With inimitable grace he swung the child from his shoulder, tossed it
to a timid squaw watching like a hawk, and, shaking back his curls,
came forward.
"Ah, Ma'amselle!" he said, bending before her with his courtly manner,
"you see, as I said in the early spring,--I have come back to Fort de
Seviere."
"So I see, M'sieu," smiled Maren, with a touch of whimsical amusement
at the memory of that morning, and his venturesome spirit. "Have you by
chance brought me a red flower?"
"Why else should I come?" he returned, and, with a flourish, brought
from his bosom a second birchbark box which he held out to the girl.
Over her face there spread a crimson flood at this swift, literal
proving of a secret pact and she stood hesitating, at loss.
The stretch of beach was alive with spectators. Near the wall a group
of girls hugged together, with Francette Moline in the centre; down by
the canoes Pierre Garcon and Marc Dupre stood, the dark eyes of the
latter watching every move, while at the door of the chief's lodge,
directly before the fort and between it and the river, Edmonton Ridgar
talked in low tones with Negansahima. Indeed, like father and son
seemed this strangely assorted pair.
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