of the trapper as he listened to
these words; and then turning his face once more so that it was hidden
from the view of Tiburcio, he murmured to himself--

"Alas, poor Fabian! he too loved me--I know he did."

Then once more facing round to the fire, he hazarded a last question:

"Do you not remember one circumstance above all? Do you not remember
that this man was suddenly separated from you in the midst of a terrible
affray--?"

The emotion under which Bois-Rose was suffering hindered him from
finishing his interrogatory. His head fell between his knees, and he
awaited in trembling the response which Tiburcio might make.

The latter was silent for some seconds, as if endeavouring to arrange
the confused thoughts that had suddenly sprung up in his mind.

"Hear me!" said he at length, "you who appear to be a beacon guiding my
memories of the past--hear what I can remember at this moment. There
was one day of terror and confusion; I saw much blood around me. The
ground appeared to tremble--there was thunder or the noise of cannon. I
was in great fear within a dark chamber where I had been shut up--a man
came to me; it was the big man who loved me--"

Tiburcio paused for an instant, as if to grapple freshly with the vague
reminiscences that were endeavouring to escape from him, while the
Canadian appeared like one suffering the agony of suspense.

"Yes," resumed Tiburcio, "this man came to me--he lifted me up in his
arms and carried me into the light--there he caused me to kneel down--
oh! I now remember what he said--`_kneel_!' said he, `_kneel, my child!
and pray for your mother_!' That is all I can remember."

The Canadian, who was still seated, appeared to tremble convulsively, as
he listened to these last words; but when Tiburcio had finished
speaking, he rose suddenly to his feet; and rushing forward threw his
arms wildly around the young man, while at the same time he cried out in
a broken voice:

"_Your mother whom I found dead beside you_. Oh! my God! Once more in
need of a father, hast thou sent him to me. Oh! Fabian! Fabian! Come
to my heart! It was I who caused you to kneel--I am that man! who in
the bay of Elanchovi--"

At this moment the report of a carbine echoed in the woods; and a bullet
whistling through the air, passed close to the head of Tiburcio,
striking a tree that stood behind him.

This unexpected intruder at once put an end to the dialogue; suddenly
changing the tab