Part 11 (2/2)

”But tell me,” said Claude, in a calmer voice, ”how is it possible that Mimi can trust herself with Cazeneau?”

”_Ma foi_,” said the priest, ”it is possible, for she cannot help it.

But do not fear. I am going to accompany them, and, as far as my feeble power can do anything, I will watch over her, and see that she suffers no injustice. I hope that Heaven will a.s.sist her innocence and my protection; so do not allow yourself to be uneasy about her; but hope for the best, and trust in Heaven.”

At this Claude was silent for a few moments. At length he said,--

”O, Pere Michel, must I stay here when she goes? Can you tell me what they are going to do with me?”

”It is about yourself that I am going to speak, and it was for this that I came,” said the priest.

”Can I go with the others to Louisbourg?” asked Claude, eagerly; for he thought only of being near Mimi.

”Heaven forbid!” said the priest. ”It is in a for different way that you are to go. Listen to me. The Count de Cazeneau is going to set out to-morrow, with a party of Indians as escort. Mimi is to be taken with him. I am going, too. It is his intention to leave you here for a time, till his escort can return. They will then take you to Louisbourg. If he can find any Indians on the way whom he can make use of, he will send them here for you. But meantime you are to be kept imprisoned here.

”Now, I am acquainted with the Indians better than most men. I lived in Acadie formerly, long enough to be well known to the whole tribe.

I am also well known to the Acadians. Among the Indians and the Acadians there are many who would willingly lay down their lives for me. I could have delivered you before this, but I saw that you were not in any immediate danger; so I preferred postponing it until the Count de Cazeneau had left. I do not wish him to suspect that I have any interest in you; and when he hears of your escape, I do not wish him to think that I had anything to do with it. But I have already made all the plans that are necessary, and the men are in this neighborhood with whom I have arranged for your escape.”

”What is the plan?” asked Claude, eagerly.

”I will tell you,” said the priest. ”There are six Indians, all of them devoted to me. They will guide you to a place of safety, and will be perfectly faithful to you as long as they are with you. They are ready to go anywhere with you, to do anything for you, even to the extent of laying down their lives for you. It is for my sake that they are willing to show this devotion. I have presented you to them as my representative, and they look upon you as they would look upon me. But, first of all, you are to get out of this. Can you open that window?”

”It was fastened tight when I first came,” said Claude; ”but I have loosened it, so that I can take it out very quickly.”

”Very good. Now, one of these Indians will be here to-morrow night.

We shall leave to-morrow morning; and I do not want you to be rescued till after our departure. At midnight, to-morrow, then, the Indian will be here. He will give a sound like a frog, immediately outside, under the window. You must then open the window. If you see him, or hear him, you must then get out, and he will take you to the woods.

After that he and the rest of the Indians will take you through the woods to Port Royal, which they call Annapolis Royal. Here you will be safe from Cazeneau until such time as may suit you to go back to Boston. Annapolis Royal is about twenty-four leagues from this place, and you can easily go there in two days.”

Claude listened to all this without a word; and, after the priest had ended, he remained silent for some time, with his eyes fixed on the floor.

”The Indians will be armed,” said the priest, ”and will have a rifle and a sword for you. So you need have no trouble about anything.”

”My dear Pere Michel,” said Claude, at last, ”you lay me under very great obligations; but will you not add to them by allowing me to select my own route?”

”Your own route?” asked the priest. ”What do you mean? You don't know the country, especially the woods, while these Indians will be at home there.”

”What I mean is this,” said Claude: ”will you not allow me the use of this Indian escort in another direction than the one you mention?”

”Another direction? Why, where else can you possibly go? Annapolis is the nearest place for safety.”

”I should very much prefer,” said Claude ”to go to Canso.”

”To Canso!” said the priest, in great surprise; ”to Canso! Why, you would come on our track!”

”That is the very reason why I wish to go there. Once in Canso, I should be as safe as in Annapolis.”

The priest shook his head.

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