by
droves of cattle, which were constantly being sent from Grand Pre to
Louisbourg, where they fetched a handsome price. The Indian trails in
other places were far rougher and narrower, besides being interrupted
by fallen trees. The only difficulty that they had to encounter was
in crossing the Strait of Canso; but after following the shore for a
few miles, they came to a place where there was a barge, used to
transport cattle. Two or three French fishermen lived here, and they
took the whole party over to the opposite side. After this they
continued their journey.

That journey seemed to Claude altogether too short. Each day passed
away too rapidly. Wandering by the side of Mimi through the fragrant
forests, under the clear sky, listening to her gentle voice, and
catching the sweet smile of her innocent face, it seemed to him as
though he would like to go on this way forever. A cloud of sadness
rested on her gentle brow, which made her somewhat unlike the
sprightly girl of the schooner, and more like the despairing maid
whom he had rescued on the raft.

But there was reason for this sadness. Mimi was a fond and loving
daughter. She had chosen to follow her father across the ocean, when
she might have lived at home in comfort; and the death of that father
had been a terrible blow. For some time the blow had been alleviated
by the terrors which she felt about Cazeneau and his designs. But
now, since he and his designs were no more to be thought of, the
sorrow of her bereavement returned.

Still, she was not without consolation, and even joy. It was joy to
her to have escaped from the man and from the danger that she
dreaded. It was also joy to her to find herself once more in company
with Claude, in whom she had all along taken a tender interest. Until
she heard his story from his own lips she had not had any idea that
he had been the victim of Cazeneau. She had supposed that he was in
the schooner all the time, and had wondered why he did not make his
appearance. And her anxiety about her father, and grief over his
death, prevented her from dwelling much upon this.

At length they came in sight of the sea. The trees here were small,
stunted, and scrubby; the soil was poor, the grass coarse and
interspersed with moss and stones. In many places it was boggy, while
in others it was rocky. Their path ran along the shore for some
miles, and then entered the woods. For some distance farther they
went on, and then emerge