let you be a tool. I would not take you without telling you my
plans,--and then you would not come."

"I know your plans, monsieur."

"You know that I hunt beaver."

"I know that you hunt men. Monsieur, are all the women of your nation
puppets, that you should think me blind? Listen. You plan a coalition
of the western tribes. La Salle's plan--with changes. You hope to
make yourself a dictator, chief of a league of red men that shall
control this western water-way. Is not this so, monsieur?"

"I---- Yes, mademoiselle."

"You intend to form your league this summer and advance upon the
Iroquois in the autumn before the ice locks the lakes. You are in
haste, for if you delay another twelvemonth you are convinced that the
Iroquois will make a treaty with the Hurons at Michillimackinac,
massacre your garrison there, cow the western tribes, and so wrest this
country from the French. Is not this so, monsieur?"

"Yes, mademoiselle."

"You see that I understand all this, monsieur. Yet, I will go with
you."

I did not stir. "You are acute. Yet there is one point in my plan
that you did not mention," I said dully.