The Road to Frontenac

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Merwin Samuel. The Road to Frontenac

CHAPTER I. CAPTAIN MENARD HAS A LAZY DAY

CHAPTER II. THE MAID

CHAPTER III. MADEMOISELLE EATS HER BREAKFAST

CHAPTER IV. THE LONG ARROW

CHAPTER V. DANTON BREAKS OUT

CHAPTER VI. THE FIGHT AT LA GALLETTE

CHAPTER VII. A COMPLIMENT FOR MENARD

CHAPTER VIII. THE MAID MAKES NEW FRIENDS

CHAPTER IX. THE WORD OF AN ONONDAGA

CHAPTER X. A NIGHT COUNCIL

CHAPTER XI. THE BIG THROAT SPEAKS

CHAPTER XII. THE LONG HOUSE

CHAPTER XIII. THE VOICE OF THE GREAT MOUNTAIN

CHAPTER XIV. WHERE THE DEAD SIT

CHAPTER XV. THE BAD DOCTOR

CHAPTER XVI. AT THE LONG LAKE

CHAPTER XVII. NORTHWARD

CHAPTER XVIII. THE ONLY WAY

CHAPTER XIX. FRONTENAC

Отрывок из книги

Menard did not go at once to see Major Provost, the Commandant. He had already handed in his report at the citadel. It was probable that this was some new work for him. He had just settled his mind to the prospect of a rest, the first since that mad holiday, seven years before, when word had come that his lieutenant’s commission was on the way. That was at Three Rivers. He wanted to idle, to waste a few weeks for the sheer delight of extravagance, but his blood did not flow more quickly at the wish. He was an older man by a score of years–or was it only seven?

He lingered on the square. The black-eyed children, mostly dirty and ragged (for the maids whom the King had sent over by shiploads to his colonists had not developed into the most diligent and neat housewives) tumbled about his feet. He allowed himself to be drawn into their play. They had no awe of his uniform, for it was worn and frayed. He had not yet taken the trouble to get out his fresher coat and breeches and boots. He thought of this, and was again amused. It was another sign of age. The time had been when his first care after arriving in Quebec was to don his rich house uniform and polished scabbard, and step gaily to the Major’s house to sun himself in the welcome of the Major’s pretty wife, who had known his uncle, the Sieur de Vauban, at La Rochelle. Now he was back in Quebec from months on the frontier, he was summoned to the Major’s house, and yet he stayed and laughed at the children. For the Major’s wife was older, too, and the vivacity of her youth was thinning out and uncovering the needle-like tongue beneath. A slim little urchin was squirming between his boots, with a pursuing rabble close behind, and the Captain had to take hold of a young tree to keep his feet. He turned and started in pursuit of the children, but caught sight of two Ursuline sisters entering the square, and straightened himself. After all, a captain is a captain, even though the intoxication of spring be in him, and his heart struggling to clamber back into the land of youth. He walked on across the square and down the street to the Major’s house.

.....

“How soon will your duties be over here, Father?”

“There seems to be no reason for me to stay. I have delivered the relations, and no further work has come to hand.”

.....