d Cassion took place at the steering oar in
the stern. To be separated from him was all I asked, although the very
sound of his harsh voice rasping out orders, as we swung out from the
bank rendered me almost frantic. My husband! God! and I was actually
married to that despicable creature! I think I hardly realized before
what had occurred, but now the hideous truth came, and I buried my
face in my hands, and felt tears stealing through my fingers.

Yet only for a moment were these tears of weakness. Indignation,
anger, hatred conquered me. He had won! he had used power to conquer!
Very well, now he would pay the price. He thought me a helpless girl;
he would find me a woman, and a La Chesnayne. The tears left my eyes,
and my head lifted, as purpose and decision returned.

We were skirting the northern bank, the high bluffs blotting out the
stars, with here and there, far up above us, a light gleaming from
some distant window, its rays reflecting along the black water. The
Indian paddlers worked silently, driving the sharp prow of the heavily
laden canoe steadily up stream. Farther out to the left was the dim
outline of another boat, keeping pace with ours, the moving figures of
the paddlers revealed against the water beyond.

I endeavored to discern the canoe which led the way, over which De
Artigny held command, but it was hidden by a wall of mist too far away
to be visible. Yet the very thought that the young Sieur was there,
accompanying us into the drear wilderness, preserved me from utter
despair. I would not be alone, or friendless. Even when he learned the
truth, he would know it was not my fault, and though he might
question, and even doubt, at first, yet surely the opportunity would
come for me to confess all, and feel his sympathy, and protection. I
cannot explain the confidence which this certainty of his presence
brought, or how gratefully I awaited the dawn, and its revelation.

'Tis not in the spirit of youth to be long depressed by misfortune,
and although each echo of Cassion's voice recalled my condition, I was
not indifferent to the changing scene. Chevet, still sodden with
drink, fell asleep, his head on his pack, but I remained wide awake,
watching the first faint gleam of light along the edge of the cloud
stretching across the eastern sky line. It was a dull, drear morning,
everywhere a dull gray, the wide waters about us silent and deserted.
To the right the shore line was desolate and bare, ex