nd going up to him,
she threw her arms about his neck and kissed his bronzed cheek, saying:

"Thank you, my dear Charles, for your kind words, which I am sure are
not empty ones."

With the return of spring, La Tour, whose enterprise and energy knew no
bounds, unfolded a new plan he had formed for the extension of his
power and the increase of his fortune.

This was the building of still another fort, and the site he had
selected was the mouth of what is now the St. John River, in the
province of New Brunswick, then known by the musical Indian name of
Ouangondy.

This place had many advantages over Fort St. Louis. The river went far
inland, and was the highway for many Indian tribes who had precious
pelts to barter. Not only so, but the whole New England coast could be
conveniently reached by canoe, or sailing shallop, and again, the lay
of the land was such that an exceedingly strong position could be
easily had.

Throughout the summer the building went on, and ere autumn came again
the new fort, which La Tour modestly called after himself, was
completed. It stood upon a rise of ground commanding the harbour and
the sharp turn made by the river on entering, about half-a-mile below,
the famous falls, which then as now worked both ways, pouring up river
when the tide was high and down river when it was low.

Fort La Tour was solidly built of stone, and stood nearly two hundred
feet square, with four bastions at the angles, and twenty good cannon
frowning from the battlements. Without were sturdy palisades as a
further protection, and within, two comfortable dwellings, a tiny
chapel, and the necessary storehouses, barracks for the garrison, and
other buildings.

Such was Raoul's new home, and he heartily approved of the change,
because the country round about Fort La Tour was far richer and finer
than that about Fort St. Louis, and the beautiful river held out
promise of many a pleasant canoe trip, when the warm days of summer
returned.

As for Madame La Tour, she felt sorry to leave her dusky charges when
they seemed to promise such good results, but she consoled herself with
the thought that there were plenty of others equally needing the light,
and that she could continue her good work from the new fort.

CHAPTER VIII

A PERILOUS ENTERPRISE

Hitherto all had gone so well with Charles La Tour that he could hardly
be blamed if he came to look upon himself as a favoured child of
fortune. He had