should do nothing," said Azoka
composedly. "But if I were a man and fell in love with an Ottawa
maiden, it would be simple. I should carry her off."

John, being unable to find an answer to this, lit his pipe and sat
staring into the fire.

"Was she an Englishwoman then?" Azoka asked after a while.

"An Englishwoman?" He looked up in surprise; then, with a glance
around at the sleepers, he leaned forward until his eyes met the
girl's at close range across the flame. "Since you have learnt one
secret, Azoka, I will tell you another. She was a Frenchwoman, and
it is I who am English."

But Azoka kept her composure. "My father is always wise," she said
quietly. "If he had told the truth, you would have been in great
danger; for many had lost sons and brothers in the fighting, and
those who came back were full of revenge. You heard their talk."

"Then you have only to tell them, Azoka, and they may take their
revenge. I shall not greatly care."

"I am no babbler, Netawis; and, moreover, the men have put their
revenge away. When the summer comes very few will want to go
fighting. For my part I pay little heed to their talk of killing and
scalping; to me it is all boys' play, and I do not want to understand
it. But from what I hear they think that the Englishmen will be
victorious, and it is foolishness to fight on the losing side.
If so--" Azoka broke off and pressed her palms together in sudden
delight.

"If so?" echoed John.

"If the English win, why then you may carry off your Frenchwoman,
Netawis! I do very much want you to be happy."

"And I thank you a thousand times, Azoka, for your good wishes; but I
fear it will not happen in that way."

She smoothed the head of Ononwe in her lap. "Oh yes, it will," she
assured him. "My father told me that you would be leaving us, some
day; and now I know what he meant. He has seen her, has he not?"

"He has seen her."

"My father is never mistaken. You will go back when the time comes,
and take her captive. But bring her back that I may see her,
Netawis."

"But if she should resist?"

Azoka shook her pretty head. "You men never understand us. She will
not resist when once you have married her; and I do very much want
you to be happy."

For three days the Ojibways sprawled in drunkenness around Fort
Mackinac, but on the fourth arose and departed for their island; very
sullenly at first, as they launched their canoes, but with rising
spirits