map of the Seven Ranges of
the Ohio, representing as cleared and inhabited lands large tracts of
unbroken wilderness. This chart had been used by speculators to induce
French families to migrate to the Ohio Valley.

"See!" continued Deville explosively; "ze scoundrel Barlow cheat my
honest poor friends--he print here no veracity--he draw here only to
deceive! Look on this place I put my finger"--he tapped the paper
angrily--"you see ze Premiereville--ze Premiereville? Eh? I come to
Premiereville--no street--no house, only ze forest tree! Messieurs,
my little axe make ze first log in ze city, in Premiereville, where we
drink now this wine."

The doctor's preparations for the trip down the river were quickly
made. Half the population of the village, led by Lucrece, flocked to
the boat-landing to see him safely off. After the passengers had gone
on board, and while the damsel stood waiting their departure, Burke
Pierce, leering in her direction, threw her a kiss and as the boat was
pushed off began to sing a ribald song. Deville did not witness the
insult, but Arlington, with quick anger kindling his chivalrous blood,
strode up to Pierce.

"You ought to be flogged, you filthy cur."

The boatman scowled and clenched his fists, but did not attempt to
strike the imperious Southerner.

"Cur? I'll remember that!" he muttered, and swaggered away. "I'm a
dog, a filthy cur! But I'll have my day!" he growled to Sheldrake.

The loquacity of the French doctor seemed accelerated by the motion of
the boat and the breezy freedom of its deck. Unlike most of his Gallic
brethren who left their native land to come to America in 1790, he was
in sympathy with the Revolution, and had rejoiced at the falling of
the Bastile. By chance a copy of the Marseillaise Hymn had reached
him, and snatches of this he would sing, keeping time to the music
with his own springing steps as he marched up and down. The cry of
"_Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite_," often broke from his lips. When
Burr opened to him part of the plausible scheme against Mexico he
eagerly volunteered to join any expedition gotten up in the name of
freedom. He proffered his services as surgeon, and asked with amusing
simplicity what would be the emoluments.

"_Sacre!_" exclaimed he. "_Il faut vivre!_ Let us destroy ze
Spaniard. _Vive l'amerique! Vive le General Bur-r-r! Vive Eloy
Deville!_"

The tedious passage from Gallipolis to Cincinnati required almost a
week's time. On th