The Cryptogram: A Story of Northwest Canada

  CHAPTER V.

  THE ALARM IN THE NIGHT.

  It was about eleven o'clock of the forenoon when Captain Rudstonedeparted. I smoked a quiet pipe, and then sought out Baptiste; he had alittle box of a room over the hotel kitchen. I found the rascal buthalf-sobered, so heavily had he liquored on the previous night, and Iangrily bade him stay in bed for the rest of the day. Miss Hatherton didnot come down to dinner, and I had for company in the coffee room Mr.Christopher Burley; there were no other guests in the house at the time.

  Neither of us was in a talkative mood, and very brief speech passedbetween us. But shortly after the meal I met him again at the bar, wherehe was paying his account. He looked ready for a journey, having his haton and a portmanteau in his hand.

  "You are leaving, sir?" I asked politely.

  "I return to Montreal to-day," he replied, "and later I go West. You, Ibelieve, are bound shortly for the North?"

  I nodded assent.

  "We may meet in the future," he went on; "and meanwhile I trust you willremember that name--Osmund Maiden."

  "I will bear it in mind," I promised, "and I wish you every success inyour errand."

  With that we parted, the law clerk thanking me warmly and giving me hishand. That I should ever see him again, or run across the man of whom hewas in search, were things so utterly improbable that I gave them nosecond thought. But I was to learn in later days how small a place theworld really was.

  I spent the afternoon in the hotel, for I was satisfied that CaptainRudstone's caution against venturing in the streets was not to bedespised. He had gone up several degrees in my estimation since thelittle cloud of mutual suspicion had cleared away. I did not doubt thathe was as zealous for the interests of the company as myself, and,moreover, I felt that he would prove a trusty friend should Mr. CuthbertMackenzie try to give me any trouble. That the captain was to sail onthe same ship to the Bay was a matter less to my liking, though I hardlyknew why. He was of a type that a youngster like myself usually looks upto, and he had flattered me by giving me his full confidence: but henever seemed quite at ease in my presence, or inclined to stare mestraight in the eyes, which I could not account for.

  The time passed listlessly. I chatted for awhile with Monsieur Ragoul,and watched the customers who came in to drink. I could not put MissHatherton out of my mind. As often as I remembered that she was to sharethe long sea voyage with me, the joy of it was marred by the picture ofold Griffith Hawke waiting at Fort York for his bride. I was angry atmyself for taking the thing so much to heart--uneasy because a womancould thus interest me.

  I had hoped to see her that afternoon, but she did not make herappearance until the late supper-time. We sat down to table together,and it gave me a strange thrill to see her sitting opposite. She lookedmore lovely than ever without her bonnet, and in a black gown relievedby some touches of creamy lace. I fear I stared at her stupidly, and wasdull of conversation; but she chatted freely of the wonderful things tobe seen in London, and I was sorry when the meal was over. MissHatherton then offered me a dainty hand and bade me good-night, sayingthat she had not been able to sleep all day, and intended to retireearly.

  I finished my bottle of wine, and went upstairs to my room on the thirdand top floor of the hotel--a meager little hole where I, used to ablanket and fir boughs, had always felt cramped and stifled. But now Iwished to be alone, and for some hours I sat there without a light,smoking and thinking. A distant clock had just pealed eleven when Iheard the unbolting of a door downstairs--the house had been closed forthe night. A little later, after the stir and sound of voices had diedaway, light footsteps fell on my ear, and there was a rap at the door. Ihurriedly lit a candle.

  "Come in!" I cried, thinking I knew what it meant.

  Captain Rudstone entered, closing the door softly behind him. With a nodhe threw himself into a chair, helped himself to a pipeful of mytobacco, and looked inscrutably at me through a cloud of smoke.

  "So you are still up?" he began. "I expected to find you in bed. Haveyou been away from the hotel?"

  "Not outside of the door," I replied.

  "I have left my old lodging," he went on, "and Monsieur Ragoul has givenme a room next to yours."

  "I rejoice to hear it," I said politely. "And have you learned anythingto-day?"

  "Mr. Mackenzie will demand satisfaction for that blow," the captainanswered coolly.

  "He shall have it," said I.

  "He is a skilled swordsman and a deadly shot, Mr. Carew."

  "I will meet him with either weapon," I declared hotly.

  "There must be no fighting, if it can be avoided," replied the captain.

  "That is a matter which rests with me," said I. "But how do you know allthis?"

  "I put a man on the track," was the reply. "He overheard Mackenzietalking with two boon companions who are as deep in the plotting of theNorthwest Company as himself. Unfortunately, he learned no more than Ihave told you, and he lost the trail at an early hour this evening inthe upper town."

  "I shall depend on you to see me through the affair," said I.

  "I fear there is mischief brewing in another quarter," the captainreplied. "To be frank, Mr. Carew, you and I, and Miss Hatherton are in adecidedly unpleasant situation. Or, to leave the girl out of it, you andI must decide a very delicate question. Shall we stand by our honor, orshall we choose the best interests of the company we serve?"

  "Make your meaning plainer," said I. "As yet I am in the dark."

  "The point is this," the captain answered gravely. "If we wait for thecompany's ship, which sails in a week, serious things may happen--not tospeak of the duel. I happen to know that a trading-vessel leaves theriver to-morrow morning for the Bay. The captain is a friend of mine,and he will give the three of us a passage."

  "This is the last proposition I should have looked for from you, CaptainRudstone," I replied indignantly. "Would you have me slink away like athief in the night, giving Cuthbert Mackenzie the pleasure of brandingme far and wide as a coward? It is not to be thought of, sir."

  The captain shrugged his shoulders, and meditatively blew a cloud ofsmoke ceilingward.

  "I admire your spirit," he said, "but not your discretion. Am I tounderstand, then, Mr. Carew, that you choose honor before duty?"

  I looked at him speechlessly. He had a cutting way of putting things,and it dawned on me that there was indeed two sides to the question. Butbefore I could find words to reply, the silence of the June night wasbroken by a shrill scream directly below us. It was followed by a cryfor help, and I was sure I recognized Miss Hatherton's voice.

  With one impulse Captain Rudstone and I drew our pistols and sprang toour feet. In a trice we were out in the hall, and plunging recklesslydown the stairs. We heard distant calls of alarm from the lower part ofthe house, and a woman's voice, ringing loudly and close at hand, guidedus to Miss Hatherton's room. Captain Rudstone burst the door from itsfastenings by a single effort, and I followed him over the threshold.The moon was shining through an open window, and by its pale light thegirl darted toward us, her snowy night dress trailing behind her, andher disheveled hair flowing about her shoulders.

  "Save me!" she cried hysterically. "Save me from Cuthbert Mackenzie!"