Neither could they understand the growing disaffection
among Thorpe's men. The numerical strength of the gang dwindled
from nineteen down to fifteen, from fifteen to twelve. At last
Thorpe voluntarily asked Philip to cut his salary in two, because
he could not hold his men. On that same day the little sub-foreman
and two others left him, leaving only nine men at work. The delay
in Brokaw's arrival was another puzzle to Philip. Two weeks
passed, and in that time Thorpe left camp three times. On the
fifteenth day the Fort Churchill messenger returned. He was
astounded when he found that Brokaw was not in camp, and brought
amazing news. Brokaw and his daughter had departed from Fort
Churchill two days after Pierre had followed Jeanne and Philip.
They had gone in two canoes, up the Churchill. He had seen no
signs of them anywhere along the route.
No sooner had he received the news than Philip sent the messenger
after MacDougall. The Scotchman's red face stared at him blankly
when he told him what had happened.
"That's their first move in the real fight," said Philip, with a
hard ring in his voice. "They've got Brokaw. Keep your men close
from this hour on, Sandy. Hereafter let five of them sleep in our
bunks during the day, and keep them awake during the night.
Pages:
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273