the arm of the law,
beyond even the grasp of the Church, we should be together. In our own
hearts love would justify. Without a qualm of conscience, without even
a lingering doubt, I made the choice, the final decision.

I know not how long it took me to think this all out, until I had
accepted fate; but I do know the decision brought happiness and
courage. Food was brought me by a strange Indian, apparently unable
to speak French; nor would he even enter the room, silently handing
me the platter through the open door. Two sentries stood just
without--soldiers of De Baugis, I guessed, as their features were
unfamiliar. They gazed at me curiously, as I stood in the doorway, but
without changing their attitudes. Plainly I was held prisoner also;
M. Cassion's threat was being put into execution. This knowledge
merely served to strengthen my decision, and I closed, and barred
the door again, smiling as I did so.

It grew dusk while I made almost vain effort to eat, and, at last,
pushing the pewter plate away, I crossed over, and cautiously opened
the wooden shutter of the window. The red light of the sunset still
illumined the western sky, and found glorious reflection along the
surface of the river. It was a dizzy drop to the bed of the stream
below, but Indians were on the opposite bank, beyond rifle shot, in
considerable force, a half-dozen canoes drawn up on the sandy shore,
and several fires burning. They were too far away for me to judge
their tribe, yet a number among them sported war bonnets, and I had no
doubt they were Iroquois.

So far as I could perceive elsewhere there was no movement, as my eyes
traveled the half circle, over a wide vista of hill and dale, green
valley and dark woods, although to the left I could occasionally hear
the sharp report of a rifle, in evidence that besieging savages were
still watchful of the fort entrance. I could not lean out far enough
to see in that direction, yet as the night grew darker the vicious
spits of fire became visible. Above me the solid log walls arose but a
few feet--a tall man might stand upon the window ledge, and find grip
of the roof; but below was the sheer drop to the river--perchance two
hundred feet beneath. Already darkness shrouded the water, as the
broad valley faded into the gloom of the night.

There was naught for me to do but sit and wait. The guard which M.
Cassion had stationed at the door prevented my leaving the room, but
its more probable pu