"A country advocate at whom those in authority would laugh. I tell you
what I say is true; the land was restored, and the fact is known to La
Barre and to Cassion. It is this fact which has caused all our
troubles. I overheard talk last night between the Governor and his
aide-de-camp, Colonel Delguard--you know him?"

Chevet nodded, his interest stirred.

"They thought themselves alone, and were laughing at the success of
their trick. I was hidden behind the heavy curtains at the window, and
every word they spoke reached my ears. Then they sent for Cassion."

"But where is the paper?"

"I did not learn; they have it hidden, no doubt, awaiting the proper
time to produce it. But there is such a document: La Barre explained
that clearly, and the reason why he wished Cassion to marry me. They
were all three talking when an accident happened, which led to my
discovery."

"Ah! and so that was what hurried the wedding, and sent me on this
wild wilderness chase. They would bury me in the woods--_sacre!_--"

"Hush now--Cassion has left the canoe already, and we can talk of this
later. Let us seem to suspect nothing."

This was the first meal of many eaten together along the river bank in
the course of our long journey, yet the recollection of that scene
rises before my memory now with peculiar vividness. It was a bright,
glorious morning, the arching sky blue overhead, and the air soft with
early autumn. Our temporary camp was at the edge of a grove, and below
us swept the broad river, a gleaming highway of silvery water without
speck upon its surface. Except for our little party of voyagers no
evidence of life was visible, not even a distant curl of smoke
obscuring the horizon.

Cassion had divided us into groups, and, from where I had found
resting place, with a small flat rock for table, I was enabled to see
the others scattered to the edge of the bank, and thus learned for the
first time, the character of those with whom I was destined to
companion on the long journey. There were but four of us in that first
group, which included Pere Allouez, a silent man, fingering his cross,
and barely touching food. His face under the black cowl was drawn, and
creased by strange lines, and his eyes burned with fanaticism. If I
had ever dreamed of him as one to whom I might turn for counsel, the
thought instantly vanished as our glances met.

A soldier and two Indians served us, while their companions, divided
into two groups,