Annette - The Metis Spy

"Do you hear it again, Julie?"

Yes, Julie heard it: It was, without any doubt, singing to quiet the

groundless apprehensions of sa maitresse. Then both the maidens

slept. And whenever through the night Annette awoke, and began to

think of her lover's peril and probable captivity, the soft, scented

night wind bore to her ears a note or two of reassuring music from

the throat of the maiden-bird.

Before the sun had cleared the horizon on the morrow the breakfast

was ended, the tent rolled; and the saddles were upon the horses.

Then the trio set out at a brisk trot; the chief to join his people

upon their reserve, the girls to find Inspector Dicken at Battleford.

I do not like "breaking threads," but it is necessary that, for the

present, I should allow my two Metis maidens to journey without my

company, while I go back to where I left Captain Stephens in the

gulch.

The route of the two horsemen lay through alternating swamp and

grassland, and as the path was not much traversed, bush tangles here

and there almost blocked the way. They had no misgiving as they rode,

and expected to be soon with Inspector Dicken. The lower end of the

gulch was not so cheerful as that portion where they had entered. The

trees grew thicker; swamps composed the greater portion of the

ground, and the long groping shores of the trees might be traced far

through the black bog, till they found anchoring place at the skirt

of the upland. At last they reached a point where the swamp extended

across the entire valley; and further progress by the level was

impossible.

"I fear, Phillips, that we shall be obliged to try the edge of the

upland; but how our horses can make their way through the dense bush

I am unable to see. Nevertheless, we must try it." As they turned

their horses' heads, a din of yells burst upon their ears from the

bushes round about; and immediately a score of savages with tomahawks

uplift, headed by a Metis with snaky eyes, surrounded them.

"Surrender, messieurs; resistance is useless."

Stephens looked about him, and at one glance mastered the situation.

Phillips was too ill of his wounds to be able to use his right arm,

even though a dash down the trail by which they had come were

practicable. For himself, he had a pair of Colt's revolvers; but

before he could fire twice the savages would be enabled to brain him

with their tomahawks.

"I surrender," he said, nodding to the hateful boisbrule; and the

detestable eyes of the man gleamed as he said-"Bind the prisoners."