Part 41 (2/2)

”I will give you some odds,” cried Jeanne. ”I will not start until you have reached the pole of the roses.”

”No! no! no!” they shouted. ”Girls cannot run at the end of the race.

There we will win,” and they laughed gayly.

They were fleet as deer. Jeanne did not mean to outstrip them, but she was seized with enthusiasm. It was as if she had wings to her feet and they would not lag, even if the head desired it. She was breathless, with flying hair and brilliant color, as she reached the goal and turned to see two brave but disappointed faces.

”I told you it was not fair,” she began. ”I am larger than you, taller and older. You should have had odds.”

”But we can always beat Berthe Loudac, and she is almost as big as you.

And some of the Indian boys.”

”Let us try it again. Now I will give you to the larch tree.”

They started off, looking back when they reached that point and saw her come flying. She was not so eager now and held back toward the last.

Gaston came in with a shout of triumph and in two seconds Robert was at the goal. She laughed joyously. Their mother leaning over a railing laughed also and waved her handkerchief as they both glanced up.

”How old are you?” asked Robert.

”Almost sixteen, I believe.”

”And we are eight.”

”That is twice as old.”

”And when we are sixteen we will run twice as fast, faster than the Indians. We shall win the races. We are going up North then. Don't you want to go?”

Jeanne shook her head.

”But then girls do not go fur hunting. Only the squaws follow, to make the fires and cook the meals. And you would be too pretty for a squaw.

You must be a lady like maman, and have plenty of servants. Oh, we will ask father to bring you a husband as strong and nice and big as he is!

And then he will build you a lodge here. No one can have such a splendid house as maman; he once said so.”

”Come down to the palisade.”

They ran down together. The inhabitants of the cottages and lodges looked out after them, they were so gay and full of frolic. The gate was open and Robert peered out. Jeanne took a step forward. She was anxious to see what was beyond.

”Don't.” Gaston put out his arm to bar her. ”We promised never to go outside without permission. Only a coward or a thief tells lies and breaks his word. If we could find Loudac.”

Loudac had gone over to Manitou. The dame had been baking some brown bread with spice seeds in it, and she gave them all a great slice. How good it tasted! Then they were off again, and when they reached the house their mother had gone in, for the porch was hot from the sun.

Jeanne had never seen anything like it. The walls seemed set with wonderful stones and gems, some ground to facets. Long strips of embroidery in brilliant colors and curious designs parted them like frames. Here a border of wampum sh.e.l.ls, white, pale grayish, pink and purple; there great flowers made of sh.e.l.ls gathered from the sh.o.r.es of lakes and rivers. At the far end of the room were two Indian girls working on bead embroidery, another sewing rows of beautiful feathers in a border.

The boys were eager to rehea.r.s.e their good time.

”If they have not tired you to death,” said their mother.

<script>