Fort Amity

but in tones so low that John could not catch a word. By and

apart to indicate distances, plainly turned on a point of geography. Le Chameau's opinion seemed to settle the dispute in the sergeant's favour. Coming that afternoon

the Richelieu he had played with thoughts of escape, noting how the canoe lagged behind its convoy, and speculating on the Indians' goodwill-faint speculations, since (without reckoning his own raw wound) McQuarters was almost too weak

ist and sweating; and by the end of the day each man carried a dark red weal on one shoulder, sunk in the flesh by the canoe's weight. John could walk, but was powerless to help, and McQuarters h

e, whose lowing call had twice echoed through the woods during the night and been answered by Menehwehna on his birch-horn. The forest swallow

an to converse. He was explaining the situation with the help of three twig

real. The sergeant knows what he is about. Those other boats, look you, will go around so-" He traced their course around the apex ve

it into an arch, "we are now climbing up this side of the

ay to find, m'sieur. But have

have no fear

ow-il ne peut pas se passer de ses enjouements. But I was not born

ccident then

er Dominique he knows it even better. I wish we may see Dominique, m'sieur; there is no such voyageur from Quebec up to Michilimackinac, aye or beyond! He has been down the Cascades by night, himself only; it w

our brother Dom

for Dominique takes things to heart, both of this world and the next; whereas-I am a good Catholic, I hope-but these things do not trouble me. It seems there is no t

ed, M.

wondering. Then I say to myself, 'Bateese, when le bon Dieu broke you in pieces He was not unkind. Your heart is cracked and cannot hold love, like your brother's; but what of that, while God is pouring love into it all day long and never ceases? You are ugly, and no maid will ever want you for a husband; therefore you are lucky who cannot store away desir

ht also, m

nderstood. M'sieur is, perh

teese;

en miles an hour and the world spinning; and at the bottom of the fall, if the woman be good, sweet is the journey and you wonder, looking back from smooth water, down what shelves you were swept to her. That, I say, is w

ss, perhap

ore nothing. It is the same with religion, monsieur, and with affairs of State; neither troubles my head. Dominique is devout, for example; and Father Launoy comes to talk with him, which makes him gloomy. The reverend Father just hears my sins and lets me go; h

hed aloud

making some mistake," said Bateese grav

uppose now that

ut I hope, in any case, God would pardon me for talking with yo

ken. Ten days ago I was brimful of ambitions; someone-le bon Dieu, or General Abercromby-has to

ess'!" chuckled Bateese,

nother sort. I hope for this, because it is painful to lie upset and empty; and

p, with a twitch

eur, it hurt-

s it useless they are as they lie upturned, reflecting-what? My friend, if we only knew this we might discover

ur, not for yourself! At your age I too could be melancholy for amusement. Ah, pard

s hand. His ey