im small encouragement to venture further, and yet
had he done so I would have been at my wit's end. Twice the words were
upon his lips--a demand that I yield to his mastery--but he must have
read in my eyes a defiance he feared to front, for they were not
uttered. 'Twas that he might have this very talk that he had found me
place alone in his canoe, and I would have respected him more had he
dared to carry out his desire. The coward in the man was too apparent,
and yet that very cowardice was proof of treachery. What he hesitated
to claim boldly he would attain otherwise if he could. I could place
no confidence in his word, nor reliance upon his honor.

However nothing occurred to give Cassion opportunity, nor to tempt me
to violate my own pledge. We proceeded steadily upon our course, aided
by fair weather, and quiet waters for several days. So peaceful were
our surroundings that my awe and fear of the vast lake on which we
floated passed away, and I began to appreciate its beauty, and love
those changing vistas, which opened constantly to our advance.

We followed the coast line, seldom venturing beyond sight of land,
except as we cut across from point to point; and fair as the wooded
shore appeared, its loneliness, and the desolation of the great waters
began, at last, to affect our spirits. The men no longer sang at their
work, and I could see the depression in their eyes as they stared
about across ceaseless waves to the dim horizon.

Day after day it was the same dull monotony, crouched in the narrow
canoe, watching the movements of the paddlers, and staring about at
endless sea and sky, with distant glimpse of wilderness. We lost
interest in conversation, in each other, and I lay for hours with eyes
closed to the glare of the sun, feeling no desire save to be left
alone. Yet there were scenes of surpassing beauty unrolled before us
at sunrise and sunset, and when the great silvery moon reflected its
glory in the water.

Had companionship been congenial no doubt every league of that journey
would have proven a joy to be long remembered, but with Cassion beside
me, ever seeking some excuse to make me conscious of his purpose, I
found silence to be my most effective weapon of defense. Twice I got
away in Pere Allouez' canoe, and found pleasure in conversing,
although I had no confidence in the priest, and knew well that my
absence would anger Cassion.

Our camps occurred wherever night overtook us and we found