me than that. As to my going
on with you, or returning alone, that may all be discussed when we make
camp again at daylight. Then we will settle the matter coolly, not in
the heat of anger. You are both my friends, nor would I awaken between
you any cause for controversy."

De Noyan laughed.

"_Sacre_! 'tis the accursed night got into our blood," he exclaimed.
"The very air seems poisoned with horror, while my back aches so with
pulling this oar, I would esteem it relief to fight with my best
friend. It was hard fortune that the boy Alphonse happened in track of
that Spaniard's bullet. With three in the boat there would be some
rest from the toll."

"I see solid ground yonder," I said, pointing as I spoke to the shadowy
bank ahead. "We might run the boat's nose in, and stretch our cramped
limbs on shore. There is little to be gained endeavoring to work with
wearied muscles."

"_San Juan_!" he returned, brightening instantly to the suggestion.
"'Tis the first word of good sense reaching my ears this cursed night
of folly. Head her in under the shade of yonder bush, Eloise, until I
see if I can stand upright once more."

CHAPTER XII

WE LAND AN ODD FISH

After brief respite Madame steered as closely beside the bank as
possible, thus avoiding the swift current, yet it was no small task to
win our way upward through the lagging hours. More and more frequently
tired muscles drove us to the shore for intervals of relaxation.
Still, in spite of much time thus lost, we made steady progress, so
before morning dawned I was confident many a mile had been placed
behind, although the low shore we skirted remained so similar in
outline as to afford few landmarks with which to gauge our passage.

De Noyan grew more cheerful toward the end, his sullen mood changing to
a gay semblance of reckless abandon. To me, however, he appeared
scarcely more engaging in snatches of ribald song, and careless speech,
freely interspersed with French oaths and much complaint at unwonted
toll, than in his former moody silence; yet his cheerfulness had effect
upon Madame, who contrived to rally from her mental depression,
becoming in turn a veritable sunburst in the gloom. I experienced a
glow of pleasure listening to her merry banter, and, once or twice, to
a low-voiced French song, sounding sweetly enough as it echoed back
from off the black water.

In spite of such efforts to appear light-hearted, the nature of our
work,