t helpless
and alone.

I must have slept finally from sheer exhaustion, although I made no
attempt to lie down. It was broad daylight, when I awoke, aroused by
pounding on the door. To my inquiry a voice announced food, and I
lowered the bar, permitting an orderly to enter bearing a tray, which
he deposited on the table. Without speaking he turned to leave the
room, but I suddenly felt courage to address him.

"You were not of our party," I said gravely. "Are you a soldier of M.
de Baugis?"

"No, Madame," and he turned facing me, his countenance a pleasant one.
"I am not a soldier at all, but I serve M. de Tonty."

"Ah, I am glad of that. You will bear to your master a message?"

"Perhaps, Madame," his tone somewhat doubtful. "You are the wife of
Monsieur Cassion?"

"Do not hesitate because of that," I hastened to say, believing I
understood his meaning. "While it is true I am legally the wife of
Francois Cassion, my sympathies now are altogether with the Sieur de
Artigny. I would have you ask M. de Tonty to confer with me."

"Yes, Madame."

"You have served with De Artigny? You know him well?"

"Three years, Madame; twice he saved my life on the great river. M. de
Tonty shall receive your message."

I could not eat, although I made the endeavor, and finally crossed to
the window, opened the heavy wooden shutters, and gazed without. What
a marvelous scene that was! Never before had my eyes looked upon so
fair a view, and I stood silent, and fascinated. My window opened to
the westward, and I gazed down from the very edge of the vast rock
into the wide valley. Great tree tops were below, and I had to lean
far out to see the silvery waters lapping the base of the precipice,
but, a little beyond, the full width of the noble stream became
visible, decked with islands, and winding here and there between
green-clad banks, until it disappeared in the far distance. The sun
touched all with gold; the wide meadows opposite were vivid green,
while many of the trees crowning the bluffs had already taken on rich
autumnal coloring. Nor was there anywhere in all that broad expanse,
sign of war or death. It was a scene of peace, so silent, so
beautiful, that I could not conceive this as a land of savage cruelty.
Far away, well beyond rifle shot, two loaded canoes appeared, skimming
the surface of the river. Beyond these, where the meadows swept down
to the stream, I could perceive black heaps of ashes, and here and
there