ice she has! I did
not know it at first, when she was frightened and spoke only in the
lower tones. Now when she speaks or laughs it is like--"

"Like what?"

"There is no fit simile in our tongue, light as it is. It may be that
in the Iroquois I shall find the words. It should be something about
the singing brooks or the voice of the leaves at night."

The lad was in such buoyant spirits that Menard had to harden himself
for the rebuke which he must give. With the Indian tribes Menard had
the tact, the control of a situation, that would have graced a council
of great chiefs; but in matters of discipline, the blunter faculties
and language of the white men seemed to give his wit no play. Now, as
nearly always, he spoke abruptly.

"Have you forgotten our talk of this morning, Danton?"

"No," replied the boy, looking up in surprise.

The night had none of the dampness that had left a white veil over the
morning just gone. The moon was half hidden behind the western trees.
The sky, for all the dark, was blue and deep, set with thousands of
stars, each looking down at its mate in the shining water.

"I spoke of the importance of keeping our own counsel."

Danton began to feel what was coming. He looked down at the ground
without replying.

"To-night Mademoiselle has repeated a part of our conversation."

"Mademoiselle,--why, she is one of our party. She knows about us,--who
we are, what we are going for--"

"Then you have told her, Danton?"

"How could she help knowing? We are taking her to Frontenac."

"Father Claude has not told her why we go to Frontenac--nor have I."

"But Major Provost is her friend--"

"He would never have told her."

"But she seemed to know about it."

"Then you have talked it over with her?"

"Why, no,--that is, in speaking of our journey we said something of
the meaning of the expedition. It could hardly be expected that we,--I
fail to see, Captain, what it is you are accusing me of."

"You have not been accused yet, Danton. Let me ask you a question. Why
did you enter the King's army?"

Danton hesitated, and started once or twice to frame answer, but made
no reply.

"Did you wish a gay uniform, to please the maids, to--"

"You are unfair, M'sieu."

"No, I wish to know. We will say, if you like, that you have hoped to
be a soldier,--a soldier of whom the King may one day have cause to be
proud."

Danton flushed, and bowed his head.

"I offered you the chance to go o