u're not a goin' to leave me!" and poor Zac's
voice was like a wail of despair.

"Why, what ees eet posseeble to do? I moos go to ma maitresse."

"But-but what'll become of me?" mourned Zac. "I may never see you
again."

Margot sighed. "I moos go to ma maitresse," she murmured.

"O, don't! don't now!" cried Zac. "She ain't half as fond of you as
me. She can take care of herself. The priest'll watch over her. O,
don't go, don't! I declar I feel like droundin' myself at the bare
idee."

Zac, upon this, seized her hand, and begged, and coaxed, and prayed
her to stay; till poor little Margot began to cry bitterly, and could
only plead in broken tones her love for her dear mistress, who was in
such danger, and how base it would be to desert her at such a time.

"Wal, wal--would you--would you come with me if--if it warn't for
her?" mourned Zac.

Margot looked up at his face with a slight smile shining through her
tears, which seemed to reassure poor Zac.

"We sall meet again," said Margot, in a more cheerful voice.

Zac shook his head disconsolately.

"And so, adieu," said Margot, in a low voice.

Zac said nothing, but with an expression of despair he took her in
his arms, kissed her, and then turned away and wept.

Margot cried bitterly, and got into the boat. The old Acadian
followed. The boat rowed away.

"_Adieu, et au revoir, cher Zac_," said Margot, calling back and
waving her hat.

"Goo-oo-d by-ye," said Zac, in a wail of despair.

For hours Zac stood looking after the boat in perfect silence. At
last he turned away, gulping down a sigh.

"Darned ef I know what on airth's the matter with me," he murmured.

CHAPTER XIV.

MANOEUVRES OF ZAC.

Zac slept but little that night. There were two causes for
wakefulness. The first was Margot, who had wrought such mischief with
his thoughts and feelings that he did not know what was the matter
with him. The second cause was the condition of Claude.

Gradually Margot's image faded away, and he began to turn his
thoughts towards the problem of delivering Claude. How was that to be
done?

Over this he thought for the greater part of that night. Towards
morning he called Terry, who was to watch for the remainder of the
night, and proceeded to hold a council of war.

First of all he acquainted Terry with the general state of affairs.
Part of Margot's information had been overheard by him; but Terry,
seeing how things were, had discreetly withdrawn