d beside me.

"No sign of anyone up there," he said, and I felt not regretfully.
"The canoes must have been blown some distance down the coast."

"Were you able to see far?"

"Ay, several leagues, for we are upon a headland, and there is a wide
sweep of bay below. The shore line is abrupt, and the waves still
high. Indeed I saw no spot in all that distance where a boat might
make safe landing. Are you becoming dry?"

"I am at least warm, and already feel much stronger. Would it not be
best, Monsieur, for us to scale the cliff, and wait our rescuers
there, where we can keep lookout?"

"If you feel able to climb the rocks, although the passage is not
difficult. A boat might pass us by here and never be seen, or know of
our presence, unless we keep up a fire."

I held out my hand to him, and he helped me to my feet. The warmth of
the sand while it had not entirely dried my clothing, had given me
fresh vigor, and I stood erect, requiring no assistance. With this
knowledge a new assurance seemed to take possession of me, and I
looked about, and smiled.

"I am glad to know you can laugh," he said eagerly. "I have felt that
our being thus shipwrecked together was not altogether to your
liking."

"And why?" I asked, pretending surprise. "Being shipwrecked, of
course, could scarcely appeal to me, but I am surely not ungrateful to
you for saving my life."

"As to that, I did no more than any man might be expected to do," he
protested. "But you have avoided me for weeks past, and it can
scarcely be pleasant now to be alone with me here."

"Avoided you! Rather should I affirm it was your own choice, Monsieur.
If I recall aright I gave you my confidence once, long ago on the
Ottawa, and you refused my request of assistance. Since then you have
scarcely been of our party."

He hesitated, as though doubtful of what he had best say.

"It was never through indifference as to your welfare," he answered at
last, "but obedience to orders. I am but an employee on this
expedition."

My eyes met his.

"Did Monsieur Cassion command that you keep in advance?" I asked, "and
make your night camps beyond those of the main company?"

"Those were his special orders, for which I saw no need, except
possibly his desire to keep us separated. Yet I did not know his
reason, nor was it my privilege to ask. Had Monsieur Cassion any
occasion to distrust me?"

"I know not as to occasion, Monsieur, but he left Quebec disliking you
becau