I hesitated to risk the open prairie thus unaided, lest
we should wander astray and lose much valuable time; so, although it
measurably increased our peril of encountering parties of savages, I
turned sharply northward, keeping the bright Indian fires upon our
left, and groping forward through the gloom toward where I knew the
main branch of the river must lie. It was neither the time nor place
for speech. I held her hand closely while we moved onward silently,
carefully guarding each step lest by mischance it should bring
betrayal. Once, after we had reached the river and were moving
eastward again, a party of Indians passed us, coming so silently out of
the black void, in their soft moccasins, that I had barely time to hold
her motionless before they were fairly upon us. I counted nine of
them, moving rapidly in single file, like so many black ghosts. We
waited with wildly throbbing hearts, listening for fear others might
follow in their trail.

We were almost beside the walls of the factory building before either
of us was aware of its proximity. Even then, as I lay prone on the
earth and studied its dim outlines, they possessed nothing of
familiarity, for the high-pitched roof had fallen in and carried with
it the greater portion of the upper walls, leaving a mere shell,
shapeless and empty. I rested there, gazing at it, and wondering how
best we might proceed to find our way beneath where the boat was to be
moored, when I felt Mademoiselle's fingers press my arm warningly.
Scarcely a yard away, on a ridge of higher ground, two dim figures came
to a sudden pause.

"I perceive naught of the presence of your friends as yet, Monsieur,"
spoke a soft voice, "but I will remain until certain of the outcome."

"Then your decision is unchanged?" asked the other, in deeper accent,
full of earnest pleading. "All is to be over between us from this
hour? And you deliberately choose to devote your life to the
redemption of these savages?"

"We have discussed all this at length, Monsieur le Marquis, as we came
along, and, as you fully know, my choice is made beyond recall. I am
here to serve you to-night, because it seems to be a duty given unto me
by some strange Providence; and I have relied upon your courtesy to
make it as little unpleasant as possible. I pray you, beseech me no
more. The girl I once was lives no longer; the woman I now am has been
given a special mission by God, too sacred to be cast aside for