But you mention not where you are bound ?" "I seek Fort Dearborn, on the Great Lake." "That likewise is to be the end of my journey.

You go to explore ?" "Explore?
Faith, no," and he patted his hand upon the bench most merrily.

"There are but two reasons to my mind important enough to lure a French gentleman into such a hole as this, and send him wandering through your backwoods,--either war or love, Monsieur; and I know of no war that calleth me." Love, as he thus spoke of it, was almost an unknown term to me then; and, in truth, I scarcely grasped the full significance of his meaning.
"You seek some lady, then, at Fort Dearborn ?" I asked, for his tone seemed to invite the inquiry.
"Ay!" with quickened enthusiasm; "'tis there Toinette has hidden herself for this year or more,--Toinette, on my word as a French soldier, the fairest maid of Montreal.

I have just discovered her whereabouts, yet I shall win her ere I traverse these trails again, or I am not Villiers de Croix." "I travel thither to bring back a little orphan child with me," I explained simply, in response to his look, "and will most gladly aid you where I can." Before he could answer, Hawkins, a gaunt, silent frontiersman, together with Sam, entered the room, bearing between them our evening meal..