if three expeditions have
already been despatched north, there is little hope the land routes
have been forgotten. Beyond doubt every trail, white or Indian,
leading toward French or English settlements, is by now patrolled by
the Dons. Nor can we hope to gain passage by surprise. That
man-of-war boat will spread far the rumor of your escape, so every
Spaniard between here and the Ohio will be on the lookout for our
coming."

I imagine the same thought stole into the mind of both, how easily we
two, travelling light, might press our way through that scattered line
of guard, and attain the upper Ohio; how easily, only for the danger
and distress to which so desperate an attempt would expose her. She
alone ventured to give the idea utterance.

"Messieurs," she said earnestly, her calm brown eyes uplifted to our
faces, "I have been considering this for an hour past. I know you
would experience small trouble eluding the Spaniards, or even cutting
your way through them, were I not with you. Yet this is not beyond
remedy. I had sincerely hoped to prove of service when I usurped the
slave's place in the boat; instead, I am an encumbrance, a weakling
whom you must protect at the risk of your own lives. Fortunately it is
not yet too late to leave you free; it cannot be many miles back to New
Orleans, and the current would bear me swiftly downward. I have loyal
friends in the town to hide the daughter of Lafreniere, should the
Spaniards wage war against a woman, and surely some means would open
whereby I might make the shores of France. Perhaps I should be there
in advance of you. What say you, Messieurs, to such proposal? Would
it not be best?"

The indignant feeling which swept me as I listened to this speech
hardly needs dwelling upon. Yet I held my tongue. It was the
privilege of De Noyan to make answer.

"_Parbleu_!" he cried, seemingly forgetful of caution in instant
enthusiasm. "You have as good a head as heart, Eloise. _Sacre_! never
before did I realize the treasure in my keeping. You gauge well the
wishes of a soldier; 't is not pleasant to one of my blood and training
to lurk thus in the shadows like a skulking spy. _Bish_! nor do I love
this toll at the oars--'tis the work of slaves. I would prefer
trusting all to the rapier, writing with its point a Frenchman's
message of defiance. Holy saints! I am already half inclined to say
yes to your proposal; yet Benteen, what word have you to speak