gs like the half-dozen others
within the fort, which mounted only four guns of small calibre, of which
one was on the bastion behind my cabin. Looking westward over this gun,
you could see a small island at the confluence of the two rivers Ohio
and Monongahela whereon Duquesne is situated. On the shore opposite this
island were some trees.

"'You see those trees?' my poor Biche said to me the day before, in her
French jargon. 'He wait for you behind those trees.'

"In the daytime the door of my quarters was open, and the Biche free to
come and go. On the day before she came in from the fields with a pick
in her hand and a basketful of vegetables and potherbs for soup. She sat
down on a bench at my door, the pick resting against it, and the basket
at her side. I stood talking to her for a while: but I believe I was so
idiotic that I never should have thought of putting the pick to any use
had she actually pushed it into my open door, so that it fell into my
room. 'Hide it' she said; 'want it soon.' And that afternoon it was, she
pointed out the trees to me.

"On the next day, she comes, pretending to be very angry, and calls out,
'My lord! my lord! why you not come to commandant's dinner? He very bad!
Entendez-vows?' And she peeps into the room as she speaks, and flings a
coil of rope at me.

"'I am coming, La Biche,' says I, and hobbled after her on my crutch.
As I went in to the commandant's quarters she says, 'Pour ce soir.' And
then I knew the time was come.

"As for Museau, he knew nothing about the matter. Not he! He growled at
me, and said the soup was cold. He looked me steadily in the face, and
talked of this and that; not only whilst his servant was present, but
afterwards as we smoked our pipes and played our game at piquet; whilst
according to her wont, the poor Biche sate cowering in a corner.

"My friend's whisky-bottle was empty; and he said, with rather a knowing
look, he must have another glass--we must both have a glass that night.
And rising from the table he stumped to the inner room where he kept his
fire-water under lock and key, and away from the poor Biche, who could
not resist that temptation.

"As he turned his back the Biche raised herself; and he was no sooner
gone but she was at my feet, kissing my hand, pressing it to her heart,
and bursting into tears over my knees. I confess I was so troubled by
this testimony of the poor creature's silent attachment and fondness,
the extent of whi