ear orders from the King of France."

"From Louis? La Salle has reached the King's ear?"

"Ay, to good results. These are for you, Monsieur."

De Tonty took them, yet his thought was not upon their contents, but
with his absent chief.

"You saw Sieur de la Salle in France? you left him well?"

"More than well--triumphant over all his enemies. He sails for the
mouth of the Great River with a French colony; Louis authorized the
expedition."

"And is that all?"

"All, except it was rumored at the court that La Barre would not for
long remain Governor of New France."

The face of the Italian did not change expression; slowly he opened
the papers, and glanced at their contents; then folded them once more,
and lifted his eyes to our faces.

"By Grace of the King," he said simply, "I am again in command of Fort
St. Louis. I see the order is countersigned by La Barre."

"Yes, Monsieur; he had no choice--'twas not done happily."

"I presume not. But Messieurs, it may be well for us to return within
the fort. Madame, may I have the pleasure of escorting you?"

We made our way slowly through the fringe of woods, and across the
open space before the fort gates which still stood open. The dead
bodies of savages were on all sides, so horribly mutilated, many of
them, that I hid my eyes from the sight. De Tonty tried to speak of
other things, and to shield me from the view, but I was so sick at
heart I could hardly answer him. De la Durantaye, with a dozen men to
aid, was already busily engaged in seeking the wounded, and I caught
sight of De Baugis far down the western slope clambering up, a body of
Indians at his heels. Cassion had disappeared; indeed there was not so
much as a single guard at the gate when we entered, yet we were
greeted instantly by his voice.

"'Tis well you return, M. de Tonty," he said loudly. "I was about to
call those soldiers yonder, and close the gates. 'Tis hardly safe to
have them left thus with all these strange Indians about."

"They are Illini, Monsieur--our allies."

"Pah! an Indian is an Indian to my mind; bid M. de la Durantaye come
hither." He stared at De Artigny and me, seeing us first as he stepped
forward. A moment he gasped, his voice failing; then anger conquered,
and he strode forward, sword in hand.

"_Mon Dieu!_ What is this? You here again, you bastard wood ranger? I
had hopes I was rid of you, even at the cost of a wife. Well, I soon
will be. Here, Durantaye, bring yo