CHAPTER XII

A COMPACT

We paddled that afternoon till the men splashed water into the canoes,
which was their way of telling me that I had worked them hard enough.
It was dusk when we landed, and starlight before our kettles were hot.
I had been silent, when I had not been fault finding, till, supper
over, the woman, leaning across the fire, asked me why.

"Is something wrong?" she ventured. "Ever since we met the
Pottawatamies you have seemed in haste."

I looked around. The men were at a distance preparing for sleep. "I
wish to reach the Pottawatamie Islands before to-morrow night.
Mademoiselle Starling, may I talk of our future?"

She rose. "You called me mademoiselle."

"Yes, mademoiselle."

"And you mean"--

I took off my hat. "Will you come with me?" I asked,--"come where we
shall not be overheard? We must talk of our future."