CHAPTER IX
THE STOPPING OF THE SUPPLY SHIP
Joe crouched low, preparing for a spring. Jean and Raoul did likewise,and not one of them breathed.
"Who goes there?" demanded a rough, stern voice, but the next instantit was silenced, for Joe, throwing himself upon the speaker with a leaplike that of a panther, brought him to the ground with his hands at histhroat.
But the man lay so motionless in his grip that there was no need totake his life. In falling backward, his head had struck a stone, andhe was senseless. As soon as Joe realized this he let go of him, andwhispering to his companions:
"Quick--quick--run!" he darted off with them at his heels.
Not trying to pick their steps, they plunged through the darkness asfast as they could, slipping, stumbling, tripping, yet keeping ondesperately, for they knew not if the whole camp might not presently beupon their heels.
There was a stir among Charnace's sentinels and a calling to oneanother, but none of them knew in which direction the fugitives hadgone, and after some aimless scurrying about they gave up all idea ofpursuit, and settled down to quiet again.
Meanwhile, the three had continued their wild flight until their breathwas spent, and then they threw themselves down to recover it.
"All right now," said Joe, nodding complacently. "We see no more ofthem," and he was quite correct. They were now beyond Charnace'slines, and could pursue their way in a more leisurely fashion. Thebreak of day found them far down the shore and drawing near anencampment of friendly Indians. From these Joe had no difficulty inobtaining a good canoe, and a supply of provisions, and by noon theywere out on the Bay of Fundy, watching for the _Clement_.
The weather was fine, and Raoul keenly enjoyed dancing over thewhite-capped waves in their buoyant craft, which Joe and Jean managedwith such matchless skill. They did not expect him to paddle, and sohe stretched himself out in the bottom of the canoe and took his ease,the excitement and exertion of the past night having pretty thoroughlytired him.
For some hours no sign of the ship appeared, and then, as the afternoondrew towards its close, Joe's keen eyes descried a sail showing abovethe horizon to the southward.
"Good!" he grunted, and with a sweep of his paddle he turned the canoein that direction.
"You paddle now," he said to Raoul, and the latter obeyed. Propelledby the three blades, into which the paddlers put their strength, thelight craft bounded over the water towards the ship.
"Oh! I hope it is the _Clement_" said Raoul. "We shall be just ingood time."
Mile after mile they swept along, until Raoul's arms began to ache, andhis breath to become scant, but Joe and Jean were pegging away asvigorously as at first, and he hated to give up. They were nearing theship rapidly, and ere long would be close enough to hail her, when, totheir surprise, she came about, and went off on another tack, leavingthem rapidly astern.
"Hullo!" exclaimed Raoul in a tone of consternation. "What did she dothat for? We shall soon be farther away from her than we were atfirst."
Joe stopped paddling for a moment, and looked very cross. Then, risingto his full height, he swung the paddle above his head, hoping toattract the attention of some one on board the vessel. But it had noeffect. The ship continued in her course, and, there being plenty ofwind, her speed was so great as to make it useless for the canoe tofollow her.
"RISING TO HIS FULL HEIGHT, JOE SWUNG THE PADDLE ABOVEHIS HEAD."]
The occupants of the canoe looked blankly at each other. Even theusually impassive Joe did not disguise his chagrin, while Jean soughtrelief for his feelings in some strong language that would have broughtupon him a reproof from Madame La Tour had she been present. The sunhad already set. Night was drawing near, and unless they reached theship before darkness fell they might miss her altogether, and she wouldgo on to become a prize for the waiting Charnace. Raoul clearlyrealized their critical position, and while Joe and Jean discussed whatshould be done, he lifted up his heart in earnest prayer that God wouldguide them to the ship even through the darkness.
Rested by their brief halt, the paddlers resumed work, steering thecanoe straight up the Bay, so as if possible to intercept the vessel inher next tack. Meanwhile the daylight faded out of the sky, the winddropped, and the water became perfectly calm. In almost completesilence the canoe glided steadily forward, Raoul, who had paddled untilhe was tired, once more taking it easy in the bottom.
Suddenly there came through the gloom the sound of a man's voice givinga command, and it made the hearts of those in the canoe leap for joy.Joe and Jean had been paddling listlessly, but now they went to workwith fresh energy. Their light craft shot over the smooth water in thedirection of the voice, and, a few minutes later, the dark bulk of theship they sought loomed up before them.
Jean promptly hailed her, and was bidden to come alongside. A rope wasthrown, whereby all three clambered up, and the next instant stood onthe deck of the _Clement_. Very hearty was their welcome here. TheCaptain of the good ship felt deeply grateful for the timely warning,and offered his wearied and hungry visitors the best at his disposal,while the colonists and others crowded about, eager to be told about LaTour and his forts, and how things were going in the new world to whichthey had come. Raoul was pleased to find himself a person of someimportance, and his tongue wagged merrily as he answered the manyquestions poured upon him, or in his turn made inquiries on his ownaccount. Ere he lay down that night in the Captain's cabin, he did notforget to thank God for having answered his prayer by guiding the canoeinto the way of the _Clement_.
After consulting with Joe and Jean, the Captain of the _Clement_decided that the best plan would be for him to keep the ship off forthe present, as it was not likely Charnace would break his blockade ofFort La Tour to go after her, and, even if he did, she could easilyover-match any one of his vessels, and sail away from any of them.
In the meantime, Joe and Jean would make their way back to the fort,leaving Raoul on board. This arrangement was carried out successfully.The messengers again passed through Charnace's lines and brought theirgood news to La Tour, who at once decided that the best thing to bedone was for him to get on board the _Clement_ and sail on her forBoston, to obtain reinforcements against the enemy. So, on a dark,still night a canoe, containing both Monsieur and Madame, glided unseenpast the blockading vessels, La Tour smiling grimly, and Constancegiving a shudder as they heard Charnace's own voice saying:
"The spy who just came from the fort says that his comrades will senddown La Tour in shackles at midnight," little knowing that the rascallyconspirators had been discovered, and were themselves now lying inirons in the dungeon of the fort.