Can you marry us
this evening, Father Nouvel?"
He looked at me keenly, not altogether pleased. "And you are"--he
asked.
"Armand de Montlivet, from Montreal."
He relaxed somewhat. "I have heard of you. No, I cannot marry you
to-night. I will find a lodge for this demoiselle, and we will talk of
this to-morrow. Come now and let me bring you to the chief," and with
a beckoning of the hand he led the way into the lodge behind him.
We followed closely. The lodge was large, and was roofed and floored
with rush mats. The smoke hung in a cloud over our heads, but the air
around us was sufficiently clear for us to see,--though with some
rubbing of the eyes. An aged Indian sat close to the blaze, and Father
Nouvel walked over to him.
"Onanguisse," he said, "two strangers lift the mat before your
door,--strangers with white faces. Do you bid them take broth and
shelter?"
The old chief nodded. He had lacked curiosity to look out at us while
we had stood talking before his door, and now he scarcely lifted his
eyes.
"Is the Huron with them?" he asked the priest.
I pushed forward. "What Huron?" I demanded, in the Pottawatamie speech.
The chief stirred somewhat at hearing me use his language.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157