I am glad,--for Madame. So lone a camp
must be hard for a woman."
With the words the Nor'wester scanned the girl's face with a glance
that pierced her consciousness, though her eyes were fixed on her task.
Not a tinge of deeper colour came to her cheeks. There was no betrayal
of the part Dupre had assigned her, and with a word of parting the
canoe swung out to its place, though McIntosh's eyes clung boldly to
her beauty so long as he could see her.
"Ah-h,--a close shave!" thought the trapper as he picked up a splinter
and once more fell to upon the boat.
Twenty-four hours later there came out of the north the thrice blessed
brigade of the H. B. C., bound down the lake to Grand Rapids, where the
canoes would separate into two parties, one going up the Saskatchewan
to Cumberland House, the other down to the country of the Assiniboine.
Eager as a hound for the quarry Maren stood forth beside Dupre to hail
them.
Head of the brigade was Mr. Thomas Mowbray, a gentleman of fine
presence and of gentle manners.
In answer to the hail from shore he came to, and presently he stood in
the prow of his boat listening to an appeal that lightened his grave
eyes.
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