l and great stone oven, and a storehouse for beaver and other skins
were between the barracks and the commandant's tower built massively
into the northeast bastion. This structure gave La Tour the advantage of
a high lookout, though it was much smaller than a castle he had formerly
held at La Heve. The interior accommodated itself to such compactness,
the lower floor having only one entrance, and windows looking into the
area of the fort, while the second floor was lighted through deep
loopholes.

A drum began to beat, a tall fellow gave the word of command, and the
garrison of Fort St. John drew up in line facing the gate. A sentinel
unbarred and set wide both inner and outer leaves, and a cheer burst
through the deep-throated gateway, and was thrown back from the opposite
shore, from forest and river windings. Madame La Tour, with two women
attendants, was seen coming up from the water's edge, while two men
pushed off with the boat.

She waved her hand in reply to the shout.

The tall soldier went down to meet her, and paused, bareheaded, to make
the salutation of a subaltern to his military superior. She responded
with the same grave courtesy. But as he drew nearer she noticed him
whitening through the dusk.

"All has gone well, Klussman, at Fort St. John, since your lord left?"

"Madame," he said with a stammer, "the storm made us anxious about you."

"Have you seen D'Aulnay?"

"No, madame."

"You look haggard, Klussman."

"If I look haggard, madame, it must come from seeing two women follow
you, when I should see only one."

He threw sharp glances behind her, as he took her hand to lead her up
the steep path. Marie's attendant was carrying the baby, and she lifted
it for him to look at, the hairs on her upper lip moved by a
good-natured smile. Klussman's scowl darkened his mountain-born
fairness.

"I would rather, indeed, be bringing more men to the fort instead of
more women," said his lady, as they mounted the slope. "But this one
might have perished in the stockade where we found her, and your lord
not only misliked her, as you seem to do, but he held her in suspicion.
In a manner, therefore, she is our prisoner, though never went prisoner
so helplessly with her captors."

"Yes, any one might take such a creature," said Klussman.

"Those are no fit words to speak, Klussman."

He was unready with his apology, however, and tramped on without again
looking behind. Madame La Tour glanced at her shi