Because Radisson was a Frenchman, he might be able to impose upon the
watch guarding the canoes. If not, they still had weapons of a kind-
Radisson a knife, and Gering the bar of iron. They moved swiftly along
the shore, fearing an alarm meanwhile. If they could but get weapons and
a canoe they would make their way either to Fort Albany, so warning it,
or attempt the desperate journey to New York. Again fortune was with
them. As it chanced, the watch, suffering from the cold night air, had
gone into the bush to bring wood for firing. The two refugees stole
near, and in the very first canoe found three muskets, and there were
also bags filled with food. They hastily pushed out a canoe, got in, and
were miles away before their escape was discovered.
Radisson was for going south at once to New York, but Gering would not
hear of it, and at the mouth of a musket Radisson obeyed. They reached
Fort Albany and warned it. Having thus done his duty towards the
Hudson's Bay Company, and knowing that surrender must come, and that in
this case his last state would be worse than his first, Gering proceeded
with Radisson--hourly more hateful to him, yet to be endured for what had
happened--southward upon the trail the Frenchmen had taken northward.
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