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Canst thou not find her a bed?" The bed was soon improvised. Jeanne thanked her protectors with overflowing eyes and tremulous voice. For a long while she knelt in thanksgiving, her simple faith discerning a real miracle in her escape. Surely God had sent Owaissa. She forgot the fell purpose of the Indian girl, and wondered at her love for Louis Marsac.
"There is a story that my mother shared a like fate, only she had to grow content with strange people and a strange land. How was it? I have a taste for adventures." Jeanne's girlish courage and spirits came back in a flash. Yet she told her story carefully, bridging the little space where so much was left out. "Owaissa is a courageous maiden.
Jeanne essayed some French songs, but her heart was not light enough. Then they lapsed into silence. On and on there was no wind and they were out of the strongest current, so there was no danger. What was Owaissa doing, thinking? Had Louis Marsac returned with the priest? Was it true she had come to kill her, Jeanne? How strange one should love a man so deeply, strongly! She shuddered.
But the sky was blue and full of beauty; the birds heard an answering call; the little brook gave her to drink, and the chipmunk found on his stump a little piece of the cake from the box. Her face was smiling and her heart full of courage, for she had looked unto the hills and God had answered. Owaissa, the Indian Squaw, sat before the tepee watching little Litahni play with the colored stones.
You will get safely to Detroit." "And you?" inquired Jeanne. "And you?" repeated Jeanne Angelot when Owaissa seemed lost in thought. "I shall remain here. When Louis Marsac comes I will break the fatal spell that bound him, and the priest will marry us. I shall make him very happy, for we are kindred blood; happier than any cool-blooded, pale-face girl could dream. And now you must set out.
But Litahni, bending low over the couch where her father should sleep, smiled as she stretched the skins in place for the night. Even as the animals had given their skins that her father might be warm, so she was ready to give her little light to make him happy and comfortable, even as Owaissa, her noble mother, had done. And Litahni was content.
"It was only this afternoon that the Indian maid Owaissa found me and heard my story. For safety she sent me away at once. Perhaps in the daytime I might have been pursued." "True, true. An Indian knows best about Indian ways. Most of them are a treacherous, bad lot, made much worse by drink, but there are a few. The maiden Owaissa comes from the Strait." "To meet her lover it was said.
There would be nothing more to fear from Louis Marsac. How had they settled it, she wondered. Owaissa had said that she sent the child home under proper escort. Louis Marsac ground his teeth, and yet did he care so much for the girl only to gratify a mean revenge for one thing? the other he was not quite sure of. At all events Jeanne Angelot would always be the loser.
I mistrust, pretty maid, that it must have been some one who watched thee and wanted thee for his squaw. Up in the wild North there would have been little chance to escape. Thou hast been fortunate in finding Owaissa. Her lover's boat came in at Bois Blanc. I suppose she went to meet him. Dame, it is late, and the child looks tired as one might well be after a long journey.
But the Marsacs are going to be very rich it is said. You did not see them married?" "Oh, no." Jeanne laughed with a bitterness she had not meant to put into her voice. "He was away when Owaissa came to me and heard my plight. And then there was need of haste. I had to go at once, and it would not have been pleasant even if I could have waited." "No, no.
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