They promised to report to me at La Baye des Puants, and I
saw by their complaisance that the French star was at the zenith. I
should have stretched my legs in comfort as I went on my way.
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."
I knew that she trembled as she bowed her assent, but I pretended to be
blind. I led the way outside of the circle of light, then waited for
her to come to me.
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