low!" said Raoul as he passed his hand over the rich,
glossy black fur, a qualm of pity succeeding the lust of the chase now
that the excitement was over. "You did your best to get away from us,
but we were too many for you. It was not just a fair fight, was it?"

Several other bears had been secured, and when the hunt was over, and
the Indians had all gathered again, some strange ceremonies took place.
Into the mouths of the slain bears smoke from an Indian pipe was blown
by the hunters, and at the same time each lifeless creature was begged
not to hold any hard feelings because of what they had suffered. Then
the bears' heads, painted and decorated, were set on high, and the
savages sang the praise of the Acadian king of beasts, after which the
well-cooked bodies were divided amongst the hungry people, who feasted
upon them greedily. Madame and Raoul had their share of bear-steak,
and then the former took advantage of the quiet which followed the
feast, to talk to these heathens about the Great Spirit whom she was so
anxious they should learn to love. She was listened to with great
attention by the Indians, because she had won their hearts, not only by
her lovely character, but also by her many generous deeds and gifts.

But they were, for the most part, slow learners of the new and better
way. The grizzled old chief, to whom Madame with infinite patience was
teaching the Lord's Prayer, made a quaint objection.

"If I ask for nothing but bread," said he, "I shall have no more moose
nor sweet cakes," referring to some toothsome cake that Madame had
herself baked as a present for him.

After Madame had spoken, the young folks fell to sky-larking, while the
elders smoked their pipes, and Outan, who was fond of teasing, raised a
big laugh at Raoul's expense by telling how the bear had dropped from
the tree and put him to flight, and he mimicked Raoul dodging around
the tree-trunk. This angered Raoul, and when his orders to Outan to
"shut up" passed unnoticed, he rushed at him and struck him in the face.

Now, although Outan looked upon both Madame de la Tour and Raoul as
superior beings, and would have endured a great deal at their hands
rather than displease them, still he had his own share of temper and
pride, and this sudden blow from Raoul, given in the presence of his
companions, filled him with fury. He struck back with all his might,
and the next instant the two boys were rolling upon the ground in a mad