seen him. I think he
must be aboard the schooner. It is my intention to communicate with
him before I leave this place."

"Do so," said Claude, eagerly; "and see if you can't get him free, as
you have managed for me; and if you can persuade him, or beg him for
me, to sail around to Canso, and meet me there, all will be well.
That is the very thing we want. If he will only promise to go there,
I will push on to Canso myself, at all hazards."

The priest now prepared to go. A few more words were exchanged, after
which Claude and Pere Michel embraced. The priest kissed him on both
cheeks.

"Adieu, my dear son," said he. "I hope we may meet again."

"Adieu, dear Pere Michel," said Claude. "I shall never forget your
kindness."

With this farewell the two separated; the priest went out, and the
door was fastened again upon Claude.

For the remainder of that night, Claude did not sleep much. His mind
was filled with the new prospect that the priest's message had opened
before him. The thought of being free once more, and at the head of a
band of devoted followers, on the track of Mimi, filled him with
excitement. That he would be able to overtake the party of Cazeneau,
he did not doubt; that he would be able to rescue Mimi, he felt
confident. The revulsion from gloom and despondency to hope and joy
was complete, and the buoyant nature of Claude made the transition an
easy one. It was with difficulty that he could prevent himself from
bursting forth into songs. But this would have been too dangerous,
since it would have attracted the attention of the people of the
house, and led them to suspect that the priest had spoken other words
to him than those of absolution; or they might report this sudden
change to Cazeneau, and thereby excite his suspicions.

The next day came. Claude knew that on this day Cazeneau and his
party had left, for he overheard the people of the house speaking
about it. According to their statements, the party had left at about
four in the morning. This filled Claude with a fever of impatience,
for he saw that this first day's march would put them a long way
ahead, and make it difficult for him to catch up with them. But there
was only one day, and he tried to comfort himself with the thought
that he could travel faster than the others, and also that the priest
and Mimi would both manage to retard their progress, so as to allow
him to catch up.

The day passed thus, and evening came at last. Hou