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"If you have a good blanket the cold has sprung up suddenly. It is squaw winter, which comes sooner you know, like a woman's temper, and spends itself, clearing the way for smiles again." Dame Loudac had given her a fur cap with lappets that made a hood of it. She had Owaissa's blanket, and some warm leggings. The captain helped her ashore, but it was a most uncheerful outlook.
"I am larger than you, taller and older. You should have had odds." "But we can always beat Berthê Loudac, and she is almost as big as you. And some of the Indian boys." "Let us try it again. Now I will give you to the larch tree." They started off, looking back when they reached that point and saw her come flying. She was not so eager now and held back toward the last.
Gaston put out his arm to bar her. "We promised never to go outside without permission. Only a coward or a thief tells lies and breaks his word. If we could find Loudac." Loudac had gone over to Manitou. The dame had been baking some brown bread with spice seeds in it, and she gave them all a great slice. How good it tasted!
"It is quite a story, and not such an unusual one either. Many maidens, I think, have been taken from home and friends, and have finally learned to be satisfied with a life they would not have chosen. You came from Detroit, Loudac says." "Yes, Miladi," Jeanne answered, timidly. "Do not be afraid." The lady laughed with ripples like a little stream dropping over pebbly ways.
No saint at the Recollet house was half as fair. "This is the little voyager cast upon our shore, Miladi," explained Loudac with a bow and a touch of his hand to his head. "But Wanita did not wreck her, only left her in our safe keeping until she can be returned to her friends." "Sit here, Mam'selle," and Miladi pointed to a cushion near her. Her French was musical and soft.
There was a step after a long while. A plate was pushed partly aside and a voice said through the grating: "What is it?" "It is I, Wanita, Loudac. I have some one who has been in danger, a little maid from Detroit, stolen away by Indians. My mistress Owaissa begs shelter for her until she can be returned. It was late when she was rescued from her enemies and we stole away by night."
Jeanne raised her eyes to the kindly ones. "Oh, yes," she answered with a shiver. "Lake Huron is so large, only there are islands scattered about. But when it grew very dark I simply trusted Wanita." "And he could go in a canoe to the end of the world if it was all lakes and rivers," exclaimed Loudac. "These Indians did you know their tribe?" "I think two were Hurons.
"Thou wouldst not like a winter among us here?" inquired the dame. "It is not so bad, and the boys at the great house are wild over thee." "Oh, I must go," Jeanne said, with breathless eagerness. "I shall remember all your kindness through my whole life." "Home is home," laughed good-humored Loudac. Very happy and light-hearted was Jeanne Angelot.
"The world is getting much mixed," she said. "I think the English still feel bitter, but the French accept. Loudac hears the White Chief talk of a time when all shall live together peaceably and, instead of trying to destroy each other and their cities and towns, they will join hands in business and improvement.
The dame greeted her cheerily, and set before her a simple breakfast that tasted most delicious. Loudac had gone up to the great house. "For when the White Chief is away, Loudac has charge of everything. Once he saved the master's life, he was his servant then, and since that time he has been the head of all matters. The White Chief trusts him like a brother.
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