“Can nothing be done,” she asked, “to apprise them of the miscreant’s designs?”

“I regret that I can do nothing; you know how gladly I would were it in my power.  Every man between twenty-one and sixty years in our settlement, has been called out to attend a meeting to be held during the evening in the school-house, to discuss the situation.  One Lepine, a bosom friend of Monsieur Riel, is to tell us what we are to do.  I, therefore, will have to be present.”

“I shall go,” said young Paul.  “I can reach Willow grove long before the moon is up, and give warning to Monsieur Scott.  But Monsieur Mair has to take care of himself.  I would very gladly assist in his capture, or for that matter be well pleased to be one of a firing party to dispatch his insolent, insulting life.”  The young lad’s cheeks were burning with indignation.  “I think Monsieur Riel is an impostor, although the cause which he has espoused is a holy one.  But this Mair, after receiving our hospitalities turns and holds us up to the ridicule, contempt and pity of the world.  Under obligation must we ever remain to Monsieur Scott, but beyond this, he is a true gentleman, and incapable of the remotest sympathy with the mean unmanliness of this Monsieur Mair.”

Paul, was a tall, handsome lad, with large, spirited, brown eyes.  He was in his eighteenth year, but had the manly address of twenty-one.  His sister’s gratitude gleamed in her eyes.  When he was ready to go out to saddle his pony, she put her arms about him and kissed him.

“Que Dieu benisse, mon bon frere.  Bon voyage!” and she watched him, I doubt not praying, though her ruby lips moved not, for him, and for her lover, till the flitting figure of himself and his fleet-limbed pony was lost in the dusk that had already gathered over the plain...  That evening when Paul returned he came not alone.  Another steed and rider were there, and beyond, in the shadow of a grove of cottonwood stood a party of a dozen horsemen.  Marie heard the double tramp, and with some terror drew to the window to see who was approaching.  But her apprehensions suddenly vanished, and a flush came over her face.

CHAPTER VII.

“Mon pere, it is Paul, and there is with him Monsieur Scott; why, I wonder, has he come?” While the question yet remained unanswered, Paul entered the room accompanied by young Scott.

“Monsieur will explain the cause of his visit,” Paul said.

“Monsieur and mademoiselle,” young Scott began, inclining his head first to the father and then to the daughter, “as you may expect, only great urgency brought me here under these circumstances.  A half-breed to whom I did a kindness since coming to the territories, is one of Monsieur Riel’s agents, and is in the confidence of that dangerous person.  He tells me that this very night, probably before the rise of the moon, a party is to surround your house, and make you and your daughter captives.