accident
would not be so bad either. I am cramped by long boat service, and
would welcome a stiff tramp to loosen out the joints of my legs."

I glanced across uneasily at Madame, for we were all seated on the
grass in the sunshine, but could perceive nothing except encouragement
in the clear depths of her brave eyes.

"Fear nothing on my account," she said quietly, instantly reading my
thoughts as if my face were an open book. "I am strong, and shall not
greatly mind the walking."

"At least you are strong of heart," I returned gravely. "But such a
trip as now lies before us will test your power of endurance greatly.
Yet what must be done is best done quickly, and there are unpleasant
memories clustering about this spot, making me anxious to leave it
before another night. Let each one speak frankly his thought as to our
future course, so we may choose the route aright. De Noyan, you are a
soldier, accustomed to places of difficulty and peril. What would you
suggest?"

He was lying flat upon his back, hands clasped beneath his head, puffs
of white smoke from his pipe curling lazily up into the blue sky; nor
did he remove the stem from between his lips as he made easy answer.

"Faith, man, my service on campaign has ever been with the horse; nor
am I fond of using my own limbs for travelling. It would be far
easier, I think, to knock up the old boat here; then, with whatsoever
else we might find in this God-forsaken wilderness, construct some sort
of raft to upbear our company, and so drift down with the stream.
_Parbleu_! it would be a relief from those cursed oars. If the load be
too heavy, the preacher can be left behind; 't would be small loss."

"Your plan sounds bravely in words, Chevalier, but were we to attempt
it, we should soon find ourselves in more serious stress than now,--ay!
before we had covered the first day's journey. My Calvinistic friend,
what advice have you for our guidance?"

The sectary's eyes were fastened upon the ragged line of hills at our
back, and for the moment he made no response, his seamed face grave
with thought.

"How far, Master Benteen," he queried finally, "do you make it from
here to the mouth of this river?"

"Not much short of sixty leagues," I answered, after a bit of thinking.
"The stream bends and twists so it is difficult to judge the true
distance."

"It was a grievous journey," he admitted with a groan, "one I care not
to travel again, unless it be re