sincere wish that you should be my captor the second time, even as you were
the first."

The Owl was gratified, visibly and much, and then he announced a visitor.
Robert sprang to his feet as he saw St. Luc approaching, and his heart
throbbed as always when he was in the presence of this man. The chevalier
was in a splendid uniform of white and silver unstained by the forest. His
thick, fair hair was clubbed in a queue and powdered neatly, and a small
sword, gold hilted, hung at his belt. He was the finest and most gallant
figure that Robert had yet seen in the wilderness, the very spirit and
essence of that brave and romantic France with which England and her
colonies were fighting a duel to the death. And yet St. Luc always seemed
to him too the soul of knightly chivalry, one to whom it was impossible for
him to bear any hostility that was not merely official. His own hand went
forward to meet the extended hand of the chevalier.

"We seem destined to meet many times, Mr. Lennox," said St. Luc, "in
battle, and even under more pleasant conditions. I had heard that you were
the prisoner of our great forest ranger, Captain Langlade, and that you
would be received by our commander-in-chief, the Marquis de Montcalm."

"He made me a most extraordinary offer, that I go as a prisoner of war to
Paris, but almost in the state of a guest."

"And you thought fit to decline, which was unwise in you, though to be
expected of a lad of spirit. Sit down, Mr. Lennox, and we can have our
little talk in ease and comfort. It may be that I have something to do with
the proposition of the Marquis de Montcalm. Why not reconsider it and go to
France? England is bound to lose the war in America. We have the energy and
the knowledge. The Indian tribes are on our side. Even the powerful
Hodenosaunee may come over to us in time, and at the worst it will become
neutral. As a prisoner in France you will have no share in defeat, but
perhaps that does not appeal to you."

"It does not, but I thank you, Chevalier de St. Luc, for your many
kindnesses to me, although I don't understand them. Your solicitude for my
welfare cannot but awake my gratitude, but it has been more than once a
source of wonderment in my mind."

"Because you are a young and gallant enemy whom I would not see come to
harm."

Robert felt, however, that the chevalier was not stating the true reason,
and he felt also with equal force that he would keep secret in the face of
a