AT CLOSE QUARTERS
Raoul knew the scream also, and something about the animal from whence
it came, and he first looked carefully at his gun to make sure that it
was ready for instant use, and then peered into the obscurity of the
thick evergreens, in the attempt to locate the fierce brute which had
thus challenged their passing.
What Madame meant by _loup cervier_ was what is now known as the
"Indian Devil," or catamount, a species of puma that could be very
dangerous when in a fighting humour, as this one evidently was.
"Don't be frightened, Aunt Constance," said Raoul sturdily. "I'll
shoot him dead the moment I see him," and he brought his gun to his
shoulder as he spoke.
"Wait, wait until you can see him plainly," said Madame under her
breath. "You must not miss."
There was a rustling among the branches, another blood-curdling scream,
and then the hideous face of the creature appeared, its eyes flaming
with fury, and its cruel teeth showing white among the rigid bristles
that protruded from its furry cheeks.
Now if Raoul had been alone, he would assuredly have been nervous
enough to make it a difficult matter to take good aim, but the presence
of his aunt made him forget himself utterly in his loyal determination
to protect her from the impending peril. He felt as firm as a rock.
Not a nerve quivered, and, aiming straight between the baleful eyes, he
fired.
The report rang out on the still evening air, and was instantly
followed by a snarling shriek from the wounded animal, so charged with
fury that Raoul instinctively pressed his aunt back out of the path.
Just as he did so the puma sprang at them, for it was not killed, a
slight movement of its head as Raoul fired having caused the bullet to
strike too high, and plough through the fur on the forehead, instead of
burying itself in the brain.
Raoul's sudden movement caused the brute to fall short, and ere it
could gather itself to spring again the boy, clubbing his gun, struck
at it with the heavy butt.
It was the best thing to be done under the circumstances, and yet, when
the maddened catamount, squirming around as if it were made of rubber,
caught the stock in its teeth, and tore at the gun with its terrible
claws, there seemed small chance of Raoul being able to repeat the blow.
Happily this was not necessary on his part, for Madame, who had been
perfectly composed throughout, having picked up a stout stick, came to
his assistance, and, with a clever blow delivered just behind the
puma's ear, put an end to its existence.
"Bravo, Aunt Constance!" cried Raoul delightedly. "You've done for
him, and just in time, too! He was pulling the gun out of my hands."
There was the light of triumph in Madame la Tour's fine eyes as she
turned the dead thing over with her stick.
"He meant us mischief, Raoul," she said, "and he has paid dearly for
it. If he had left us alone he would not be lying there now. Let us
kneel down and thank God for our deliverance."
And so they knelt together, while Madame, in a few fervent sentences,
expressed their gratitude to Providence for having thus protected them
from injury.
As they hastened homeward, Madame said in a low tone, as if talking to
herself rather than to Raoul:
"This is a wild, dangerous country, and I grow very weary of it. I
pray that I may be spared to get back to France some day."
Raoul heard these words with some surprise. His aunt always seemed so
busy and content in the doing of her duty, that he did not suppose she
was not as happy as he was himself, but his quick sympathy inspired him
to ask:
"Shall we be going back to France some day, Aunt Constance?"
"Only God knows that, my dear," was the reply. "I'm sure I cannot
tell. We are in the hands of Providence, and whatever comes to pass
will be the best."
Raoul said no more at the time, but thenceforward his admiration for
his aunt was deepened by the knowledge that she would really prefer
being across the ocean, although she always seemed so serene and
satisfied with her lot in Acadia.
Monsieur La Tour was much interested in the account of the encounter
with the catamount.
"You deserve credit, both of you," he said warmly. "As for you, my
dear wife," he added, with an unusually loving look, "there seems to be
no limit to your talents. You can preach, teach, hunt, fish, and look
after the affairs of your own household better than any woman I ever
knew. How fortunate I was to get such a wife! Eh, Raoul?"
Madame's noble countenance was flooded with colour by her husband's
frank praise, which made her heart sing for joy, and going up to him,
she threw her arms about his neck and kissed his bronzed cheek, saying:
"Thank you, my dear Charles, for your kind words, which I am sure are
not empty ones."
With the return of spring, La Tour, whose enterprise and energy knew no
bounds, unfolded a new plan he had formed for the extension of his
power and the increase of his fortune.
This was the building of still another fort, and the site he had
selected was the mouth of what is now the St. John River, in the
province of New Brunswick, then known by the musical Indian name of
Ouangondy.
This place had many advantages over Fort St. Louis. The river went far
inland, and was the highway for many Indian tribes who had precious
pelts to barter. Not only so, but the whole New England coast could be
conveniently reached by canoe, or sailing shallop, and again, the lay
of the land was such that an exceedingly strong position could be
easily had.
Throughout the summer the building went on, and ere autumn came again
the new fort, which La Tour modestly called after himself, was
completed. It stood upon a rise of ground commanding the harbour and
the sharp turn made by the river on entering, about half-a-mile below,
the famous falls, which then as now worked both ways, pouring up river
when the tide was high and down river when it was low.
Fort La Tour was solidly built of stone, and stood nearly two hundred
feet square, with four bastions at the angles, and twenty good cannon
frowning from the battlements. Without were sturdy palisades as a
further protection, and within, two comfortable dwellings, a tiny
chapel, and the necessary storehouses, barracks for the garrison, and
other buildings.
Such was Raoul's new home, and he heartily approved of the change,
because the country round about Fort La Tour was far richer and finer
than that about Fort St. Louis, and the beautiful river held out
promise of many a pleasant canoe trip, when the warm days of summer
returned.
As for Madame La Tour, she felt sorry to leave her dusky charges when
they seemed to promise such good results, but she consoled herself with
the thought that there were plenty of others equally needing the light,
and that she could continue her good work from the new fort.