"And when shall the messenger start?"

"Within the hour, if possible," my chief answered.

As they went away, the general sat down with me for a moment, to
discuss the matter.




XXII

Herein is the story of the adventures of his Lordship's courier,
known as Mme. St. Jovite, on and after the night of November 17,
1813, in Upper Canada. This account may be accepted as quite
trustworthy, its writer having been known to me these many years,
in the which neither I nor any of my friends have had occasion to
doubt her veracity. The writer gave more details than are
desirable, but the document is nothing more than a letter to an
intimate friend. I remember well she had an eye for color and a
taste for description not easy to repress.


When I decided to go it was near midnight, The mission was not all
to my taste, but the reward was handsome and the letter of Lord
Ronley reassuring. I knew I could do it, and dressed as soon as
possible and walked to the Lone Oak, a sergeant escorting. There,
as I expected, the big soldier known as D'ri was waiting, his canoe
in a wagon that stood near. We all mounted the seat, driving