“Why the canoe so early?” she called.  “Do we have fish for breakfast?”

I took her hand.  “Come with me to the water.”  I led her to the canoe and pointed out the bales of supplies.  “You see we are ready for work.  We shall be back in a few days.”

She dropped my hand.  “Then why did you build that house?”

“Why not, madame?”

“But you say that we are to go this morning.”

“I must go, madame.”

“And you intend to leave me here?”

“Why, yes, madame.”

“But you said ‘we.’”

I looked some amazement.  “I take Labarthe with me.  I leave three men with you on guard.  There is nothing to fear.”

And then she threw back her head.  “I do not think that I am afraid,” she said more quietly.  “But—­I was not prepared for this.  It had not occurred to me that you would go away.”

I stopped a moment.  “I do not go for pleasure.  Indeed, I cannot imagine a fairer spot in which to linger and forget the world.  But did you think that I would sit in idleness, madame?”

She looked down.  “I do not know that I thought at all about it.  It has gone on like a play, a dream.  Perhaps I thought it would continue.  Your plan is to travel from tribe to tribe, and come back here at intervals?”

“That is my plan.  I shall buy furs and cache them here.  I shall try not to be away more than a week at a time.  I regret that I surprised you.  I did not think but that you understood.”

She stood biting her lips and smiling to herself in half-satiric, half-whimsical fashion.  “It says little for my intelligence that I was unprepared.  You are a man, not a courtier.  I should have known that you would not waste an hour.  I wish that I might go with you.”

“Madame, I wish it, too.”

She looked up more briskly.  “But that would be impossible.  Have you instructions for me, monsieur?”

“Madame, if you are afraid, come with me.”

“I am not afraid if you say that it is safe, monsieur.”

“Thank you, madame.  I think that it is entirely safe.  Pierre is a good deal of a fool and more of a knave, but in some few respects there is no one like him; he is a rock.  You are my wife and in his charge.  He will guard you absolutely.”

“Are we in danger of attack?”

“I can imagine no possible reason for attack, else I should not leave you.  The Indians are friendly.  One thing troubles me.  Your cousin——­ Should”——­

She looked up.  “Should Lord Starling find me?” she completed.  “Well, he would tarry here until you came.  He would at least show that courtesy.  I can promise as much as that for the family name, monsieur.”

I smiled at her.  “I shall await the meeting,” I said with unction.  I motioned Labarthe to the paddle, and I kissed the woman’s hand.

“I salute your courage.  I shall see you within the week, madame.”