WE ATTAIN THE OTTAWA
It was not yet dawn when the stir in the camp aroused me, and the sun
had not risen above the bluffs, or begun to tinge the river, when our
laden canoes left the bank and commenced their day's journey up
stream. De Artigny was off in advance, departing indeed before I had
left the tent, the chief seated beside him. I caught but a glimpse of
them as the canoe rounded the bend in the bank, and slipped silently
away through the lingering shadows, yet it gladdened me to know his
eyes were turned toward my tent until they vanished.
Cassion approached me with excessive politeness, waiting until the
last moment, and escorting me to the shore. It made me smile to
observe his pretense at gallantry, yet I accepted his assistance down
the bank with all possible graciousness, speaking to him so pleasantly
as to bring a look of surprise to his face. 'Twas plain to be seen
that my conduct puzzled him, for although he sought to appear at ease,
his words faltered sadly. He, who had so long considered himself as
past master of the art of love-making had most unexpectedly
encountered a character which he could not comprehend.
However, that his purpose was in no way changed was made evident as we
took our places in the canoes. A new distribution had been arranged,
Chevet accompanying the sergeant, leaving the Commissaire and me
alone, except for the _père_, who had position in the bow. I observed
this new arrangement from underneath lowered lashes, but without
comment, quietly taking the place assigned me, and shading my face
from the first rays of the sun.
The day which followed was but one of many we were destined to pass in
the canoes. I have small recollection of it, except the weariness of
my cramped position, and Cassion's efforts to entertain. Our course
kept us close to the north shore, the high banks cutting off all view
in that direction, while in the other there was nothing to see but an
expanse of water.
Except for a single canoe, laden with furs, and propelled by Indian
paddlers, bound for Quebec and a market, we encountered no travelers.
These swept past us swiftly in grip of the current, gesticulating, and
exchanging salutations, and were soon out of sight. Our own boats
scattered, as no danger held us together, and there were hours when we
failed to have even a glimpse of their presence.
At noon we landed in a sheltered cove, brilliant with wild flowers,
and partook of food, the rearward canoes joining us, but De Artigny
was still ahead, perhaps under orders to keep away. To escape Cassion,
I clambered up the front of the cliff, and had view from the summit,
marking the sweep of the river for many a league, a scene of wild
beauty never to be forgotten. I lingered there at the edge until the
voice of the Commissaire recalled me to my place in the canoe.
It is of no consequence now what we conversed about during that long
afternoon, as we pushed steadily on against the current. Cassion
endeavored to be entertaining and I made every effort to encourage
him, although my secret thoughts were not pleasant ones. Where was all
this to lead? Where was to be the end? There was an expression in the
man's face, a glow in his eyes, which troubled me. Already some
instinct told me that his carelessness was a thing of the past. He was
in earnest now, his vague desire stimulated by my antagonism.
He had set out to overcome my scruples, to conquer my will, and was
merely biding his time, seeking to learn the best point of attack. It
was with this end in view that he kept me to himself, banishing
Chevet, and compelling De Artigny to remain well in advance. He was
testing me now by his tales of Quebec, his boasting of friendship with
the Governor, his stories of army adventure, and the wealth he
expected to amass through his official connections. Yet the very tone
he assumed, the conceit shown in his narratives, only served to add to
my dislike. This creature was my husband, yet I shrank from him, and
once, when he dared to touch my hand, I drew it away as though it were
contamination. It was then that hot anger leaped into his eyes, and
his true nature found expression before he could restrain the words:
"_Mon Dieu!_ What do you mean, you chit?"
"Only that I am not won by a few soft words, Monsieur," I answered
coldly.
"But you are my wife; 'twill be well for you to remember that."
"Nor am I likely to forget, yet because a priest has mumbled words
over us does not make me love you."
"_Sacre!_" he burst forth, yet careful to keep his voice pitched to my
ears alone, "you think me a plaything, but you shall learn yet that I
have claws. Bah! do you imagine I fear the coxcomb ahead?"
"To whom do you refer, Monsieur?"
"Such innocence! to that boot-licker of La Salle's to whom you give
your smiles, and pretty words."
"Rene de Artigny!" I exclaimed pleasantly, and then laughed. "Why how
ridiculous you are, Monsieur. Better be jealous of Père Allouez
yonder, for of him I see far the most. Why do you pick out De Artigny
on whom to vent your anger?"
"I like not the way he eyes you, nor your secret meetings with him in
Quebec."
"If he even sees me I know it not, and as for secret meetings, knew
you not that Sister Celeste was with me while we talked."
"Not in the Governor's palace."
"You accuse me of that then," indignantly. "Because I am your wife,
you can insult, yet it was your hand that drew aside the curtain, and
found me alone. Do you hope to gain my respect by such base charges as
that, Monsieur?"
"Do you deny that he had been with you?"
"I? Do I deny! It is not worthy my while. Why should I? We were not
married then, nor like to be to my knowledge. Why, then, if I wished,
was it not my privilege to speak with the Sieur de Artigny? I have
found him a very pleasant, and polite young man."
"A pauper, his only fortune the sword at his side."
"Ah, I knew not even that he possessed one. Yet of what interest can
all this be to me, Monsieur, now that I am married to you?"
