Do not believe this is my thought, yet I must
tell you the truth. Hugo Chevet was found dead, murdered, at St.
Ignace. 'Twas the morning of our departure, and your boat had already
gone. Cassion accused you of the crime, as some of the men saw you
coming from the direction where the body was found late at night, and
others reported that you two had quarreled the evening before. Cassion
would have tried you offhand, using his authority as commander of the
expedition, but promised not to file charges until we reached St.
Louis, if I made pledge--'twas then I gave him my word."

De Artigny straightened up, the expression on his face one of profound
astonishment.

"He--he accused me," he asked, "of murder to win your promise?"

"No, Monsieur; he believed the charge true, and I pledged myself to
assure you a fair trial."

"Then you believed also that I was guilty of the foul crime?"

I caught my breath, yet there was nothing for me to do but give him a
frank answer.

"I--I have given no testimony, Monsieur," I faltered, "but I--I saw
you in the moonlight bending over Chevet's dead body."

CHAPTER XIX

WE EXCHANGE CONFIDENCES

My eyes fell before his; I could not look into his face, yet I had a
sense that he was actually glad to hear my words. There was no anger,
rather happiness and relief in the gray eyes.

"And you actually believed I struck the blow? You thought me capable
of driving a knife into the man's back to gain revenge?"

"Monsieur, what could I think?" I urged eagerly. "It did not seem
possible, yet I saw you with my own eyes. You knew of the murder, but
you made no report, raised no alarm, and in the morning your boat was
gone before the body was found by others."

"True, yet there was a reason which I can confess to you. You also
discovered the body that night, yet aroused no alarm. I saw you. Why
did you remain silent? Was it to protect me from suspicion?"

I bent my head, but failed to find words with which to answer. De
Artigny scarcely permitted me time.

"That is the truth; your silence tells me it was for my sake you
remained still. Is it not possible, Adele, that my purpose was the
same? Listen to me, my girl, and have faith in my words--I am not
guilty of Hugo Chevet's death. I did not like the man, it is true, and
we exchanged words in anger while loading the boats, but I never gave
the matter second thought. That was not the first night of this
journey that I sought to assure