At the end of an hour the talk came to an end, and Indians and French got ready to move. There were four horses in the camp, which Jean Bevoir and his countrymen rode, leaving the Indians to accompany them on foot. Bevoir was scarred from his wounds, and limped as he mounted his steed. “I ought to put a bullet through that rascal’s head!” whispered James Morris. “He is not worthy to live.” “If they discover us they will surely kill us, father,” whispered Dave, in return. “They can easily track us through the snow. Even as it is, they may come across our tracks and follow us up.” “I know it, Dave—and I shall do nothing now.” The enemy were soon on their way, following what was a trail leading to the far west. James Morris saw them depart with a darker look than ever on his face. “The rascals! The infamous scoundrels!” he cried, when he dared to speak in louder tones. “What did you learn, father?” asked the son. “A great deal, Dave. Do you know what Jean Bevoir intends to do?” “I haven’t the least idea.” “He and his followers, including that Benoit Vascal, are going to join forces with a large body of Indians. They are going to induce other Frenchmen to do likewise, if they can. The Indians are to aid the Frenchmen in an attack on every trading post for miles around, and whenever successful French and Indians are to divide the plunder.” “Well, they have done just as bad things before.” “That is not all. If the other Indians are finally subdued Jean Bevoir is to take charge of my old trading post, producing a paper to the effect that I once signed over all my rights to the place to him. To this document the other Frenchmen will affix their names as witnesses.” “Oh, what a rascally thing to do!” “In return for aiding Jean Bevoir, Benoit Vascal is also to receive favors,” went on James Morris. “Do you remember the papers that were lost—those relating to Mr. Maurice Hamilton’s right to certain tracts of land along the St. Lawrence?” “Of course.” “Well, Vascal will have duplicates made and have the rights transferred to himself, the others being witnesses to this instrument. Thus, they will cheat the father of the twins out of his property.” “But what will they do when you turn up, and when Mr. Hamilton appears?” “That is the most dastardly part of the whole business. They are either going to poison us in secret or else capture us and turn us over to some Indians, who, for a consideration, will make way with us in such a fashion that the authorities will be completely baffled.” “How awful, father! How can a man like Jean Bevoir be so bloodthirsty?” “It is his old hatred of me grown more bitter day by day. He hated me when first we established rival trading posts, and now he cannot bear to think of the English winning this war against the French and Indians and see me getting what is justly my due.” “And what do you intend to do about it?”