party
went east till they were out of sight of the garrison. Then they
turned west and joined Pemaou. It was by Starling's direction. The
Ottawas would have objected, for I had ordered them to travel east, but
they were overpowered. It is supposed, since they traveled in this
direction, that they went to the Seneca camp. But that may not be
true."

"It is undoubtedly true," I said.

Cadillac pushed me out of earshot of the men. "Montlivet, you cannot
understand. Listen to me."

I tried to shake him away. "There is nothing more that you can say.
Monsieur, unhand me. My wife left with Starling. She is undoubtedly
in the Seneca camp. Pemaou and Starling are in league, and they go to
the Senecas because they hope to make terms on behalf of the English
with the western tribes. I understand."

Cadillac looked at me fully, and I realized dully that his face grew
white as he examined mine. "Go away. Go at once," he urged.

"Leave things here to me."

I nodded and stumbled away. Stretched tarpaulins made my tent, and I
crawled under them, drew down the folds, and was alone. The noise of
the camp muttered around me like a wind.

And then I lay alone with myself and my beliefs, and fought to know
where my feet were set. There was tempest without my tent, but not
within. In the valleys where I struggled there was great quiet. And
at last I found certainty.

In an hour I went to find Cadillac. He would not let me speak.

"Montlivet, we will stop this attack--if we can hold the Indians."

"It is not possible to hold the Indians. They are blood drunk. We
should have general massacre."

"Then you must leave. You can go with Onanguisse. He says that if his
adopted daughter is with the Senecas he will not join in the attack."

"No, I shall not go with him. I shall lead the allied force of
Indians, monsieur."

Cadillac looked me over. I saw, with my own face cold, that his was
not steady.

"No victory is worth that," I heard him say, and I listened as if he
spoke of another's sorrow. "It is not necessary, Montlivet."

"It is absolutely necessary. The war chiefs are jealous. Without a
leader they will fall on one another and we shall have sickening
massacre. You cannot lead them, for you do not speak their language."

"But even granting that"----

I touched his sleeve. "Monsieur, I have been alone. I have thought it
out. There is no escape. I do not know why life should give a man
s