to entertain me,
and his head nodded sleepily.

I turned to glance back beyond the massive figure of Chevet at the
steering oar, to gain glimpse of the canoes behind. The first was well
up, so that even the faces of its occupants were revealed, but the
second was but a black shapeless thing in the distance, a mere blotch
upon the waters.

Ahead of us, now sweeping around the point like a wild bird, amid a
smother of spray, appeared the advance canoe. As it disappeared I
could distinguish De Artigny at the stern, his coat off, his hands
grasping a paddle. Above the point once more and in smoother water, I
was aware that he turned and looked back, shading his eyes from the
sun. I could not but wonder what he thought, what possible suspicion
had come to him, regarding my presence in the company. There was no
way in which he could have learned the truth, for there had been no
communication between him and those who knew the facts.

Never would he conceive so wild a thought as my marriage to Cassion.
He might, indeed, believe that some strange, sudden necessity had
compelled me to accompany them on this adventure, or he might suspect
that I had deceived him, knowing all the time that I was to be of the
party. I felt the shame of it bring the red blood into my cheeks, and
my lips pressed together in firm resolve. I should tell him, tell him
all; and he must judge my conduct from my own words, and not those of
another. In some manner I must keep him away from Cassion--ay, and
from Chevet--until opportunity came for me to first communicate with
him.

I was a woman, and some instinct of my nature told me that Sieur de
Artigny held me in high esteem. And his was the disposition and the
training to cause the striking of a blow first. That must not be, for
now I was determined to unravel the cause for Cassion's eagerness to
marry, and La Barre's willing assistance, and to accomplish this end
there could be no quarreling between us.

The weariness of the long night conquered even my brain, the steady
splash of the paddles becoming a lullaby. Insensibly my head rested
back against the pile of blankets, the glint of sunshine along the
surface of the water vanished as my lashes fell, and, before I knew
it, I slept soundly. I awoke with the sun in the western sky, so low
down as to peep at me through the upper branches of trees lining the
bank. Our surroundings had changed somewhat, the shores being no
longer steep, and overhung