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I ht it not wholly untouched by sadness, as she attempted answer

"We will hope for the best; yet, Monsieur, we are still deeply buried in the wilderness Ay! worse--in the country of our enemies You may not comprehend the full truth of this, but Spain lays clai it O'Reilly has already despatched soldiers as high as the e; so there is peril lurking before us, as well as behind"

"O'Reilly has sent soldiers northward? Ho you this, Eloise?"

"It was common talk in the town I saith my own eyes the departure of one expedition It was composed of a captain, with twelve soldiers, destined for the Ohio I have heard that twice since others have been despatched northward, although to what points was unknown"

"The saints defend us! 'tis indeed serious I supposed the boat which passed contained all the Dons on the upper river, but if this be true we may have to desert the stream, and take to the eastern trail on foot Sacre! I like it not! What say you, you sphinx of an English border?"

"It is news to me," I answered soberly "But if three expeditions have already been despatched north, there is little hope the land routes have been forgotten Beyond doubt every trail, white or Indian, leading toward French or English settleain passage by surprise That man-of-war boat will spread far the rumor of your escape, so every Spaniard between here and the Ohio will be on the lookout for our coht stole into the ht press our way through that scattered line of guard, and attain the upper Ohio; how easily, only for the danger and distress to which so desperate an atteive the idea utterance

"Messieurs," she said earnestly, her cal this for an hour past I know you would experience s your way through them, were I not with you Yet this is not beyond remedy I had sincerely hoped to prove of service when I usurped the slave's place in the boat; instead, I a whom you must protect at the risk of your own lives Fortunately it is not yet too late to leave you free; it cannot be many miles back to New Orleans, and the current would bear me swiftly doard I have loyal friends in the town to hide the daughter of Lafrénière, should the Spaniards ar against a woht make the shores of France Perhaps I should be there in advance of you What say you, Messieurs, to such proposal? Would it not be best?"