" burst out Tom Ross,
he of few words.

Father Montigny merely smiled again.

"Oh, no," he said, "I have many brethren who do likewise, and there are as
many different kinds of bravery as there are different kinds of life. You,
I fancy, are brave, too, though I take it from appearances that you
sometimes fight with arms."

"We have to do it, Father Montigny," said Paul in an apologetic tone.

The priest made no further comment and, taking him to the shore, with much
difficulty they built a fire, at which they prepared him warm food while
he dried his clothing. They had no hesitation in telling him of their
errand and of the presence of Alvarez and his force on the river. Father
Montigny sighed.

"It is a matter of great regret," he said, "that Louisiana has passed from
the hands of my nation into those of Spain. France is now allied with your
colonies, but Spain holds aloof. She fears you and perhaps with reason.
Every country, if its people be healthy and vigorous, must ultimately be
owned by those who live upon it."

"Do you know this Alvarez?" asked Henry.

"Yes, a man of imperious and violent temper, one who, with all his
courage, does not recognize the new forces at work in the world. He thinks
that Spain is still the greatest of nations, and that the outposts of your
race, who have reached the backwoods, are nothing. It is we who travel in
the great forests who recognize the strength of the plant that is yet so
young and tender."

The priest sighed again and a shade of emotion passed over his singularly
fine face.

"Alvarez would be glad to commit the Spanish forces in America to the
cause of your enemies," he resumed, "and he is bold enough to do any
violent deed at this distance to achieve that end. In fact, he is already
allied with the renegade and the Indians against you and began war when he
seized one of you. Perhaps it is just as well that you are going to New
Orleans, since Bernardo Galvez, the Spanish Governor, is a man of
different temper, young, enthusiastic, and ready, I think, to listen to
you."

While the priest was talking by the fireside Shif'less Sol, Long Jim, and
Tom Ross slipped away. They hauled his canoe out on dry land, and with the
tools that they had found on "The Galleon" quickly made it as good as
ever. They also quietly put some of their own stores in the canoe, and
then returned it to the water.

"O' course, he won't go comf'tably with us in our boat to New
Or-lee-yuns,