day.

"Make no doubt, Monsieur L'as," said he, "that I shall ascend this river
of the Illini and reach Michiganon well before the snows. Once at the
mission of the Miamis, or the village at the river Chicaqua, I shall be
quite safe for the winter, if I decide not to go farther on. Then, in
the spring, I make no doubt, I shall be able to trade our furs at the
Straits, if I like not the long run down to the Mountain. Thus, you see,
I may be with you again sometime within the following spring."

"I hope it may be so, my friend," replied Law, "for I shall miss you
sadly enough."

"'Tis nothing, Monsieur; you will be well occupied. Suppose I take with
me Kataikini and Kabayan, perhaps also Tete Gris. That will give us four
paddlers for the big canoe, and you will still have left Pierre Noir and
Jean, to say nothing of our friends the Illini hereabout, who will be
glad enough to make cause with you in case of need. I will leave Wabana
for madame, and trust she may prove of service. See to it, pray you,
that she observes the offices of the church; for methinks, unless
watched, Wabana is disposed to become careless and un-Christianized."

"This I will look to," said Law, smiling.

"Then all is well," resumed Du Mesne, "and my absence will be but a
little thing, as we measure it on the trails. You may find a winter
alone in the wilderness a bit dull for you, mayhap duller than were it
in London, or even in Quebec. Yet 'twill pass, and in time we shall meet
again. Perhaps some good father will be wishing to come back with me to
set up a mission among the Illini. These good fathers, they so delight
in losing fingers, and ears, and noses for the good of the
Church--though where the Church be glorified therein I sometimes can not
say. Perhaps some leech--mayhap some artisan--"

"Nay, 'tis too far a spot, Du Mesne, to tempt others than ourselves."

"Upon the contrary rather, Monsieur L'as. It is matter for laughter to
see the efforts of Louis and his ministers to keep New France chained to
the St. Lawrence! Yet my good lord governor might as well puff out his
cheeks against the north wind as to try to keep New France from pouring
west into the Messasebe; and as much might be said for those good rulers
of the English colonies, who are seeking ever to keep their people east
of the Alleghanies."

"'Tis the Old World over again, there in the St. Lawrence," said Law.

"Right you are, Monsieur L'as," exclaimed Du Mesne. "New Fran