The Cryptogram: A Story of Northwest Canada

  CHAPTER XX.

  THE LOST LOCKET.

  Captain Rudstone was in a temper, and but for the press in front of himhe would have dashed at the gates.

  "What are you afraid of?" he cried. "Why don't you pursue the reddevils? make an end of them? They've killed two of the best voyageursthat ever tramped the woods. My God! what does it all mean?"

  "It means war, sir," answered the factor. "The Northwest Company is atthe bottom of the mischief. I entreat you to be calm, Captain Rudstone.The Indians are in force, and it would be sheer madness to try to trackthem down. I am responsible for the safety of the fort."

  These sober words brought the captain to his senses.

  "You are right, Hawke," he admitted. "I see there is nothing to be doneat present. But, by Heaven! sir, I'll have the blood of a score ofredskins for each of those poor comrades of mine. And you say war hasbroken out? I don't understand--"

  Just then his eyes fell on me, and he held out his hand with a sternsmile of welcome. I clasped it warmly.

  "So we meet again, Mr. Carew?" he exclaimed.

  "I wish it had been under happier circumstances," said I; "but I amheartily glad to see you."

  "Thank you," he replied, and his eyes shifted from mine as they had beenwont to do formerly. "I have much to be grateful for," he added, "Imight be lying yonder with a bullet in my back and a tomahawk in myskull. It was a narrow escape."

  "You did not come from Fort York?" I inquired.

  "No, from the north--from Fort Churchill, at the mouth of the river. Iam finished with my errand in this part of the country, and am boundsouth. I had no idea that trouble had broken out until I was attacked onthe edge of the timber."

  "I fear you will be detained here for many a day, Captain Rudstone,"said Griffith Hawke. "But come to my quarters, and when you have fed andrested I will give you a full report of all that has happened."

  Turning to me the factor added:

  "See to the wounded, Denzil, and make sure that the sentries areproperly posted. Then let me know how matters are going. I don'tanticipate any further trouble."

  That Griffith Hawke should put me in virtual command of the fort at sucha time and in preference to several officers who were older and ofsuperior rank, caused me some pride and satisfaction; for just now mymind was taken up with sterner things than my hopeless passion forFlora, and what martial spirit was in me had been fired by the prospectof an Indian siege.

  After attending to my duties I strode on to the house and entered thecozily-furnished living room. Here logs were blazing in a greatfireplace, at opposite sides of which, talking in low tones, sat FatherCleary and Andrew Menzies. The latter's wife, it may be observed, wasFlora's companion.

  At a table in the middle of the room, with lighted pipes between theirteeth and their glasses of grog handy, were Griffith Hawke and CaptainRudstone. The latter was as handsome and dandified as ever, and by thelitter of dishes at one end of the table I knew he had just finishedsupper. Both had been discussing the Indian troubles, to judge fromtheir grave and thoughtful faces.

  The factor's eyes seemed to read me through and through, and there wassomething in the scrutiny that disturbed and puzzled me. He motioned toa chair and I sat down awkwardly.

  "All quiet?" he asked. "You have omitted no precautions?"

  I told him what I had done, and he and the captain nodded approval.

  "A bad storm has set in?" the latter said interrogatively.

  "The worst kind of a one," I replied. "The wind is high, and the snowwill drift heavily. The Indians are not likely to attack us in suchweather."

  "I wish I could feel sure of that," Griffith Hawke said doubtfully. "Bythe way, Denzil, I have reason to believe that white men are among thesavages."

  "I am pretty certain that Cuthbert Mackenzie is with them," said I.

  "And others," broke in Captain Rudstone. "I heard more than one Englishvoice when I was fighting and running for my life yonder."

  "Northwest men!" exclaimed the factor. "By sir, I tell you I am right.To-day's events amount to an open declaration of war."

  Captain Rudstone blew a thick cloud of smoke and smiled grimly throughit.

  "I don't agree with you," he said, in the tone of one who knows hisground. "The Northwest Company will pot come to open hostilities--theyare too crafty for that; but they are at the bottom of this trouble.Their agents have persuaded the Indians to rise, are fighting with them,and Mackenzie is determined to take the fort. Whether he fails orsucceeds, his participation will not be proved. The blame will be thruston your shoulders, Hawke, because of the Indian you shot thismorning."

