der in his eye, I had no alternative. It was
his life or mine. I am glad I did not kill him." The words and the
tone reassured Chloe, and when she answered, it was to speak calmly.

"We will take him with us," she said. "The Indians could not care for
him properly even if they found him. At home I have everything
necessary for the handling of just such cases."

"But, my dear Miss Elliston--think of the portages and the added
burden. His Indians----"

The girl interrupted him--"I am not asking you to help. I have a canoe
here. If you are afraid of MacNair's Indians you need not remain."

The note of scorn in the girl's voice was not lost upon Lapierre. He
flushed and answered with the quiet dignity that well became him: "I
came here, Miss Elliston, with only three canoemen. I returned
unexpectedly to your school, and when I learned that you had gone to
Snare Lake, I followed--to save you, if possible, from the hand of the
Brute."

Chloe interrupted him. "You came here for that?"

The man bowed low. "Knowing what you do of Brute MacNair, and of his
hatred of me, you surely do not believe I came here for business--or
pleasure." He drew closer, his black eyes glowing with suppressed
passion. "There is one thing a man values more than life--the life and
the safety of the woman he loves!"

Chloe's eyes dropped. "Forgive me!" she faltered. "I--I did not
know--I--Oh! don't you see? It was all so sudden. I have had no time
to think! I know you are not afraid. But, we can't leave him
here--like this."

"As you please," answered Lapierre, gently.

"It is not the way of the North; but----"

"It is the way of humanity."

"It is _your_ way--and, therefore, it is my way, also. But, let us not
waste time!" He spoke sharply to Chloe's canoemen, who sprang to the
unconscious form, and raising it from the ground, carried it to the
water's edge and deposited it in the canoe.

"Make all possible speed," he said, as Chloe preceded Big Lena into the
canoe; "I shall follow to cover your retreat."

The girl was about to protest, but at that moment the canoe shot
swiftly out into the lake, and Lapierre disappeared into the bush.

There was small need for the quarter-breed's parting injunction. The
four Indian canoemen evidently keenly alive to the desirability of
placing distance between themselves and MacNair's retainers, bent to
their paddles with a unanimity of purpose that fairly lifted the big
canoe