Mine host bustled back.  The foul and treacherous attempt, the breaking off of the arrow, and the comment upon it had taken less than a minute, and, good observer though he was, he noticed nothing unusual in the appearance of his guests.  They carried their rifles in their hands, but many visitors to Montreal did the same, and as they were beautiful weapons they might well guard against their loss.

“Follow me, my Bostonnais,” he said lightly.  “I have the great room with three beds for you, and I trust that you have enjoyed the dinner.”

“We have enjoyed it greatly, all of it, Monsieur Jolivet, and especially the dessert,” replied Robert with meaning.

“Ah, the pastry,” said Monsieur Jolivet, clasping his hands.  “It is Marie who made it.  It is the gift that she has, and I shall tell her of your praise.”

But Robert was not thinking of the pastry.  It was of the arrow that he spoke as dessert, although the excellent Monsieur Jolivet was destined never to know the hidden significance of his words.  The room which he showed them with so much pride was a large apartment worthy of their praise, having a polished, shining floor of oak, with furs spread here and there upon it, and a low ceiling crossed with mighty beams also of oak.  Robert looked at the windows, three in number, and he saw with satisfaction that they had heavy shutters.  Monsieur Jolivet’s glance followed his own, and he said: 

“The shutters are for use in the winter, when the great colds come, and the fierce winds rage.  But you, messieurs, who live so much in the forest, will, of course, prefer to keep them wide open tonight.”

Robert murmured assent, but when Monsieur Jolivet departed, wishing them a polite good night, he looked at his comrades.

“We are used to air,” said Willet, “and lots of it, but those shutters will be closed until morning.  As Tayoga truly said, he will hardly dare another arrow, but we mustn’t take any risk, however small.”

Tayoga nodded approval, and drawing the shutters close, they fastened them.  Then they undressed and lay down upon their beds, but each prepared to sleep with his rifle beside him.

“The catches on those shutters are good and strong,” said Willet, “and Tandakora, even if he should come again, won’t try to break them.  It wouldn’t suit the purposes of the French for a warrior of a tribe allied with them to be caught trying to murder English visitors, and, that being the case, I expect to go to sleep soon and sleep well.”

He was as good as his word.  Robert, who blew out the candle, soon heard his regular breathing.  Tayoga, who was used to rooms, the Iroquois themselves having strong log houses, quickly followed him in slumber, but young Lennox was not able to compose his nerves for a little while.  He was perhaps more sensitive and imaginative than his comrades, or the close air may have kept him awake.  He could not help feeling that Tandakora was outside trying the fastenings of the shutters, and at last rising, he walked on tiptoe and listened at every window in turn.  He heard nothing without but the breathing of the gentle wind, and then, knowing that it had been only his vivid fancy, he went back to bed and slept soundly.