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Updated: June 27, 2025
"The Sieur de Artigny was held guilty, Madame," he said regretfully, glancing about as though to assure himself alone. "The three officers agreed on the verdict, although I know some of the witnesses lied." "You know who?" "My own mate for one Georges Descartes; he swore to seeing De Artigny follow Chevet from the boats, and that was not true, for we were together all that day.
'Twas as quick as that," and he snapped his fingers, "and then a head or two bobbed up, but the canoe swept over them, and down they went again. Sieur de Artigny held our steering paddle, and, in an instant, he swung us that way, and there was the lady struggling.
I had no way of computing time, and the lagging hours seemed centuries long, as terrifying doubts assailed me. Every new thought became an agony of suspense. Had the plans failed? Had Boisrondet discovered the prisoner so closely guarded as to make rescue impossible? Had his nerve, his daring, vanished before the real danger of the venture? Had De Artigny refused to accept the chance?
There was no sound from below, but in the other direction one warrior I could see the dim outline of his naked figure passed within reach of my outstretched hand. Assured that all had passed beyond hearing De Artigny rose to his feet, and assisted me to rise, his hand still grasping mine. "Iroquois, by the look of that warrior," he whispered, "and enough of them to mean mischief.
De Artigny, after an utterance of disappointment, felt his way along the walls; as he came back to the open door our eyes met, and he must have read despair in mine, for he smiled encouragingly. "Swept bare, little girl," he said. "Not so much as an ounce of powder left. The savages got here before us, it seems.
De Artigny released my hand, and bowed low. "I still rely upon your attendance at the ball?" he asked, lingering at the door. "Yes, Monsieur." "And may bespeak a dance?" "I cannot say no, although it may cost you dear." He laughed gaily, his eyes bright with merriment. "Faith! most pleasures do I find; the world would be dull enough otherwise. Till then, Mademoiselle, adieu."
I bowed, yet my eyes remained hidden. "I knew you once as Monsieur's friend," I said, almost regretting my indiscretion, "and have been told you travel in his company." "You knew me once!" he laughed. "Surely that cannot be, for never would I be likely to forget. I challenge you, Mademoiselle to speak my name." "The Sieur Rene de Artigny, Monsieur."
Cassion stepped over the side, and fronted him, no longer a smiling gallant of the court, but brutal in authority. "And what is that to you, may I ask, Sieur de Artigny?" he said, coldly contemptuous. "You are but our guide, and it is no concern of yours who may compose the company. 'Twill be well for you to remember your place, and attend to your duties.
De Artigny straightened up, the expression on his face one of profound astonishment. "He he accused me," he asked, "of murder to win your promise?" "No, Monsieur; he believed the charge true, and I pledged myself to assure you a fair trial." "Then you believed also that I was guilty of the foul crime?" I caught my breath, yet there was nothing for me to do but give him a frank answer.
In another moment De Artigny and I were alone, the black night all about us, and not a sound reaching our ears to tell of those vanished allies. He took my hand, a caress in his touch, a suggestion of pride in his voice. "The old chief is warrior still," he said, "and, unless all signs fail, the Iroquois will long remember this day.
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