vely features
showed both joy and confusion. So Claude had to content himself with
taking her hand, which he seized in both of his, and held as though
he would never let go.

After these first greetings, there followed a torrent of questions
from both sides. The priest's story was but a short one. On the day
when Cazeneau had left them, he had gone on a short hunting
excursion, simply for the sake of relieving the monotony of the long
tramp. He had charged the Indians not to go farther than two hours
ahead. His intention was to make a circuit, and join them by evening.
But the Indians were altogether under the influence of Pere Michel,
and were willing to do anything that he wished. The "Great
Father,"--the French king,--with whom Cazeneau thought he could
overawe them, was in truth a very shadowy and unsubstantial
personage. But Pere Michel was one whom they knew, and for some
reason regarded with boundless veneration. When, therefore, he
proposed to them to go on, they at once acceded. For Pere Michel
caught at this unexpected opportunity to escape, which was thus
presented, and at once set forth at the utmost possible speed. He
travelled all that day and far into the night, until he thought that
a sufficient distance had been put between himself and Cazeneau to
prevent capture. He would have gone much farther on this day had it
not been for Mimi, who, already fatigued by her long journey, was
unable to endure this increased exertion, and after trying in vain to
keep up, was compelled to rest. They had been encamping here for
about three hours, and were already deliberating about a night
journey, when Claude came up.

The time had been spent in constructing a sort of litter, which the
priest intended to sling between two horses, hoping by this means to
take Mimi onward with less fatigue. He had made up his mind, as
Claude indeed had suspected, to make for Canso, so as to put himself
out of the reach of Cazeneau.

Claude then told the priest his story, to which the latter listened
with deep emotion. He had not anticipated anything like this. Amazed
as he had been at the sudden appearance of Claude, he had thought
that by some happy accident the young man had eluded Cazeneau, and he
now learned how it really was.

For some time he said not a single word, and indeed there was nothing
that he could say. He knew well that Claude had been deeply and
foully wronged by Cazeneau, and he knew also that this last act was