ore parting for
the night Marie said to Hugh: "This is what I wish you to do for me to
bring over two of your horses to Point Assumption on the river. There is
a glen beyond that as you know, and from it runs the steep and dangerous
Brocken Path across the hills. I wish you to wait there until M.
Laflamme and Carbourd come by the river--that is their only chance. If
they get across the hills they can easily reach the sea. I know that two
of your horses have been over the path; they are sure-footed; they would
know it in the night. Is it not so?"

"It is so. There are not a dozen horses in the colony that could be
trusted on it at night, but mine are safe. I shall do all you wish."

She put out both her hands and felt for his shoulders, and let them
rest there for a moment, saying: "I ask much, and I can give no reward,
except the gratitude of one who would rather die than break a promise.
It isn't much, but it is all that is worth your having. Good-night.
Good-bye."

"Good-night. Good-bye," he gently replied; but he said something beneath
his breath that sounded worth the hearing.

The next morning while her father was gone to consult the chief
army-surgeon at Noumea, Marie strolled with Angers in the grounds. At
length she said: "Angers, take me to the river, and then on down, until
we come to the high banks." With her hand on Angers' arm, and in her
face that passive gentleness which grows so sweetly from sightless eyes
till it covers all the face, they passed slowly towards the river. When
they came to the higher banks covered with dense scrub, Angers paused,
and told Marie where they were.

"Find me the she-oak tree," the girl said; "there is only one, you
know."

"Here it is, my dear. There, your hand is on it now."

"Thank you. Wait here, Angers, I shall be back presently."

"But oh, my dear--"

"Please do as I say, Angers, and do not worry." The girl pushed aside
some bushes, and was lost to view. She pressed along vigilantly by a
descending path, until her feet touched rocky ground. She nodded to
herself, then creeping between two bits of jutting rock at her right,
immediately stood at the entrance to a cave, hidden completely from the
river and from the banks above. At the entrance, for which she felt, she
paused and said aloud: "Is there any one here?" Something clicked far
within the cave. It sounded like a rifle. Then stealthy steps were
heard, and a voice said:

"Ah, mademoiselle!"

"You are