my word," said Amos, "I have seen some good men, too, but never one
that I thought was better than this. You are weary, father. Have some
of our cold goose, and there is still a drop of cognac in my flask."

"Tut, tut, my son, if I take anything but the very simplest living it
makes me so lazy that I become a snail indeed."

"But you have no gun and no food. How do you live?"

"Oh, the good God has placed plenty of food in these forests for a
traveller who dare not eat very much. I have had wild plums, and wild
grapes, and nuts and cranberries, and a nice little dish of
_tripe-de-mere_ from the rocks."

The woodsman made a wry face at the mention of this delicacy.

"I had as soon eat a pot of glue," said he. "But what is this which you
carry on your back?"

"It is my church. Ah, I have everything here, tent, altar, surplice,
everything. I cannot venture to celebrate service myself without the
dispensation, but surely this venerable man is himself in orders and
will solemnise the most blessed function."

Amos, with a sly twinkle of the eyes, translated the proposal to
Ephraim, who stood with his huge red hands clenched, mumbling about the
saltless pottage of papacy. De Catinat replied briefly, however, that
they were all of the laity, and that if they were to reach their
destination before nightfall, it was necessary that they should push on.

"You are right, my son," said the little Jesuit. "These poor people
have already left their villages, and in a few days the woods will be
full of them, though I do not think that any have crossed the Richelieu
yet. There is one thing, however, which I would have you do for me."

"And what is that?"

"It is but to remember that I have left with Father Lamberville at
Onondaga the dictionary which I have made of the Iroquois and French
languages. There also is my account of the copper mines of the Great
Lakes which I visited two years ago, and also an orrery which I have
made to show the northern heavens with the stars of each month as they
are seen from this meridian. If aught were to go amiss with Father
Lamberville or with me, and we do not live very long on the Iroquois
mission, it would be well that some one else should profit from my
work."

"I will tell my friend to-night. But what are these great pictures,
father, and why do you bear them through the wood?" He turned them over
as he spoke, and the whole party gathered round them, staring in
amazeme