-arranged meeting between these two,
yet felt it was nothing with which I had a right to interfere. This
careless French girl, whom I had known for scarcely two days, was not
one to be easily guided, even had I either reason or excuse for
attempting it.

"'T is strange," she said, musingly, "that she has never so much as
spoken to me about it; yet she was always shy of speech in such
matters."

"Of whom do you speak, Toinette?" questioned De Croix.

"Of Master Wayland's young friend with the Kinzies," she answered, the
old sprightliness again in her voice. "I know her very well,
Monsieur,--a dear, sweet girl,--and shall be only too glad to speed you
on to her. Yet 't is not so easy of accomplishment, hemmed in as we
are here now. Yonder is the light, Master Wayland; but much of peril
may lurk between. 'Tis not far, were the way clear; indeed, in the old
days of peace a rope ferry connected Fort and house, but now to reach
there safely will require a wide detour and no little woodcraft. There
were patrols of savages along the river bank at dusk, and it is
doubtful if all have been withdrawn."

I looked as she pointed, and easily distinguished the one glittering
spark that pierced the darkness to the north and east. I wondered at
her earlier words; yet they might all be true enough, for I knew
nothing of this Elsa Matherson. Before I could question further, De
Croix had interfered,--eager, no doubt, to be rid of me.

"Upon my soul!" he exclaimed recklessly, "if I could voyage here from
Montreal to win but a smile, it should prove a small venture for our
backwoods friend to cover yonder small distance. _Sacre_! I would do
the deed myself for one kiss from rosy lips."

I have wondered since what there was about those words to anger me. It
must have been their boastful tone, the sarcasm that underlay the
velvet utterance, which stung like salt in a fresh wound. I felt that
from the summit of his own success he durst laugh at me; and my blood
boiled instantly.

"You are wondrous bold, Monsieur," I retorted, "when the matter is
wholly one of words. I regret I cannot pledge you such reward, so that
I might learn how you would bear yourself in the attempt."

He stared at me haughtily across the shoulder of the girl, as it
doubting he heard aright.

"You question my courage to venture it?"

"It has been my experience that the cock that crows the loudest fights
the least."

"Oh, hush, Messieurs!" broke