me; it was a fitting setting for one kind of marriage,--not a marriage
of flowers and dowry, but the union of two great, stormy hearts who,
through clash and turmoil, had found peace at last. But ours was a
mock marriage, and we had not found peace. My breath choked me. I
leaped to my feet, and begged Onanguissé to end the ceremony, and let
me do my share. I knew what was my part as bridegroom, and Pierre and
Labarthe were waiting with their arms laden. I distributed hatchets,
Brazil tobacco, and beads from Venice. Then I turned to Onanguissé.

"We go to the land of the Malhominis, to the wild rice people. They
live toward the south-west?"

He nodded. "Across La Baye des Puants as the wild goose flies. Then
down till you find the mouth of the wild rice river. But why go till
another sunrise?"

I hesitated. But I thought of the shadowing Huron, and decided that I
could elude him best at night. "We are in haste," I told Onanguissé,
and I pointed the men toward their work.

But before I myself had time to step toward the canoes, I felt the
woman's touch upon my arm. Though, in truth, it was odd that I felt
it, for the movement was light as the brushing of a grass stalk.

"Monsieur, do we go now?" she asked. "You have had no opportunity for
council with these Indians, yet I see that they are powerful."

She was watching my interests. I laid my fingers on hers, and looked
full at her as I had not done since we had been man and wife. Her eyes
were mournful as they often were, but they were starry with a thought I