rked how the flames slipped along the dried branches in
festoons of light. Pierre was snoring, and I kicked him till he rolled
over and swore in bastard French. Then I went to the woman.

"You have won," I said, and I laughed a little,--a mean, harsh laugh,
my ears told me, not the laugh of a gentleman. "Mademoiselle, you have
won. We start toward Montreal tomorrow. Then marry--whom you will."

She looked into my eyes. "Wait a moment;" she stopped. "Monsieur, how
much time have you spent in learning the Indian dialects and preparing
for this expedition?"

"Two years."

"And next year will indeed be too late?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "We waste good hours," I suggested.
"Mademoiselle, may I say 'good-night'?"

She stepped toward me. "Monsieur, do not spoil your courtesy," she
begged. "I asked you a question."

I smiled at her. "The answer has lost pith and meaning. Yes,
mademoiselle, next year will indeed be too late."

She put her hands before her eyes. "Then I will change my answer.
Monsieur, I will marry you when we reach Father Nouvel."

But I would not reply. I walked to the beach where there were dark and
stars. I ground my heel into the pebbles, and I did not hear her
moccasined step behind me. She had to touch my arm.

"I meant it, monsieur," she whispered.

I raised her fingers, and laid them back against her side. "Why tempt
me?" I said rudely. "Happily for you my word is a man's word. We
start toward Montreal to-morrow."

"Monsieur, I beg you. Go west to-morrow."

"No, mademoiselle."

"Then--then--monsieur, I give you warning. If we start toward Montreal
to-morrow I shall escape you at the first opportunity, and try my
fortune alone in the woods."

"You threaten me?"

She stood in front of me. "I would bring you to reason. Yes, I
threaten you, in that I shall do what I say. Come, monsieur, I will
follow you westward. Your years of preparation, your great
opportunity, shall not be wasted because of me."

I took her hand. "You are a strange woman. A sage and a child; a
woman and a warrior. But I will not marry you, mademoiselle."

"Why not, monsieur?"

"Because I will not hoodwink you. So long as I took you blindly
against your will, I felt no shame at going about my own ends. But now
that you have turned the tables on me and come without force, I cannot
let you be a tool. I would not take you without telling you my
plans,--and then you would not come."