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Show 152 THE LILY AN"D THE TOTEM. " Yes, I dn recollect something of ilr-Lc Moyno and-" "Challus." " V cry well-let them come; but they must be patient. If l\Iarchand is such a player, I nmst be cool and cautious. I must beat him." "You will, but you will work for it. March.'l.nd will keep you busy. And now, sir, there is another matter which I beg leave to bring to your remembrance. You remember the cypress canoe tlw.t lies upon the river banks, three miles or more above. It was claimed by the old ch ief Satouriova. We shall want it hero for various, and, perhaps, im portant uses, when the ship sa.ils. She will take most of your boats with her. L et me recommend that you send a detacluncut for this boat to-day. It should b:l an armed doJtachmcnt, for the old chief is most c::~rtainly our cn:Jmy, and may be in the neighborhood. I would send Licutelltlnt Le G end, as he lacks employment. I would give him his choice of six or eight companions, as, if he docs not choose his own men, he ndght be apt to tyrannize O\·er those who arc friendly to you. Perhaps it would be better to gi\·c your orders early, that he should sta.rt at noon, as, at mid-day, the tide will scr\'e for bringiu.; the boot up without toil." "Why, Alphonse, you arc very nice in your details. Bu.t, you nrc right, and the arrangement is a good one." "1'ho sooner Le GenrC rccei\'i:!S his orders the more time for preparations;" said tht'l youth indifl'.!rcntly. "lie shalllul\·e them a.~ soon tlS I go b.!low." By this time Laudounicre wa'J dr~ssed and they d~scended tho court together. "Has he drunk," asked Lc GeurC anxioJ.L<>ly, with Forncaux and La Roquetkl on each side, ag they beheld Bon Pre descending THE CONSPIRACY OF LE GENRt. 153 from the chamber of Laudonnicrc with the vessel in his band. Tho old man raised the siker lid of the coffee-pot, and showed tho contents. " Diablo!" was the half-suppressed exclamation of La Roqucttc. " Enough, comrade P' said Le GenrC, in a whisper-" it remains forme." 'l'hey separated, and entered, from different points, the area where La.udonniere stood. "Lieutenant;" said tho latter, as Lc GcnrC appeared in sight-" Tttke six men at noon and go up to the bluff of the old chief Satouriova and bring away tl1c oyprcSB canoe of which we took possessiOn some time since. Launch her nnd bring her up. The tide will sen•e at that hour. Let your men be armed to the teeth, and keep on your guard, for you mny meet tl10 old savage on your way. Le GcnrC toucl1ed his hat and retired. "It is well, st~id he to Fourneamc, whom he ht~d chosen as one of his compt~nion s," that the commission did not send me off at once. I must make my prepnrt~tion quickly and before I go." Unseen and unsuspected, Alphonse D'Erlach was conscious all the while that the enemy w::~s busy. But Lnudonnierc saw nothing to suspect, either in his countenance, or in the proceedings of the conspirator. At noon, J~c Genre commenced his mnrch, the only toils of wl1ich were over, when once the canoe was in their possession. The vessel was amply large to carry t,wcnty 801Jicrs as well us six, and the tide nlone would bring them to the fortress in an hour or two. 1'he labors of Alphonse began as soon as J,c Gcnr6 had d~'lppeared with his party. The si:r. men whom be bad taken with 7• |