ing.
"Well, I am ready at once, if madame can support the poverty of my
poor cabin."

"Ah, Maitre Gabriel, if you knew how much your care will mean to
us, you would make no apologies."

"Come, come, Gabriel! No more proverbs, no more delays," exclaimed
le pere Jean, and, as the pilot hurried off to his shallop, he took
both my hands in his.

"My child, remember God goes with you by land and water, by day
and night, and He will surely bring you to the goal which He alone
can see," and then he raised his hand, and I knelt while he blessed
us both.

CHAPTER XV

THE MARQUIS DE MONTCALM-GOZON DE ST. VERAN

In Maitre Gabriel I found a type I could readily understand; he
was very shrewd, very curious, with a passion for questioning, but
so honest and childlike that he took no offence at any rebuff. He
was a thorough sailor, a martinet to his little crew, vain of his
skill and boastful of his courage, and confident of the showing he
and his fellow-Canadians would make against "les goddams," should
they venture to appear.

He insisted on hearing the story of our capture in detail, and
seemed much more amused at the address of the Indians than distressed
at our misfortune.

"They were good fellows, after all, madame. If it had not been for
them, you would not have fallen into the hands of le pere Jean.
But, bedame! I cannot understand why he should send you to Quebec
when he knew you were bound for Louisbourg. A priest, no doubt,
knows much, but I can tell you, madame, if you came to me and
whispered 'Louisbourg,' it would not be by way of Quebec I should
send you. If you have any reason to be there, there is no time like
the present, for the English are on their way thither even now;
and if they are frightened away by our ships, they will be back in
the spring; take my word for it!"

"But, Gabriel, le pere Jean spake as if nothing was to be feared
from any attempt they might make at present."

"Perhaps not, but they may try it, all the same. They have been
in Halifax for months past, and only sailed in August. I do not
think it will come to anything myself, but by the spring all the
music will be on hand, and the dancing before Louisbourg will begin
in earnest. But pardon, madame; I forgot you had friends there, or
I would not have let my tongue run on so."

"No, no, Gabriel; I wish to hear all you have learned. Why is it
impossible to go to Louisbourg?"

"Bedame! I never said it was impossible to go to