The Sun of Quebec | Page 2

torn, but youth was youth and they were forgetting dangers past in a
splendid dinner that the fat Caterina was serving for them while
Mynheer Jacobus, her master, stood by and saw the good deed well
done.
The dining room, large and furnished solidly, was wonderful in its
neatness and comfort. The heavy mahogany of table, sideboard and
chairs was polished and gleaming. No trace of dirt was allowed to
linger anywhere. When the door to the adjoining kitchen opened, as
Caterina passed through, pleasant odors floated in, inciting the two to
fresh efforts at the trencher. It was all as it had been when they were
young boys living there, attending the school of Alexander McLean
and traveling by painful steps along the road to knowledge. In its
snugness, its security and the luxury it offered it was a wonderful
contrast to the dark forest, where death lurked in every bush. Robert
drew a long sigh of content and poured himself another cup of coffee.
"And you escaped from the French after the great battle?" said
Mynheer Jacobus, asking the same question over and over again.
"Yes, sir," replied Robert, "and it was not a difficult thing to do at all.
The victory of the French was so remarkable, and I think so unexpected,
that they were paying little attention to me. I just walked out of their
camp, and the only man I met was the Chevalier de St. Luc, who did
not seem at all interested in stopping me--a curious fact, but a fact all
the same."
"A great leader and a fine man iss the Chevalier de St. Luc," said Mr.
Huysman.
"He's both, as I've had many chances to learn, and I intend to know
more about him some day."
"It may be that you will know even more than you think."

Robert looked sharply at the burgher, and he was about to ask questions,
but he reflected that Mynheer Jacobus, if he were able to answer, would
be evasive like all the others and so he checked the words at his lips.
"I suppose that time will disclose everything," he contented himself
with saying. "Meanwhile, I want to tell you, sir, that Tayoga and I
appreciate to the full your hospitality. It is noble, it always was noble,
as we've had ample occasion to discover."
The full red face of Mynheer Jacobus bloomed into a smile. The
corners of his mouth turned up, and his eyes twinkled.
"I must have had a premonition that you two were coming," he said,
"and so I stocked the larder. I remembered of old your appetites, a
hunger that could be satisfied only with great effort, and then could
come back again an hour later, as fresh and keen as ever. You are
strong and healthy boys, for which you should be grateful."
"We are," said Robert, with great emphasis.
"And you do not know whether Montcalm iss advancing with his
army?"
"We don't, sir, but is Albany alarmed?"
"It iss! It iss alarmed very greatly. It wass not dreamed by any of us that
our army could be defeated, that magnificent army which I saw go
away to what I thought was certain victory. Ah, how could it have
happened? How could it have happened, Robert?"
"We simply threw away our chances, sir. I saw it all. We underrated the
French. If we had brought up our big guns it would have been easy.
There was no lack of courage on the part of our men. I don't believe
that people of British blood ever showed greater bravery, and that
means bravery equal to anybody's."
Mynheer Jacobus Huysman sighed heavily.

"What a waste! What a waste!" he said. "Now the army hass retreated
and the whole border iss uncovered. The tomahawk and scalping knife
are at work. Tales of slaughter come in efery day, and it iss said that
Montcalm iss advancing on Albany itself."
"I don't believe, sir, that he will come," said Robert. "The French
numbers are much fewer than is generally supposed, and I can't think
he will dare to attack Albany."
"It does not seem reasonable, but there iss great alarm. Many people are
leaving on the packets for New York. Who would have thought it?
Who could have thought it! But I mean to stay, and if Montcalm comes
I will help fight in the defense."
"I knew you wouldn't leave, sir. But despite our defeat we've a
powerful army yet, and England and the Colonies will not sit down and
just weep."
"What you say iss so, Robert, my boy. I am not of English blood, but
when things look worst iss the time when England shows best, and the
people here are of the same breed. I do not despair. What did