the
veil that hung before their eyes, and see things as they really were.
He left their belts lying on the floor, and dismissed the council. He
motioned to me to follow, and we went at once to his room.

And alone in his room we looked at each other with relief. We had
gained one point, and though the road was long ahead, we could breathe
for a moment. We had not healed the sore, but it was covered,
cauterized. We dropped into chairs and sought our pipes.

But Cadillac's fingers were soon drumming. "It was odd that they did
not demand the English prisoners," he said.

I felt placid enough as regarded that point. "They did not dare. When
do the Senecas leave?"

"To-morrow morning. Oh, Montlivet, it grinds me to let them go!"

I shrugged at his choler. "We will follow," I comforted. "We will
overtake them at La Baye."

"But suppose they leave La Baye. They may break camp at once and push
on. We may miss them."

I smoked, and shook my head. "If they do, we cannot help it. But I
think there is no danger. They will want to halt some time at La Baye,
and try for terms with those tribes. My work there has been
secret,--even Pemaou does not seem to know of it,--and they do not
suspect a coalition. So they feel safe. I think that we shall find
them."

And then we sat for a time in silence. I stared at the future, and saw
a big decision beetling before me. When I dread a moment, I rush to
meet it, which is the behavior of a spoiled boy.

"You will get rid of Starling to-morrow?" I asked.

Cadillac nodded. "Yes. He is best out of the way, and, though I see
nothing to mistrust in the man, I shall feel better if he goes east
while the Senecas go west."

"How will you send him?"

"To Montreal with an escort of Ottawas. From there he can make his own
way."

I looked down. "Madame de Montlivet may wish to go at the same time.
You must arrange for her also if she wishes."

Cadillac shrugged. "You leave the decision with her?"

"Absolutely, monsieur."

Cadillac rapped his knuckles together. "Don't run romanticism into the
ground, Montlivet."

But my inflammable temper did not rise. "A woman certainly has some
right of selection. Starling says that I forced her to marry me. That
is substantially true. What time do you plan to have Starling leave?"

"As early as possible. I shall not tell him tonight. It will take a
little time to get the canoes in readiness."

"Then I shall see Mad