Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

Leaning far out. grasping branch
to keep from falling, l distinguished
the canoe at the upper landing. and the
Indians busily preparing camp. Al
first saw nothing of any white man.
but was gazing still when D'Artigny
emerged from some shadow and
stepped down beside the boat. know
not what instinct prompted him to
turn and look up intently at the blutr
towering above. l scarcely compre-
hended either what swift impulse led
me to undo the neckerchief at my
throat and hold it forth in signal. An
instant be stared upward, shading his
eyes with one hand.
l must have seemed Il vision cling
ing there against the sky. yet all at
once the truth burst upon him, and.
with wave of the arm, he sprang
up the low bank and Joined his In
dians. could not hear what he said,
but with a single word he left them
and disappeared among the trees at
the foot of the bluff.
He must have scrambled straight up
the steep face of the bluff, for it could
have been scarcely more than min
ute when heard him crunching pas
sage through the bushes, and then
saw him emerge above the edge. Cling
ing to a tree limb, his eyes sought
eagerly to locate me, and when |
IL 70 op6 hn Qn6
bowed, jerking his hat from his head.
There was about his action the en-
thusiasm of a boy, and his face glowed
with an eagerness and delight which
instantly broke down every barrier
between US.
"You waved to me?" he exclaimed.
"You wished me to Gomez"
"Yes." l confessed, swept from my
guard by his enthusiasm. II have
been anxious to confer with you, and
this is my first opportunity"
"Wby l thought you avoided me-"
be burst forth. ut is because l felt
so that have kept away"
"There was nothing else l could do
but pretend" exclaimed. gaining
control over my voice as spoke. My
every movement has been watched
since we left Quebec; this is the first
moment l have been left alone-if,
indeed, l am now" And | glanced
about doubtfully into the shadows Of
the forest.
''YOu imagine you may have been
followed here? By whom? Cassion?'
by himself or some emissary. Pere
Allouez has been my jailer, but
chances to be disabled at present. The
commissaire permitted me to climb
here alone. believing you to be safely
camped above the rapids. yet his sus-
piciOns may easily revive"
His suspicions!" the sieur laughed
softly. $50 that then is the trouble?
1t is to keep us apart that he bids me
make separate camp each night; and
assigns me to every post of peril. |
feel the honor. mademoiselle, yet why
am especially singled out for so
great a distinctions"
He suspects us of being friends
He knew conferred with you at the
convent aud even believes that you
were with me hidden behind the cur
tain in the governors Office"
"Yet If all that be true" he oues-
TONED, his voice evidencing his sur
prise. why should our friendship
arouse his antagonism to such an ex-
tent? cannot understand what crime
l have committed, mademoiselle. 1t
is all mystery, even why you should
be here with US on this long journey? !
Surely you had no such thought when
we parted last?
"YOu do not know what has oc-
curred?' asked, in astonishment. ''NO
one has told you?"
Told me! How? have scarcely
held speech with anyone but the AL
gonquin chief since we took to the |
water. Cassion has but given orders.
and Chevet Is mum as an oyster. |
endeaVOred to find you in Montreal. |
but you were safely locked behind |
gray walls. That something was wrong
/ felt convinced. yet what it might be
no one would tell me. tried ques-
tOning the pere, but he only shook |
his head and left me unanswered. |
Tell me then. mademoiselle. by what
right does this CassioE hold you as a |
eaptiveT'