n,
"And for men, too."

"Men must needs follow when duty leads the way," said Captain Demere, a
trifle priggishly.

Odalie, trying to seem interested, demanded, lifting her eyes, "And what
do women follow?"

If Captain Demere had said what he truly thought, he would have
answered:--

"Folly! their own and that of their husbands!"

He had had close observation of the fact that the pioneers gave heavy
hostages to fate in their wives and children, and a terrible advantage
to a savage foe, and the very bravery of so many of these noble
helpmeets only proved the value of all they risked. He could not
elaborate, however, any scheme by which a new country should be entered
first by the settlers aided by a strong occupancy of soldiery, and only
when the lands should be cleared and the savages expelled the women and
children venture forth. So he said:--

"They follow their destiny."

He had a smile in his eyes as if appealing to her clemency not to tax
him with ascribing a humbler motive to the women than to the men, as he
was only making talk and spoke from a natural deprecation of dangers to
non-combatants who of right should be exempt from peril. His eyes, which
were large, were of a color between gray and brown--darker than the one
and lighter than the other. His hair was brown and smooth; he was
slender and tall; his aquiline nose and finely cut lips gave a certain
cast of distinction to his face, although the temples were slightly
sunken and the thinness of his cheek revealed the outline of the jaw and
chin which showed determination and force, despite his mild expression
at present. Josephine fixed an amazed stare upon his polished shoes as
he crossed his legs, never having seen any men's foot-gear save a buskin
of deer hide.

"The men have a natural interest in warfare," suggested Odalie,
forlornly, seeking to be responsive to his conversational efforts.

"Warfare!" exclaimed Captain Demere, with sudden animation. "Contention
with savages is not warfare! It cannot be conducted on a single
recognized military principle." He went on to say that all military
tactics counted for naught; the merely mechanical methods of moving
bodies of troops were unavailable. Discipline, the dexterities of
strategy, an enlightened courage, and the tremendous force of _esprit de
corps_ were alike nullified.

The problem of Indian fighting in America was then far greater than it
has been since the scene has shifted to the plains