ing.

And presently, after the meal was over, she saw Mr. Mowbray gather his
men in a group. For a few moments he spoke to them, and a ripple of
words, of ejaculations and exclamations, went across the assemblage like
a wave.

"Nom de Dieu! Not alone?"

"To the Pay d'en Haut,--those two?"

"A woman? Mother of God!"

Wondering eyes turned to the figure in the glow of the fire, to the
brown hands hard clasped, the face with its flame-lit eyes.

"Five men and a good canoe I send with them," said Mowbray quietly; "who
goes? Know you it is a quest of death."

"Who goes, M'sieu?" cried a French trader. "I! 'Tis worth a year of the
fur trade!"

"And I!"

"And I!"

"And I!"

Once more she had made her appeal to man, man in the abstract, and once
more he had come to her, this maid of dreams.

Mr. Mowbray had lost half his brigade had he not fixed on those who were
the strongest among the volunteers, the best canoe-men, the best shots.

Such were these men of the wilderness, excitable, ready for any hazard,
drawn by the longest odds, and to serve a woman gave the last zest to
danger.

Seldom enough did a woman appeal to them in such romantic wise.

"Brilliers,--Alloybeau,--Wilson," picked out Mr Mowbray, with a finger
pointing his words; "McDonald,--Frith,--make ready the fourth canoe,
Take store of pemmican and all things necessary for light travel and
quick. From to-morrow you will answer to Ma'amselle. When she is through
with you report to me, either at Cumberland or York, according to the
time."

And he left his men to walk over and seat himself beside Maren Le Moyne
on the shingle.

It was dark of the moon and the night was thick with stars and forest
sounds. Out on the lake beyond the ranged canoes at the water's edge,
the fish were slapping.

"Ma'amselle," said Mr. Mowbray gravely, "I have detailed you five men, a
canoe, and stores. May God grant that they may serve your purpose."

A long sigh escaped the girl's lips.

"And may He forever hold you in His grace, M'sieu!" she said
tremulously; "and bless you at the hour of death!"

"And now, Ma'amselle," he said gently, "tell me more of this strange
adventure. How comes it that a young maid, alone but for a youthful
trapper, goes to the Pays d'en Haut after a factor, of the Company? Why
did this duty not fall to the men of the post?"

"They said, as you, M'sieu, but an hour back, that it was a quest of
death. They love life. I love the factor.