“Take the horses,” he had said to his confidant, “before the moon rises.  Approach the house softly, and carefully surround it.  The girl must be treated with respect.  You know where to leave her.”

“Oui, Monsieur,” and the slavish fanatic went to do the vile bidding.

For some hours M. Riel went among the Metis, perfecting his plans, but towards midnight he ordered his horse, and, with a lurid light in his eye, set off for the hut of the half-breed hag where he expected his ruffianly emissaries would have placed Marie before his arrival.  But the cabin was desolate, save for the figure of an ill-featured old woman, who, when she heard hoof-beats approach, came to the door peering out into the night.

“Has the expected yet arrived?” he asked, a half-puzzled expression in his face.

“No, Monsieur.”

“Curses!  What can have happened?  They should have been here two hours ago.  It is now three o’clock.”  Then he alighted and strode about for half an hour over the dim-lit sward, thrusting out his head every few seconds, in the direction from which the party should come.  But still no sound, no sight, of any horseman.  He now began to storm and blaspheme, and would remind anybody who saw him of some wild beast foiled of his prey.  Presently, he observed a long distance off upon the plain, a figure which he believed was moving.  Was this only a poplar or a cotton-wood tree?  He got upon his knees, and put his ear to the ground; the soft thud of a horse’s hoof vibrated under his ear, and he was satisfied.

“But there is only one horseman.  What can it mean?” He could not bear the suspense, and flinging himself upon his horse, he galloped out to meet the advancing stranger.  It was soon told.  The inmates had escaped, evidently long before the party got to the dwelling.  The embers were very low on the hearth.  Every article of value had been removed, and there were the prints of many hoofs near the cottage.

“Scott has foiled me!” and the outwitted tyrant-libertine swore the most terrible oaths, that he would be revenged.

“Off,” he said to his confidant.  “You must scour Red River over to find these fugitives.  Wherever you see the girl, seize her, and bring her hither.  The people must all know that she is a spy, and leagued with our most deadly enemies to thwart our cause.  As for the father, catch him too, though I should not fret, if, in the capture, a stray bullet or two went singing through his head.  Above all, Scott must be captured,” and this was to himself, “let me lay hands upon him!”

The horseman was riding off.

“Stop!  This old Jean has relatives in the territory; and with one of these he may be taking refuge.”

“I do not think that this is likely, Monsieur.  But I learnt, and it was the prosecution of these enquiries among Jean’s nearest neighbours, that kept me late in reaching you, that he has a brother in Pembina.  Now in that direction did the hoof-marks of the party lead.”