nded, and making them as strong as his own enjoyment had been. He
promised to break the head of every voyageur in the yard with a board
if another quarrel occurred. And he pretended not to see the culprit's
trembling wife, that little besom whose caprices had set the men by the
ears ever since she was old enough to know the figures of a dance, yet
for whom he and Mrs. Stuart had a warm corner in their hearts. She had
caused the first fracas of the season, moreover. He went out and slammed
the office door, ordering the men away from it.

"Bring me yon Etienne St. Martin," commanded Mr. Stuart, preparing his
arsenal of strong language. "I'll have a word with yon carl for this."

The noise of the one-sided conflict could be heard in the office, but
'Tite remained as if she heard nothing, with her head and arms on the
desk. Her husband took up the cap with the black feather, which he had
thrown off in the presence of his superior. He rested it against his
side, his elbow pointing a triangle, and waited aggressively for her
to speak. The back of her pretty neck and fine tendrils of curly hair
ruffled above it were very moving; but his heart swelled indignantly.

"'Tite Laboise, why did you shut the door in my face when I came back to
you after a year's absence?"

She answered faintly, "Me, I don't know."

"And dance with Etienne St. Martin until I am obliged to whip him?"

"Me, I don't know."

"Yes, you do know. You have concealments," he accused, and she made no
defence. "This is the case: you run to the dock to see the boats come
in; you are joyful until you watch me step ashore; I look for 'Tite; her
back is disappearing at the corner of the street. Eh bien! I say, she
would rather meet me in the house. I fly to the house. My wife refuses
to see me."

'Tite made no answer.

"What have I done?" Charle' spread his hands. "My commandant has no
complaint to make of me. It is Charle' Charette who leads on the trail
or breaks a road where there is none, and carries the heaviest pack
of furs, and pulls men out of the water when they are drowning; it is
Charle' Charette who can best endure fasting when the rations run low,
and can hunt and bring in meat when other voyageurs lie exhausted about
the camp-fire. I am no little lard-eater from Canada, brother to a man
with a stomach having no lid. Look at that." Charle' shook the decorated
cap at her. "I wear the black feather of my brigade. That means that I
am the best man