boldness of his plan,--"rescue her! Why
how can you possibly hope for that, when she will be under the
vigilant eye of Cazeneau?"

"I will hope it, at any rate," said Claude. "Besides, Cazeneau will
not be vigilant, as he will not suspect that he is followed. His
Indians will suspect nothing. I may be able, by means of my Indians,
to entice her away, especially if you prepare her mind for my
enterprise."

The priest was struck by this, and did not have any argument against
it; yet the project was evidently distasteful to him.

"It's madness," said he. "My poor boy, it may cost you your life."

"Very well," said Claude; "let it go. I'd rather not live, if I can't
have Mimi."

The priest looked at him sadly and solemnly.

"My poor boy," said he, "has it gone so far as that with you?"

"As far as that--yes," said Claude, "and farther. Recollect I saved
her life. It seems to me as if Heaven threw her in my way; and I'll
not give her up without striking a blow. Think of that scoundrel
Cazeneau. Think of the danger she is in while under his power. There
is no hope for her if he once gets her in Louisbourg; the only hope
for her is before she reaches that place; and the only one who can
save her is myself. Are my Indians faithful for an enterprise of that
kind?"

"I have already told you," said the priest, "that they would all lay
down their lives for you. They will go wherever you lead. And now, my
dear son," continued the priest, "I did not think that you would
dream of an enterprise like this. But, since you have made the
proposal, and since you are so earnest about it, why, I make no
opposition. I say, come, in Heaven's name. Follow after us; and, if
you can come up with us, and effect a communication with Mimi, do so.
Your Indians must be careful; and you will find that they can be
trusted in a matter of this kind. If I see that you are coming up
with us, and find any visitors from you, I will prepare Mimi for it.
But suppose you succeed in rescuing her," added the priest; "have you
thought what you would do next?"

"No," said Claude; "nor do I intend to think about that. It will
depend upon where I am. If I am near Canso, I shall go there, and
trust to finding some fisherman; if not, I shall trust to my Indians
to take us back through the woods to Annapolis. But there's one thing
that you might do."

"What?"

"Zac--is he on board the schooner, or ashore?"

"The skipper?" said the priest. "No. I have not