CHAPTER IV
OFF TO THE WOODS
Raoul rose sullenly to his feet, and faced his aunt, who fixed upon hima look of stern displeasure mingled with sorrow.
"Oh, my nephew," she said in a tone of profound reproach, "are you notashamed of yourself to be engaged in such an unseemly brawl? What anexample to set those whom we are striving to teach better things! Comeaway, that I may have some talk with you in private."
Raoul, his anger now having in large part given place to shame, obeyedher bidding without a word, and they passed through the crowd into theforest. Here Raoul found his tongue, and explained how the thing hadoccurred. Madame heard him with attention and sympathy.
"You certainly had good reason to be provoked, my boy," she said as shetenderly patted his cheek. "But you must not forget that these poorpeople are heathens, and we are Christians, and that if we would winthem over to be Christians also, we must do very differently from whatthey would do themselves. Now you must confess that you did not act ina Christian way, and I am very sorry. Let us pray to God to give ussuch self-control that we shall not fall into errors of this kind."
So they kneeled together upon the turf, and Raoul's heart was melted bythe fervent prayer that came from his aunt's lips for the help of Godin right living, and in the conversion of the Indians. Then, withoutdelay, he sought out Outan, and, to the great surprise of the lad,expressed his regret for his hasty blow and begged his forgiveness.
To Outan the situation was so utterly novel that he was bewildered whatto do, but obeying the impulse of his heart, he smiled broadly and gaveRaoul a hearty hug, which showed in the clearest way that allill-feeling had vanished from him.
The bear hunt having been successfully carried out, Madame and Raoulreturned to Fort St. Louis, where they found Monsieur La Tour, who hadgot back from one of his trading expeditions, awaiting them in highspirits, because his business operations had been very successful.
Charles La Tour thought more of wealth and power than anything else inthe world. Not even his beautiful, devoted wife was dearer to him.Yet he loved her after his own fashion, was very proud of her, and hadnot the slightest objection to her missionary zeal, so long as it didnot cross any of his plans or ambitions. In regard to Raoul, of whomhe was quite fond, he did think it rather a pity that he should befilled with his aunt's religious notions, because it might spoil himfor the rough business of life; yet he made no protest against it,although he did now and then let drop a cynical speech that touched theboy's sensitive nature.
He had not been long at home before his restless spirit moved him tostart off again, and this time he proposed that Raoul should accompanyhim.
"If your aunt can do without you for a few weeks, you'd better comewith me," he said in his off-hand way, which took consent for granted."You'll get some useful lessons in buying furs and trading goods, andin how to make good bargains with the Indians, if you keep your eyesand ears open."
Raoul, for his part, was quite eager to go. He loved adventure andexcitement, and was very weary of the routine of life at the fort. Sohis response was no less hearty than prompt.
"Why, of course I want to go, uncle," he exclaimed, his face beamingwith pleasure, and then checking himself as he thought of his aunt, headded in a more subdued tone, "If Aunt Constance is willing for me togo."
In her heart Madame would have very much preferred to have Raoul remainwith her, but she was too unselfish to confess it, and smiled gailyenough as she said:
"Oh, I think I can manage to get along without you for a while, Raoul,although I shall of course miss you both greatly."
Winter was drawing near when the party set forth, and they must needsbe not only well-armed, but well supplied with blankets and furs toresist the cold.
"THE PARTY SET FORTH."]
There were twelve of them in all, six whites, and as many red men,stalwart fellows all of them, and thoroughly fitted to endure thehardships of their undertaking.
Madame was left in charge of the fort, with trusty old Simon Imbert asher lieutenant.
"My prayers will follow you every foot of the way, Charles," she saidas she gave her husband a parting embrace, "and I shall be a happywoman when I see you safe back again."
La Tour's purpose was to go clear across the peninsula to the Bay ofFundy, seeking out the Indian encampments, buying whatever furs theyhad, and arranging for further supplies. He accordingly took with hima stock of goods such as pleased the Indian fancy.
Sufficient snow had already fallen to enable toboggans to be used, andwith their baggage loaded upon these the party made good progressthrough the forest.
Raoul was in high spirits. Neither the toilsome tramping all day, northe sleeping under the sky instead of in his own warm bed at night, northe rude though abundant fare counted anything in comparison with hispride of filling a man's place, and, as far as was possible, doing aman's work.
There was one thing that gave him some trouble at first, however, untilhe solved the difficulty by being true to his best instincts.
His aunt had taught him to pray night and morning, and in the privacyof his own snug chamber in the fort he never omitted doing so; but whenout in the forest in the company of men who took no thought for suchthings, it was very different.
Although his conscience pricked him sharply he let several days go bywithout prayers, just because he had not the courage to kneel downbefore the others.
But one night it seemed as if he could not get to sleep, he felt soconscience-stricken, and at last, unable to bear it any longer, herolled out of his blankets, and kneeled against a tree-trunk.
A minute later his uncle, who had been out with some of his men settingtraps, returned, and seeing Raoul, exclaimed in a tone of surprise:
"Hullo, my boy, what's the matter? Have you had a scare while I wasaway?"
Raoul, blushing deeply, rose to his feet, and with eyes fixed on theground, murmured:
"No, sir, I was just saying my prayers, as I ought to have done everynight, but I felt ashamed to."
It was on the tip of La Tour's tongue to say:
"Oh! leave that to your aunt. She can pray enough for both of us."
But he kept the words back, and with an indulgent smile which impliedplainly that he thought the boy's occupation was of small consequence,he said in a kindly tone:
"Well, you'd better get back into your blankets again. We're going tohave a stormy night, if I am not greatly mistaken."
That he had not mis-read the weather signs became evident ere midnight,for a snow-storm set in which grew in violence hour by hour, until bydaylight it was so furious that not even Charles La Tour had thehardihood to brave it.