as we planned, till Pemaou and a band of his Hurons came around the
corner of the house.

I had done Pemaou the justice to hate him when I first saw him. And
one does not hate an inferior. He had as keen a mind as I have ever
known, and he was not hampered by any of the scruples and decencies
that interfere with a white man. So he was my superior in resource. I
knew, as I saw him look at me now, that my share in the game was over.
He had seen me listening to Longuant. Where had my wits been lagging
that I had not foreseen that he would have spies watching me, and would
trace some connection between the prisoner and myself? Well, there was
nothing left me but to stroll away. I did not dare go in the direction
of the canoes; it would be unwise to seek Cadillac; so I turned boldly
to the Ottawa camp. Hardly knowing what I planned, I asked for
Longuant.

Somewhat to my surprise, the Ottawas listened with respect. I had
apparently won some reputation among them, and without demur they took
me to the chief.

Longuant was squatting before his lodge. A piece of wood was laid
across his lap, and he was chopping rank tobacco with a scalping knife.
He smelled of oil, and smoke, and half-cured hides; yet he met me as a
ruler meets an ambassador. As I stumbled after him into his dark
lodge, I saw that he was preparing to greet me with all the silence and
circumlocution of a state messenger. I had no time for that,--though
it gratified me. I tramped my way through all ceremony and plunged at
my point.

"I am no envoy," I began, shaking my head in refusal of the proffered