My cousin has a
distinctive profile. I offered rewards for news of any one--man or
woman--who looked like the face that I had drawn."
I put out my hand. "I hope that I have wronged you, monsieur."
He bowed and touched my fingers. His own were icy, yet he shivered at
the chill of mine. "Pemaou would not dare harm the woman. Monsieur de
Montlivet, you know Indians. Surely Pemaou would not dare?"
I gripped my knife. "No man knows Indians! Where did you see Pemaou
first?"
"At Michillimackinac. When I reached there and learned that the
prisoner had gone with you I sent interpreters through the camps with
offers of reward for news of your whereabouts. Pemaou came. He said
he could locate you and I took him as guide."
"He selected his own escort?"
"Yes."
"And you traveled slowly?"
"Very slowly."
I fingered my pipe and bit hard at its stem. "Pemaou has played
carefully. He had the woman captured and brought to camp. The time
was not ripe for him to use her, so he let me carry her away. But he
has had me shadowed. You played well into his hands, for you furnished
blankets and provisions. He had no intention of letting you find us.
We are equal dupes. I see that I wronged you, monsieur.
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