ace for crossing.
It was quite hard, except in the middle, where the mud and water
together rose over their knees; and thus this mighty flood was
crossed as though it had been some small brook.

A few hours more served to bring them to the foot of some hills; and
here the party halted. They had once more picked up the trail, and
Claude was encouraged by the sight of the horse tracks.

He now unfolded to the Indian his design. To his great pleasure he
found that Pere Michel had already anticipated him, and that the
Indian understood very well what was wanted. He assured Claude that
he could easily communicate with the others so as not to be
suspected, and lead back Pere Michel and the women to him. His plan
was to make a _detour_, and get ahead of them, approaching them from
that direction, so as to avoid suspicion, while Claude might remain
with the other Indians in some place where they could be found again.
This plan seemed to Claude so simple and so feasible that he grew
exultant over the prospect, forgetting the many difficulties that
would still be before him, even if this first enterprise should
succeed.

Their repast was simple and easily procured. The woods and waters
furnished all that they required. A hare and some snipe and plover,
with a few trout and a salmon, were the result of a short excursion,
that did not extend much farther than a stone's throw from the
encampment.

The next day they resumed their journey. It lay over the hills, which
were steep, though not very high. The trail now grew rougher, being
covered with stones in many places, so as to resemble the dry channel
of a mountain torrent, while in other places the roots of trees which
ran across interfered with rapid progress. This Claude saw with great
satisfaction, for he knew that horses could go but slowly over a path
like this; and therefore every step seemed to lessen the distance
between him and Mimi. All that day they were traversing these hills.

The next day their journey lay through a gentle, undulating country,
where the towering trees of the forest rose high all around, while at
their feet were mosses, and wild grasses, and ferns, and flowers of a
kind that were utterly strange to Claude. It was the month of June,
the time when all nature in Acadie robes herself in her fairest
charms.

Thus day after day passed, each day being the counterpart of the
other in its cloudless skies, its breath from the perfumed woods, and
the son