Onanguisse, and bowed with a pretty gesture of acceptance. Then
she walked over to me.

"When you thought me a man," she said hurriedly, and in a tone so low
that only I could hear, "you trusted somewhat to my judgment,--even
though you saw me fail. When you found me a woman, you trusted less,
and since--since you arranged to marry me, you have assumed that I
would fail you at every turn. Ours is a crooked road, monsieur, and
there are many turns ahead. If you burden your mind so heavily with me
you cannot attend to what is your real concern. Trust me more. Think
less about me. I will show no irritation, no initiative, and I will
follow where you point. I should like to think that you would rest
to-night,--rest care free. I wish you good-night, monsieur."

She had spoken with a hurry of low-toned words that left me no opening,
and now she turned away before my tongue was ready to serve my mind.
She bowed us to the door, and the rush mat fell between us. I watched
the old chief stalk away and wondered what was in his mind.

"Is this the first white woman he has seen?" I asked the priest.

Father Nouvel smiled reflectively at the retreating back. "Oh, no," he
replied. "He has been in Quebec. He is the chief you must have heard
quoted, who vaunted that God had made three great men,--La Salle,
Frontenac, and himself. He is a crafty man and able. You see that he
never squanders strength nor words. No, monsieur, you must not follow
me." He stopped to lay a hand on my shoulder. "Take heed, my son. Ox
that you look to be for endurance, there are yet lines under your eyes.
I will not talk to you to-night. Sleep well. I take it for granted
that you prefer to sleep as I do, under the stars." And putting out
his thin, ivory hand in blessing, he went away.

But I was not ready for sleep. I went to the canoes, sent the men to
rest, and found food which I carried to the woman, and left, with a
whispered word, outside her door. Then I ate some parched corn, and
lighting my pipe, lay down to take counsel of what had befallen me. I
lay at some distance from the woman's lodge, but not so far but that I
could see the rush mat that hung before it. The Indians watched me,
but kept at a distance. I saw that Onanguisse had given commands.

I had so much to work out in my mind that I thought sleep would come
slowly, but I remember nothing from the moment when I bolstered my head
in my arms till I found the moon