e is the good Abbe Messonnier; but you will not have
heard of him, though he is well known and well beloved in France.
My father has certain work to do here the nature of which I do not
fully know, nor could I divulge if I did. We arrived at Quebec a
short time ago, and thence we moved on to Montreal. But it was
needful for my father and uncle to visit some of these outposts,
and we begged, Colin and I, not to be left behind. We burned with
curiosity to see the strange sights of which we had heard--the
Indians in their war paint, the great forests and lakes, the forts
and their garrisons, and all the wonders of the west.

"So they brought us in their company. My father takes me everywhere
with him that he can. Since my mother's death he seems unable to
lose sight of me. We have been hard upon a month at the fort now.
We are learning all we can of the condition of affairs, to report
to the Marquis when we return to Montreal or to Quebec. He himself
talks of coming to command here when the time comes for the attack
to be made upon your fort; but that will scarcely be yet, for there
is so much he has to set in order in Canada. Oh, the way things are
managed there--it is a disgrace!"

"Is Canada weak then?" asked Stark, burning with curiosity for
information on the subject.

The girl slowly shook her head.

"Perhaps I ought not to talk with you, since you are the enemies of
my countrymen. And, in sooth, I know little enough to tell. I hear
one say this and one the other, and I cannot know where the truth
lies. But of one thing they are very certain and confident--that
they will drive out the English from all these western outposts,
and will keep them shut in between the mountains and the sea; and
that France alone shall rule this mighty continent of giant forests
and rivers, undisturbed by any foreign foe. Of that all men are
confident."

The Rangers exchanged glances, and the girl saw it.

"You do not believe me," she said quickly; "but, indeed, I have
heard so many strange things that I know not what to believe
myself. Strangest of all is that white men should call upon those
terrible savage Indians to war with them against their white
brethren. That, as my good uncle says, is a disgrace to humanity.
Ah! I would you could have heard him speak to the officers at
yonder fort since his arrival there. They brought in a few
prisoners a few days after we came. They were going to cook and eat
them--to treat them--oh, I