Cassion purposely kept us apart, for the
arrangement might have been the same had I not been of the party, yet
the only communication between the two divisions occurred when some
messenger brought back warning of dangerous water ahead. Usually this
messenger was an Indian, but once De Artigny himself came, and guided
our canoes through a torrent of white, raging water, amid a maze of
murderous rocks.

During these days and weeks Cassion treated me with consideration and
outward respect. Not that he failed to talk freely, and to boast of
his exploits and adventures, yet he refrained from laying hand on me,
nor did he once refer to the incident of the bluff. I knew not what to
make of the man in this new role of gallant, yet suspicioned that he
but bided his time, and a better opportunity for exhibiting his true
purpose.

There were times, when he thought I was not observing him, when the
expression of his eyes brought me uneasiness, and I was soon aware
that, in spite of his genial manner, and friendly expression, his
surveillance was in no degree relaxed. Not for a moment was I alone.
When he was not beside me in the canoe, Pere Allouez became my
companion, and at night a guard kept vigilant eye upon my tent. Twice
I ventured to test this fact, only to be halted, and turned back
within three yards of the entrance. Very polite the soldier was, with
explanation of danger from prowling beasts, and the strictness of his
order. At first such restraint angered me, but on second thought I did
not greatly care, humiliating though it was; yet the protection thus
afforded was not altogether unwelcome, and was in itself evidence of
Cassion's determination to conquer me.

Nor was the journey lacking in interest or adventure. Never shall I
forget the charm of those days and nights, amid which we made slow and
toilsome passage through the desolate wilderness, ever gaining new
leagues to the westward. Only twice in weeks did we encounter human
beings--once a camp of Indians on the shore of a lake, and once a
Capuchin monk, alone but for a single _voyageur_, as companion, passed
us upon the river. He would have paused to exchange words, but at
sight of Pere Allouez's black robe, he gave swift command to his
_engage_, and the two disappeared as though fleeing from the devil.

But what visions of beauty, and sublimity, were those that swept
constantly past us as we thus advanced into the wild depths of the
woods. No two views were