"You certainly had good reason to be provoked, my boy," she said as she
tenderly patted his cheek. "But you must not forget that these poor
people are heathens, and we are Christians, and that if we would win
them over to be Christians also, we must do very differently from what
they would do themselves. Now you must confess that you did not act in
a Christian way, and I am very sorry. Let us pray to God to give us
such self-control that we shall not fall into errors of this kind."

So they kneeled together upon the turf, and Raoul's heart was melted by
the fervent prayer that came from his aunt's lips for the help of God
in right living, and in the conversion of the Indians. Then, without
delay, he sought out Outan, and, to the great surprise of the lad,
expressed his regret for his hasty blow and begged his forgiveness.

To Outan the situation was so utterly novel that he was bewildered what
to do, but obeying the impulse of his heart, he smiled broadly and gave
Raoul a hearty hug, which showed in the clearest way that all
ill-feeling had vanished from him.

The bear hunt having been successfully carried out, Madame and Raoul
returned to Fort St. Louis, where they found Monsieur La Tour, who had
got back from one of his trading expeditions, awaiting them in high
spirits, because his business operations had been very successful.

Charles La Tour thought more of wealth and power than anything else in
the world. Not even his beautiful, devoted wife was dearer to him.
Yet he loved her after his own fashion, was very proud of her, and had
not the slightest objection to her missionary zeal, so long as it did
not cross any of his plans or ambitions. In regard to Raoul, of whom
he was quite fond, he did think it rather a pity that he should be
filled with his aunt's religious notions, because it might spoil him
for the rough business of life; yet he made no protest against it,
although he did now and then let drop a cynical speech that touched the
boy's sensitive nature.

He had not been long at home before his restless spirit moved him to
start off again, and this time he proposed that Raoul should accompany
him.

"If your aunt can do without you for a few weeks, you'd better come
with me," he said in his off-hand way, which took consent for granted.
"You'll get some useful lessons in buying furs and trading goods, and
in how to make good bargains with the Indians, if you keep your eyes
and ears open."

Raou