we make no battle here, whether it
suit your hot-brained desires or not. I dragged you from the jaws of
death at the request of her who sits in silence yonder. I will never
consent that your rashness now draw her into the peril of such a
_melee_ as the attempt to run that gantlet. Cairnes,"--I turned to
face the Puritan, sitting all this time with open mouth listening to
our quarrel, yet scarcely comprehending a word that passed,--"this gay
French cockerel would throw us against those eighteen men below, to
fight our way from here to the Ohio, as if the Spaniards between were
so many buzzing mosquitoes, and you are not greatly averse to trying
that same experiment."

"It would be a godly and pious service to smite so black and Papist a
crew."

"No doubt of that; yet, Master Cairnes, you are scarcely the sort who
would involve a lady in such broil, when, if we escaped at first, the
chances are we should have wounded to care for, or, perchance, be
prisoners borne southward under Spanish guard--a contingency not
over-pleasant, I imagine, to a preacher of your faith."

I saw him twist his little eyes as if in petition for guidance, while
he ran his hand nervously through his red hair before venturing a reply.

"It must ever be as the Lord wills, friend Benteen," he returned
soberly, De Noyan surveying the fellow as he might some strange animal
whose ways he did not understand. "I am not one to draw back my hand
once upon the plough. Yet I have found you of a level and cool head in
matters of judgment, and it is meet we exercise due care over this rare
flower of womanhood who shares our dangers. I like not the hard pull
up this swift current," he cast anxious eyes at the swirling stream.
"It is not clear into what additional peril it may lead, nor do I feel
gifted at the oars, now the provisions bid fair to become somewhat
scant."

I waited for no more.

"The Puritan sufficiently agrees with me," I announced to De Noyan
firmly. "We will pull on up this stream until we learn its true trend,
and are beyond Spanish overhauling. It will be best to lose no time in
placing a good stretch of water behind us."

During this controversy our boat had drifted against the southern bank,
its side softly scraping the mud, its bow entangled amid the roots of
an overhanging bush. To my surprise the Chevalier, instead of picking
up his oar, grasped a bit of the projecting root, and, sword dangling
after him, coolly stepped f