ghter;
pay them well for their hospitality." As I approached the woman I heard
Joseph thank her and offer her money.

"What do you want me to do with that?" she said, pushing my hand away.
"Instead of that, send me some coffee and tobacco."

That ended it; I could not pay in money. But when I looked at the poor
woman's dress so ragged and torn, I took off [J'autai] my shawl, which was
large and warm, and put it on her shoulders,--I had another in the
boat,--and she was well content. When I got back to the flatboat I sent
her some chemises, petticoats, stockings, and a pair of shoes. The shoes
were papa's. Alix also sent her three skirts and two chemises, and Suzanne
two old dresses and two chemises for her children, cutting down what was
too large. Before quitting the hut Celeste had taken from her two lads
their knitted neckerchiefs and given them to the two smaller boys, and
Maggie took the old shawl that covered Pat's shoulders and threw it upon
the third child, who cried out with joy. At length we returned to our
vessel, which had triumphantly fought the wind and floating trees. Mario
took to the cabin our gifts, to which we added sugar, biscuits, and a sack
of pecans.

X.

ALIX PUTS AWAY THE PAST.

For two weeks more our boat continued its slow and silent voyage among the
bayous. We saw signs of civilization, but they were still far apart. These
signs alarmed Mario. He had already chosen his place of abode and spoke of
it with his usual enthusiasm; a prairie where he had camped for two weeks
with his young hunters five years before.

"A principality--that is what I count on establishing there," he cried,
pushing his hand through his hair. "And think!--if, maybe, some one has
occupied it! Oh, the thief! the robber! Let him not fall into my hands!
I'll strangle--I'll kill him!"

My father, to console him, would say that it would be easy to find other
tracts just as fine.

"Never!" replied he, rolling his eyes and brandishing his arms; and his
fury would grow until Maggie cried:

"He is Satan himself! He's the devil!"

One evening the flatboat stopped a few miles only from where is now the
village of Pattersonville. The weather was magnificent, and while papa,
Gordon, and Mario went hunting, Joseph, Alix, and we two walked on the
bank. Little by little we wandered, and, burying ourselves in the
interior, we found ourselves all at once confronting a little cottage
embowered in a grove of oranges. A