that confirmed this, and at last a small gray tippet which
I knew to be mother's, and we were no longer in doubt.

"I was wild to keep at the search, but the others persuaded me it
was useless to do so, that these savages wandered over the whole
country, and would certainly carry their prisoners to some post
where they would claim a reward, especially if they thought they
were English, which might well be the case; and in any event there
was no danger of their lives, as these savages never illtreat white
women, except in attack. Anxious as I was, I could not but agree
that they were right, and so said no more; but now I am content to
remain here, as I have a better chance of hearing news than if
exchanged for some French prisoner, as we were hoping all the way
out."

Although I had not the same confidence as the boy, I encouraged
him in his hopefulness, and in turn told him of my own doings since
I had left their roof in London.

My whole existence now took on a different aspect; my duties were
in no degree onerous; and Kit, the dear boy, so won every heart
that he was looked upon as a guest of the whole garrison, rather
than a prisoner. No restrictions were placed upon his movements,
and we roamed over the whole country with our fowling-pieces or
angles, and many a fine string of trout did we present to Madame
de Drucour and other friends.

We explored the country from Louisbourg to Mire, and there we fell
in with Sarennes and his following, with whom Kit was delighted
beyond measure; and indeed there was much in the Canadian to attract
those who did not look beyond the externals. He fairly enchanted
the boy with his tales of savage life, his exhibition of his wild
followers, and his skill in woodcraft and the chase, and I soon
felt that Kit was revolving some plan for discovering the whereabouts
of his mother through his aid.

This was the one flaw in my happiness. If I had not wished for her
death, I had at least hoped never to hear of her again, and indeed
there seemed but little likelihood of it in this remote quarter,
but every inquiry on the part of Kit gave me fresh uneasiness. This
he was quick to perceive, but as I had never given him an inkling
of the reason, he put my holding to him down to the liking of a
solitary exile for one of his own kind.

Sarennes, too, saw my fondness for the lad, and took a pleasure in
attracting him from me on every possible excuse; but it was not
until a dinner given by