ally
the punishment was trivial compared to the offense. The governor
wished to rule by kindness; but his lieutenants knew the Indian
thoroughly. He must not be treated with kindness where justice was
merited; it gave him the idea that the white man was afraid.
Therefore, his depredations should be met with a vengeance swift and
final and convincing. But nine times out of ten De Lauson and the
priests overruled the soldiers; and the depredations continued
unabated. Once, however, the Chevalier succeeded in having several
gibbets erected on the island of Orleans, and upon these gibbets he
strung half a dozen redskins who had murdered a family of peaceful
Hurons.

Though he went about somberly, untalkative and morose, the Chevalier
proved himself a capital soldier, readily adapting himself to the
privations of scouting and the loneliness of long watches in the night.
He studied his Indian as one who intended to take up his abode among
them for many years to come. He discarded the uniform for the deerskin
of the trapper. But the Chevalier made no friends among the
inhabitants; and when not on duty he was seen only in the company of
Victor, the vicomte and Brother Jacques, who was assisting him in
learning the Indian languages. Brown he grew, lithe and active as the
enemy he watched and studied. Never a complaint fell from his lips; he
accepted without question the most hazardous duty.

"Keep your eye upon Monsieur le Chevalier," said De Lauson; "for he
will count largely before the year is gone."

As for Victor, he was more or less indifferent. He was perfectly
willing to fight the Indian, but his gorge rose at the thought of
studying him as an individual. As a rule he found them to be unclean,
vulgar and evil-minded; and the hideous paints disturbed his dreams.
Secretly, his enthusiasm for New France had already waned, and there
were times when he longed for the road to Spain--Spain which by now
held for him the dearest treasure in all the world. But not even the
keen-eyed Brother Jacques read this beneath the poet's buoyancy and
lightness of spirit. Besides, Brother Jacques had set himself to watch
the Comte d'Herouville and the Vicomte d'Halluys, and this was far more
important to him than the condition of the poet's temperament.

D'Herouville mingled with the great seigneurs, and, backed by his
reputation as a famous swordsman, did about as he pleased. He watched
the Chevalier's progress toward health