a pity,” said Iberville to himself--”as fine a woodsman as Perrot, too!”

CHAPTER III