Part 7 (1/2)

Times had grown harder and harder. Antoine had been compelled to join the army and fight for he knew not what. Then he had decamped, and instead of being shot had been sent to New France. Lalotte was willing enough to go with him.

Hard as it was, it bettered their fortunes. He had gone out once as a sort of servant and handy man to the company. Then he had struck out for himself. He was shrewd and industrious, and did not mind hard work, nor hards.h.i.+ps.

Now he was in the lightest of spirits. He had some choice furs that were eagerly snapped up. The Indian women had been shrewd enough to arrange tempting booths, where frying fish and roasted birds gave forth an appetizing fragrance. There were cakes of ground maize baked on hot stones, and though Champlain had used his best efforts to keep some restraint on spirituous liquors, there were many ways of evading.

Lalotte was fairly stupefied with amazement at her husband's prosperity.

”Why, you are rich with that bag of money,” she cried. ”I never saw so much.”

He laughed jovially. ”Better than standing up to be shot--he! he!

Jacques Lallemont had the idea, and they wanted emigrants for New France bad enough. Why don't they send more? The English understand better.

_Sacre!_ But it is a great country. Only Quebec stays little, when it should be a great place. Why can they not see?”

Lalotte could venture no explanation of that. She seemed to be in a maze herself.

Vessels were taking on cargoes of furs as soon as they were inspected.

The river as far as Tadoussac looked thriving enough. Antoine met old friends, but he was more level-headed than some, and did not get tipsy.

Lalotte held her head higher than ever.

When it was getting rather too rough they made their way out.

”Oh, the child!” she exclaimed, with a sudden twinge of conscience. ”And those wretched slave boys. If your back is turned they are in league with the evil one himself. Baptism does not seem to drive it out.

Whether the poor thing had her breakfast.”

”Let that alone. It was mighty cool in Jean Arlac to foist her on thee.

And now that we have left the crowd behind and are comfortable in the stomach.”

”But the cost, Antoine. I could have gotten it for half!”

”A man may treat his wife, when he has not seen her for two years,” and he gave a short chuckling laugh. ”There has been a plan in my head, hatched in the long winter nights up at the bay. Why should man and wife be living apart when they might be together? Thou hast a hot temper, Lalotte, but it will serve to warm up the biting air.”

”A hot temper!” resentfully. ”Much of it you have taken truly! Two years soldiering--months in prison, and now two years again----”

He laughed good-humoredly, if it was loud enough to wake echoes.

”The saints know how I have wished for the sound of your voice. Indian women there are ready enough to be a wife for six months, and then perhaps some brave steals in at night and pouf! out goes your candle.”

”The sin of it!”--holding up both hands.

”Sins are not counted in this wild land. But there are no old memories, no talks with each other. Oh, you cannot think how the loneliness almost freezes up one's very vitals. And I said to myself--I will bring Lalotte back with me. Why should we not share the same life and live over together our memories of sunny France?--not always sunny, either.”

”To--take me with you”--gasping.

”Yes, why not? As if a man cannot order his wife about!” he exclaimed jocosely, catching her around the waist and imprinting half a dozen kisses with smacks that were like an explosion. ”Yes--I have sighed for thee many a night. There are high logs for firing, there are piles of bearskins, thick and fleecy as those of our best sheep at home. There is enough to eat at most times, and with thy cookery, _ma mie_, a man would feast. It is a rough journey, to be sure, but then thou wilt not refuse, or I shall think thou hast a secret lover.”

”The Virgin herself knows I shall be glad to go with thee, Antoine,” and the tears of joy stood in her eyes. ”There is nothing in all Quebec to compare with thee. And heaven knows one sometimes grows hungry of a winter night, when food is scarce and one depends upon sleep to make it up. No, I should be happy anywhere with thee.”

They jogged along in a lover-like fas.h.i.+on, but they were not quite out of hearing of the din. At nightfall all d.i.c.kering was stopped and guards placed about. But in many a tent there were drinking and gambling, and more than one affray.