de Croix," and every sentence stung like the lash of a whip,
"those are cowardly words, unworthy a French gentleman and soldier.
Did you leave all your courtesy behind in Montreal, or dream that in
this wilderness I should cringe to any words you might speak? You wish
the truth; you shall have it. Three days ago, through an accident, I
drifted, in an oarless boat, out from the river-mouth at Fort Dearborn
to the open lake. None knew of my predicament. A storm blew me
helpless to the southward, and after hours of exposure to danger, and
great mental anguish, I was driven ashore amid the desolation of this
sand. This comrade of yours found me scarce alive, ministered to my
sore need, protected me through the hours of the night, stood but now
between me and your ribaldry, counting his life but little beside the
reputation of a woman. He may not wear the latest Paris fashions,
Monsieur, but he has proved himself a man."

"I meant not all I said, Toinette," he hastened to explain. "You will
forgive, I know, for I was sorely hurt to find that some one else had
done the duty that was plainly mine. Surely no rude backwoodsman is to
come between us now?"

She glanced from the one to the other, with true French coquetry.

"Faith, I cannot tell, Monsieur," she said, gayly; "stranger things
have happened, and 't is not altogether fine clothes that win the
hearts of maidens on this far frontier. We learn soon to love
strength, and the manly traits of the border. On my word, Monsieur,
this John Wayland seems to have rare powers of body; I imagine he might
even have crushed you, as he said."

"Think you so?" he asked, eying me curiously. "Yet 't is not always as
it looks, Mademoiselle."

It came so quickly as to startle me. I was wondering at the smile that
curled his lips, when he sprang upon me, casting his arms around my
waist, and twining one leg about mine. The shock of this sudden and
unexpected onset took me completely by surprise, and I gave back
sharply, scarce realizing his purpose, till he had the under-hold, and
sought to lift me for a throw. 'T was my weight alone that saved me,
together with the rare good fortune that I had been leaning upon my gun.

As the breath came back to me, we locked grimly in a fierce struggle
for the mastery. I had felt the straining grip of strong arms before,
but De Croix surprised me,--he was like steel, quick of motion as a
wildcat, with many a cunning French wrestling