  "That was an unfortunate accident," the factor admitted uneasily, "andit may serve the purpose you suggest. But I am not afraid that the fortwill fall; we can hold out against big odds."

  "You'll have them," said the captain. "I've no doubt there will be fivehundred redskins before the stockade within a day or two, and thenthey'll give you sharp work. And a drifting snowstorm will be in theirfavor."

  "I don't see it," replied Griffith Hawke. "What do you mean?"

  The captain shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing in particular," he answeredevasively. "By the way, Hawke, when are you to marry Miss Hatherton?"

  As he spoke he jerked one arm toward the priest, who was still talkingby the fire, and then gave me a swift glance of amused contempt. Thefactor also turned his eyes upon me, and I felt my face grow hot.

  "I am to be married to-morrow," he replied half-sadly. "At least, thatis the present arrangement. But I have been thinking of late--"

  He was interrupted, to my vast relief, by the sudden opening of a doorbehind him. Mr. Christopher Burley entered the room, looking as if hemight have just stepped from the legal chambers in Lincoln's Inn. He hadevidently made a careful toilet, his traveling costume being discardedfor a suit of sober black.

  He nodded severely to Captain Rudstone, who he had seen earlier in theevening, and I observed a slight confusion in the bearing of both,clearly due to the recollection of their quarrel at the Silver Lily.Then, with an affable smile, the law clerk offered me his hand.

  "I am pleased to see you, Mr. Carew," he said. "I learned from thefactor that you were here. I predicted that we might meet again, if youremember."

  "I remember well," said I. "This is a small world, after all. I take itthat the quest you spoke of has brought you to the north?"

  "You are right, sir," he replied. "It has led me hundreds of milesthrough the wilderness, from one fort to another of the Hudson Bayterritory--truly a weary round of travel."

  "And with what success?"

  "None as yet; but I am not discouraged. From here I go southwest. I feelthat I shall succeed in the end. I find that the factor is unable tohelp me, and it is no doubt needless to ask you--"

  "Quite so," I interrupted. "Osmund Maiden is still an unfamiliar name tome."

  "Captain Rudstone knows the Canadas thoroughly," said Griffith Hawke."Perhaps he has run across your man in the past."

  My eyes were on the captain just then, and I fancied he gave a slightstart; certain it is that a sudden flush colored his bronzed face adarker shade, and I remembered that this was not the first time he hadshown agitation at the mention of the man Christopher Burley wasseeking. But he was instantly himself again, and he calmly twisted hislong mustaches as he answered:

  "Osmund Maiden! I fancy I have heard the name somewhere in my time. MayI ask, sir, what object you have in desiring to find this man?"

  "That I may reveal to none save Osmund Maiden himself," ChristopherBurley replied. "But I beg of you to refresh your memory. It will begreatly to your advantage if you can give me any information--"

  "Denzil, I have been thinking of something," the factor interruptedsuddenly. "Forgive me, my boy, for alluding to a personal and delicatematter; but I have always fancied that there was some mystery about yourfather--that his name might have been assumed. I speak thus franklybecause Mr. Burl
ey has honored me in part with his confidence--"

  "There was no mystery," I broke in sharply. I was angry with GriffithHawke, though I knew that he meant well. "My father's name was Carew," Iwent on, "and he had a right to it. Why he left England I cannot say,but his home was in Yorkshire and his parents were dead when he came tothe Canadas."

  "Then I am mistaken," said Griffith Hawke.

  "There are Carews in Yorkshire," added the law clerk. "It is doubtlessthe same family. Did your father leave no papers?"

  "None," I replied.

  "He used to wear a small gold locket about his neck," declared thefactor. "Surely you have seen it, Denzil?"

  "I remember it," I said curtly; "but I do not know what was in it, orwhat became of it. It was missing when my father's body was found in thewoods."

  "That is unfortunate," said Christopher Burley in a tone that showed alack of further interest in the matter.

  "Very!" assented Captain Rudstone, who was watching me curiously.

  I made no reply. I had just recollected that I had in my pocket a sealring--a trifle too large to wear--which had been my father's. I fumbledfor it, hoping to put an end to a controversy that was distasteful tome. But before I could find and produce it there were hurried stepsoutside the house and the door was thrown open with a crash.