gentlemen cannot conquer a country. They
tried gentlemen back in Virginia, and they died, partly from lack of
intellect, but mostly from lack of energy. After the yeomen have fought
the conquering fight, it is well enough to bring in gentlemen, who
are sometimes clever lawmakers, and who look well on thrones or in
presidential chairs.

But to return to the winter of the smallpox. It was then that the priest
and Ninon grew to know each other well. They became acquainted first
in the cabin where four of the trappers lay tossing in delirium. The
horrible smell of disease weighted the air. Outside wet snow fell
continuously and the clouds seemed to rest only a few feet above the
sullen bluffs. The room was bare of comforts, and very dirty. Ninon
looked about with disgust.

"You pray," said she to the priest, "and I will clean the room."

"Not so," returned the broad-shouldered father, smilingly, "we will both
clean the room." Thus it came that they scrubbed the floor together, and
made the chimney so that it would not smoke, and washed the blankets on
the beds, and kept the woodpile high. They also devised ventilators, and
let in fresh air without exposing the patients. They had no medicine,
but they continually rubbed the suffering men with bear's grease.

"It's better than medicine," said Ninon, after the tenth day, as, wan
with watching, she held the cool hand of one of the recovering men in
her own. "If we had had medicines we should have killed these men."

"You are a woman of remarkable sense," said the holy father, who was
eating a dish of corn-meal and milk that Ninon had just prepared, "and a
woman also of Christian courage."

"Christian courage?" echoed Ninon; "do you think that is what you call
it? I am not afraid, no, not I; but it is not Christian courage. You
mistake in calling it that." There were tears in her eyes. The priest
saw them.

"God lead you at last into peaceful ways," said he, softly, lifting one
hand in blessing. "Your vigil is ended. Go to your home and sleep. You
know the value of the temporal life that God has given to man. In the
hours of the night, Ninon, think of the value of eternal life, which it
is also His to give."

Ninon stared at him a moment with a dawning horror in her eyes.

Then she pointed to the table.

"Whatever you do," said she, "don't forget the bear's grease." And she
went out laughing. The priest did not pause to recommend her soul to
further blessing. He obe