It is much the better craft."
"So I see. Mine was but the first I could put my hands upon in the
darkness."
"'Tis that of old Corlier, and sadly lacking in repair. If you will
steer, Ma'amselle?"
Thus set forth as forlorn a hope as ever lost itself in that vast
region of hard living and daily tragedy, with the strength of the man
set behind the woman's wisdom in as delicate a compliment as ever
breathed itself in silken halls, and the blind courage of the dreamer
urged it on. .
At the forks of Red River they passed the signs of a landing.
Here had the Indians summarily sent ashore all of the Nor'westers who
had been with De Courtenay and who had followed in the uncertainty of
fear, not daring to desert lest they be overtaken and massacred.
All, that is, save Bois DesCaut and the lean, hawk-faced Runners of the
Burnt Woods.
Thanking their gods, the North-west servants had lost no time in taking
advantage of the fact that they were not wanted, leaving their Montreal
master to whatever fate might befall him.
Dupre went ashore and examined the reach of land, the trampled grass, a
broken bush or two.
"Ten men, I think," he said, returning, "and all in tremendous haste.
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