and gave it up to fire, after killing many warriors.
We could not fight against their fire-sticks, yet we saved much that we
valued, and wandered far toward the sunset, bearing along with us the
bodies of our chiefs, and the sacred fire from our altar. The
_Francais_ lost us in the wilderness. We came to a little river which
flowed down to greet us from out the sunset. Here we stopped once
more, built our village, erecting about it a great wall of earth such
as our fathers did in those days when we were strong and mighty. We
dwelt there in peace for three seasons of sun and cold, having little
trouble with those tribes that roamed about us, until one day there
came into our new village another _Francais_, a black-robe. How he got
there I know not, but we laid hands upon him,--remembering the
past,--bound him before our altar-house, and made of him a sacrifice
unto our god, the Sun. Yet it was not well. Even that very night,
while we worshipped before the fire which had consumed him, there came
upon us many _Francais_ out from the dark woods, with fire-sticks and
sharp knives, so that only few of our people escaped, and got away to
the north. I was one, bearing ever with me the sacred fire, which I
was sworn to guard. We travelled across many rivers, suffering much
from want, until those who lived wandered to this place, and here set
up once more our fathers' ancient altars. 'T was thus I learned the
words of the tongue, this accursed _Francais_, and learned also to hate
those with white faces and black hearts who speak it."

His voice ceased, and his chin sank wearily upon his breast. My ear
caught the heavy breathing of Cairnes, and I turned to mark him lying
at full length upon the stone floor sound asleep. Admiring his
indifference to surroundings, I was yet so deeply engrossed in this
tale of the old priest as to be myself insensible of fatigue.

"You are indeed of an old race," I said, hoping to make him talk
further, "if the traditions of your people extend to those first
Frenchmen who came floating south along the great river."

The old eyes, now scanning my face, gleamed with awakened pride.

"'T is no more than a page out of our history I have related," he
exclaimed hastily, evidently aroused by my interest. "We are the
oldest and greatest people of the earth. Ay, more; we are children of
the Sun, and, ages ago, when our fathers were true to their faith and
their God, there were none who could