own.

I worked at last to a crescendo of sound that gave Labarthe his cue.
He turned and laughed, as if noticing me for the first time. He cocked
his head like a game bird, planted his legs apart, and joined the song.
He had the biggest voice from Montreal to Chambly, and he sung with
full lung power and at breathless speed. It was a torrent of sound; my
ears were strained to follow it.

"Five large canoes left this morning," he warbled. "They carried
madame, the Englishman, Pemaou, and his Hurons, and a detachment of the
Senecas,--some seventy-five in all. They went to Michillimackinac."

The news hit me like a bullet, and I must have whitened, but I kept on
singing. I nodded at Labarthe, and sang, I think, of spring and
running brooks. Then I flung a jeer at him and ate my breakfast. I
ate it systematically and stolidly, though it would not have tempted
any but a starving man. I was a fool and a dullard. I had slept away
my opportunities, and I could not see that my strength was important to
any one. But I determined to preserve it.

If I kept up jest and laughter for the next hours--and I have some
memory that I did--it was automatic. For I more nearly touched despair
than ever before. I did not need the sentences that I picked up
further among the Indians to tell me what had happened. The Senecas,
under Pemaou's guidance, had gone to Michillimackinac; had put their
heads into the bear's mouth, and yet were as safe as in their own
village, for the bear's teeth were drawn, and the Senecas were armored.
They traveled with Pemaou, and they had two English prisoners. That
insured them protection from the Hurons, who desired the English
alliance and had leanings toward the Iroquois. As to the
Ottawas,--there was Singing Arrow as hostage. It was significant that
the Senecas had allowed Singing Arrow to go unbound. They desired an
alliance with the Ottawas. I remembered Longuant's speech, and his
indicated policy of casting his strength with the winning side, and I
thought it probable they would succeed.

And if they succeeded? Well, Cadillac had his two hundred regulars.
Yet he could not hope to win, and he would do what he could to hold off
the necessity of trying. He would not dare seize the Senecas. No, the
league of the Long House had won. Their braves could sit in our
garrison at their leisure and exchange peace belts with our Indians
under our eyes. I set my teeth and wondered what part St