in tenderness. I had sung to them, and
watched his face in the firelight as he listened. Never would I forget
that face, nor believe evil of such a man. No! not from the lips of
Cassion nor even from the governor, La Barre.

I recalled it all now, as I sat there in the silence, pretending to
work, how we watched them embark in their canoes and disappear, the
Indian paddlers bending to their task, and Monsieur la Salle,
standing, bareheaded as he waved farewell. Beyond him was the dark
face of one they called De Tonty, and in the first boat a mere boy
lifted his ragged hat. I know not why, but the memory of that lad was
clearer than all those others, for he had met me in the hall and we
had talked long in the great window ere the sister came, and took me
away. So I remembered him, and his name, Rene de Artigny. And in all
those years I heard no more. Into the black wilderness they swept and
were lost to those of us at home in New France.

No doubt there were those who knew--Frontenac, Bigot, those who ruled
over us at Quebec--but 'twas not a matter supposed to interest a girl,
and so no word came to me. Once I asked my Uncle Chevet, and he
replied in anger with only a few sentences, bidding me hold my tongue;
yet he said enough so that I knew the Sieur de la Salle lived and had
built a fort far away, and was buying furs of the Indians. It was this
that brought jealousy, and hatred. Once Monsieur Cassion came and
stopped with us, and, as I waited on him and Uncle Chevet, I caught
words which told me that Frontenac was La Salle's friend, and would
listen to no charges brought against him. They talked of a new
governor; yet I learned but little, for Cassion attempted to kiss me,
and I would wait on him no more.

Then Frontenac was recalled to France, and La Barre was governor. How
pleased my Uncle Chevet was when the news came, and he rapped the
table with his glass and exclaimed: "Ah! but now we will pluck out the
claws of this Sieur de la Salle, and send him where he belongs." But
he would explain nothing, until a week later. Cassion came up the
river in his canoe with Indian paddlers, and stopped to hold
conference. The man treated me with much gallantry, so that I
questioned him, and he seemed happy to answer that La Barre had
already dispatched a party under Chevalier de Baugis, of the King's
Dragoons to take command of La Salle's Fort St. Louis in the Illinois
country. La Salle had returned, and was already at Queb