Why?
Because he has sworn to give Le M'sieur the confession if we make him trouble.

Mon Dieu, he thinks we will not dare! and even now, Netootam, six of the fastest teams and swiftest runners within a hundred miles are gone to spread the word among the forest people that L'Ange, our Josephine, has been carried off by Thoreau and his beasts! Before dawn they will begin to gather where the forks meet, twelve miles off there toward the Devil's Nest, and to-morrow--" Jean crossed himself.
"Our Lady forgive us, if it is a sin to take the lives of twenty such men," he said softly.

"Not one will live to tell the story.

And not a log of Thoreau House will stand to hold the secret which will die forever with to-morrow's end." Philip came near to Jean now.

He placed his two hands on the half-breed's shoulders, and for a moment looked at him without speaking.