Page:Gilbert Parker--The Lane that had No Turning.djvu/33

Rh of Heaven and my baptism I became a forgeron. Let others ride to glory, I'll shoe their horses for the gallop."

"You'll be in Parliament yet, Lajeunesse," said Duclosse the mealman, who had been dozing on a pile of untired cart-wheels.

"I'll be hanged first, comrade!"

"One in the family at a time," said Muroc. "There's the Seigneur. He's going into Parliament!"

"He's a magistrate—that's enough!" said Duclosse. "He's started the court under the big tree, as the Seigneurs did two hundred years ago. He'll want a gibbet and a gallows next."

"I should think he'd stay at home and not take more on his shoulders!" said the one-eyed shoemaker.

Without a word Lajeunesse threw a dish of water in Gingras' face. This reference to the Seigneur's deformity was unpalatable.

Gingras had not recovered from his discomfiture when all were startled by the distant blare of a bugle. They rushed to the door, and were met by Parpon the dwarf, who announced that a regiment of soldiers was marching on the village.

"’Tis what I expected after that meeting, and the Governor's visit, and the lily-flag of France on the Manor, and the bodyguard and the carbines," said Muroc, nervously.

"We're all in trouble again—sure," said Bénoit, and drained his glass to the last drop. "Some of us will go to gaol."

The coming of the militia had been wholly unexpected by the people of Pontiac, but the cause was not far to seek. Ever since the Governor's visit there had been sinister rumours abroad concerning Louis Racine,