ns sat with their knees drawn up and their blankets
wrapped about them, looking stolidly at the fire.

Father Claude came quietly into the group, and with a smile extended
his hand to the smallest of the three, an older man, with a wrinkled
face. "I did not look for you here, Teganouan. Have you gone back to
the Mission?"

Teganouan returned the smile, and bowed.

"My brother has told the white man of our errand?"

"Yes," said Menard, "they have been sent to Three Rivers by the
Superior, and are now returning. I have told them that we, too, are
going to Montreal."

The priest took the hint. "We shall meet you and your brothers again,
Teganouan. They are newcomers at the Mission, I believe. They had not
come when I left."

"No, Father. They have but last week become Christians. The Long
Arrow" (inclining his head toward the large Indian) "has lost a son,
and through his suffering was led to take the faith."

The Long Arrow, who had seemed to lose interest in the conversation as
soon as he had finished speaking, here rose.

"My brothers and the good Father will give us their blessing? The end
of the journey is yet three days away. I had hoped that we might be
permitted to accept the protection of the son of Onontio,"--he looked
at Menard,--"but I see that his canoe will not be ready for the
journey before the sun is high." He looked gravely from Menard to the
priest, then walked to the shore, followed by the others. They pushed
off, and shortly disappeared around the point of land.

Menard gave them no attention, but as soon as they were gone from
sight, he turned to the priest.

"Well, Father, what do you make of that?"

Father Claude shook his head.

"Nothing, as yet, M'sieu. Do you know who the large man is?"

"No; but I seem to remember him. And what is more to the point, he
certainly remembers me."

"Are you sure?"

"He recognized me on the river. He came back with me so willingly
because he wanted to know more about us. That was plain. It would be
well, Father, to enquire at the Mission. We should know more of them
and their errand at Three Rivers."

Menard called Danton, and walked with him a little way into the wood.

"Danton," he said, "you are going through this journey with us, and I
intend that you shall know about such matters as this meeting with the
Onondagas."

"Oh, they were Onondagas?"

"Yes. They claim to be Mission Indians, but neither the Father nor I
altogether believe them.