On hearing the commotion behind him, Jacques also stopped, and turned.  He came up just in time to secure the better of the two rifles.  The gentleman who had sat down against his own inclination on the snow, was hauled on one side, and while Douglas, Jacques and Lagrange stood over the prisoners, Rory again ascended the ridge to find out whether or not any more of the enemy were following.

In a few words Jacques told Douglas his adventures since he had left them on the previous night He and the women had reached the British lines in safety, and shortly afterwards the Police also arrived.  The Fort, however, was most uncomfortable.  There were about six hundred men, women, and children all huddled together in the insufficient barrack buildings.  After waiting for a few hours, Jacques began to wonder what was delaying the others, and to think that something must have gone wrong.  He was not the sort to remain inactive if he knew his services might be required, so he evaded the sentries and stole out of the Fort again to find his missing friends.  Luck had so far favoured him, and he had wished many of the rebels good-night without arousing any suspicion as to his identity, when unexpectedly he stumbled against a picquet.  It had doubtless got about that there were spies and strangers in the town, for when they challenged him his response was not considered satisfactory, and they ordered him to lay down his rifle and put up his hands.  He made off instead, and, by dodging and ducking, managed to escape the bullets they sent after him.  He had lost his rifle by stumbling in the snow, but he was fleet of foot, and soon managed to get ahead of his pursuers.  He knew where there was a rifle if only he could reach the sleighs.  He had hardly expected such good fortune as to fall in with his party again, having feared that they had been captured by the rebels.  He advised Douglas to get back to the ranche by a little-used circuitous trail, as now it was pretty certain that the whole township was aroused, and the rebels would be out scouring the countryside for them in another hour or less.  The only consolation that lay in the situation to Jacques was that he would now have an opportunity of seeking out and finally settling his little difference with his bete noire, Leopold St. Croix.

Rory came down from the ridge and reported that it would now be madness to attempt to carry out their programme of going back, as the entire settlement was aroused, and there was evidently some little fight going on amongst the rebels themselves.  Douglas, he said, could not return to Pasmore’s guards and offer to exchange himself, trusting to their friendship for Katie, for every one now would see them; they might only precipitate Pasmore’s fate, and probably get shot themselves.  They must get back to Child-of-Light.

It was certainly a distressing thing to have to do after all they had gone through, but the worst part of the whole affair was the thought of having to return leaving the man who had risked his life for them at the mercy of the rebels.