That my words brought him no comfort was plain enough to be seen, yet
I doubt if it ever occurred to his mind that I simply made sport, and
sought to anger him. It was on his mind to say more, yet he choked the
words back, and sat there in moody silence, scarce glancing at me
again during the long afternoon. But when we finally made landing for
the night, it was plain to be seen that his vigilance was in no wise
relaxed, for, although he avoided me himself, the watchful Jesuit was
ever at my side, no doubt in obedience to his orders. This second
camp, as I recall, was on the shore of Lake St. Peter, in a noble
grove, the broad stretch of waters before us silvered by the sinking
sun. My tent was pitched on a high knoll, and the scene outspread
beneath was one of marvelous beauty. Even the austere père was moved
to admiration, as he pointed here and there, and conversed with me in
his soft voice. Cassion kept to the men along the bank below, while
Chevet lay motionless beside a fire, smoking steadily.
I had no glimpse of De Artigny, although my eyes sought him among the
others. The chief, Altudah, glided out from among the trees as it grew
dusk, made some report, and as quickly disappeared again, leaving me
to believe the advance party had made camp beyond the curve of the
shore. The priest lingered, and we had our meal together, although it
was not altogether to my liking. Once he endeavored to talk with me on
the sacredness of marriage, the duty of a wife's obedience to her
husband, the stock phrases rolling glibly from his tongue, but my
answers gave him small comfort. That he had been so instructed by
Cassion was in my mind, and he was sufficiently adroit to avoid
antagonizing me by pressing the matter. As we were eating, a party of
fur traders, bound east, came ashore in a small fleet of canoes, and
joined the men below, building their fires slightly up stream. At last
Père Allouez left me alone, and descended to them, eager to learn the
news from Montreal. Yet, although seemingly I was now left alone, I
had no thought of adventuring in the darkness, as I felt convinced the
watchful priest would never have deserted my side had he not known
that other eyes were keeping vigil.
From that moment I never felt myself alone or unobserved. Cassion in
person did not make himself obnoxious, except that I was always seated
beside him in the boat, subject to his conversation, and attentions.
Ever I had the feeling the man was testing me, and venturing how far
he dared to go. Not for a moment did I dare to lower my guard in his
presence, and this constant strain of watchfulness left me nervous,
and bitter of speech.
In every respect I was a prisoner, and made to realize my helplessness.
I know not what Cassion suspected, what scraps of information he may
have gained from Chevet, but he watched me like a hawk. Never, I am
sure, was I free of surveillance--in the boat under his own eye; ashore
accompanied everywhere by Père Allouez, except as I slept, and then
even some unknown sentry kept watch of the tent in which I rested.
However it was managed I know not, but my uncle never approached me
alone, and only twice did I gain glimpse of Sieur de Artigny--once, when
his canoe returned to warn us of dangerous water ahead, and once when
he awaited us beside the landing at Montreal. Yet even these occasions
yielded me new courage, for, as our eyes met I knew he was still my
friend, waiting, as I was, the opportunity for a better understanding.
This knowledge brought tears of gratitude to my eyes, and a thrill of
hope to my heart. I was no longer utterly alone.
We were three days at Montreal, the men busily engaged in adding to
their store of provisions. I had scarcely a glimpse of the town, as I
was given lodging in the convent close to the river bank, and the
_père_ was my constant companion during hours of daylight. I doubt if
he enjoyed the task any more than I, but he proved faithful to his
master, and I could never venture to move without his black robe at my
side.
Nor did I seek to avoid him, for my mind grasped the fact already that
my only hope of final liberty lay in causing Cassion to believe I had
quietly yielded to fate. Surely as we plunged deeper into the
wilderness his suspicions would vanish, and his grim surveillance
relax. I must patiently abide my time. So I sat with the sisters
within the dull, gray walls, seemingly unconscious of the _père's_
eyes stealthily watching my every motion, as he pretended other
employment.
Cassion came twice, more to assure himself that I was safely held than
for any other purpose, yet it pleased me to see his eyes follow my
movements, and to realize the man had deeper interest in me than
formerly. Chevet, no doubt, spent his time in the wine shops; at least
I never either saw, or heard of him. Indeed I asked nothing as to his
whereabouts, as I had decided already his assistance would be of no
value.
We departed at dawn, and the sun was scarce an hour high when the
prows of our canoes turned into the Ottawa. Now we were indeed in the
wilderness, fronting the vast unknown country of the West, with every
league of travel leaving behind all trace of civilization. There was
nothing before us save a few scattered missions, presided over by
ragged priests, and an occasional fur trader's station, the
headquarters of wandering _couriers du bois_. On every side were the
vast prairies, and stormy lakes, roamed over by savage men and beasts
through whom we must make our way in hardship, danger, and toil.
Cassion spread out his rude map in the bottom of the canoe, and I had
him point out the route we were to follow. It was a long, weary way he
indicated, and, for the moment, my heart almost failed me, as we
traced together the distance outlined, and pictured in imagination the
many obstacles between us and our goal. Had I known the truth, all
those leagues were destined to disclose of hardship and peril, I doubt
my courage to have fronted them. But I did not know, nor could I
perceive a way of escape. So I crushed back the tears dimming my eyes,
smiled into his face, as he rolled up the map, and pretended to care
not at all.
When night came we were in the black woods, the silence about us
almost unearthly, broken only by the dash of water over the rocks
below where we were camped, promising a difficult portage on the
morrow. Alone, oppressed by the silence, feeling my helplessness as
perhaps I never had before, and the dread loneliness of the vast
wilderness in which I lay, I tossed on my bed for hours, ere sheer
exhaustion conquered, and I slept.