A Little Girl in Old Quebec, Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  A HUSBAND

  Lalotte Dubray had had the gala day of her life. Her peasant wedding hadbeen simple enough. The cure's blessing after the civil ceremony, thedance on the green, the going home to the one room in the small thatchedhut, the bunk-like bed along the wall, the two chests that answered forseats, a kitchen table, two shelves for a rude dresser, with dishes thathad been earned by the hardest toil, but they were better off than some,for there was a pig grunting and squealing outside, and a little garden.

  Times had grown harder and harder. Antoine had been compelled to jointhe army and fight for he knew not what. Then he had decamped, andinstead of being shot had been sent to New France. Lalotte was willingenough to go with him.

  Hard as it was, it bettered their fortunes. He had gone out once as asort of servant and handy man to the company. Then he had struck out forhimself. He was shrewd and industrious, and did not mind hard work, norhardships.

  Now he was in the lightest of spirits. He had some choice furs that wereeagerly snapped up. The Indian women had been shrewd enough to arrangetempting booths, where frying fish and roasted birds gave forth anappetizing fragrance. There were cakes of ground maize baked on hotstones, and though Champlain had used his best efforts to keep somerestraint 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 somuch."

  He laughed jovially. "Better than standing up to be shot--he! he!Jacques Lallemont had the idea, and they wanted emigrants for New Francebad enough. Why don't they send more? The English understand better._Sacre!_ But it is a great country. Only Quebec stays little, when itshould be a great place. Why can they not see?"

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

  Vessels were taking on cargoes of furs as soon as they were inspected.The river as far as Tadoussac looked thriving enough. Antoine met oldfriends, 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. "Andthose wretched slave boys. If your back is turned they are in leaguewith 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 thestomach."

  "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," andhe 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 wifebe 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 yearssoldiering--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. Indianwomen there are ready enough to be a wife for six months, and thenperhaps 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 almostfreezes up one's very vitals. And I said to myself--I will bringLalotte back with me. Why should we not share the same life and liveover 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 exclaimedjocosely, catching her around the waist and imprinting half a dozenkisses with smacks that were like an explosion. "Yes--I have sighed forthee many a night. There are high logs for firing, there are piles ofbearskins, thick and fleecy as those of our best sheep at home. There isenough to eat at most times, and with thy cookery, _ma mie_, a man wouldfeast. 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," andthe tears of joy stood in her eyes. "There is nothing in all Quebec tocompare with thee. And heaven knows one sometimes grows hungry of awinter night, when food is scarce and one depends upon sleep to make itup. No, I should be happy anywhere with thee."

  They jogged along in a lover-like fashion, but they were not quite outof hearing of the din. At nightfall all dickering was stopped and guardsplaced about. But in many a tent there were drinking and gambling, andmore than one affray.

  They came to the small unpretentious cabin. The door stood wide open,and the shaggy old dog was stretched on the doorstep, dozing. No soulwas to be seen.

  "Where is the child, Britta? Why, she must have been carried off. Shecould not walk any distance."

  The dog gave a wise look and flicked her ear. Lalotte searched everynook.

  "Where could she have gone?" in dismay.

  "Let the child alone. What is she to us? Does Jean Arlac stay awakenights with trouble in his conscience about her? She was not his wife'schild and so nothing to him. What more is she to us? Come, get somesupper; I've not tasted such fried fish in an age as yours last night."

  "The fish about here has a fine flavor, that is true. Those imps ofboys, and not a stick of wood handy. Their skins shall be well warmed;just wait until I get at them."

  "Nay, I will get some wood. I am hungry as a bear in the thaw, when hecrawls out."

  But Lalotte, armed with a switch, began a survey of the garden. The workhad been neglected, that was plain. There under a clump of bushes layPani, sleeping, with no fear of retribution on his placid face. AndLalotte put in some satisfactory work before he even stirred.

  But he knew nothing of his compeer, only they had been down to the rivertogether. As for the child, when he returned she was gone.

  "Let the child alone, I say!" and Antoine brought his fist heavily downon the table. "Next thing you will be begging that we take her. Sincethe good Lord in His mercy has refrained from giving us any mouths tofeed, we will not fly in His face for those who do not concern us. Andthe puling thing would die on the journey and have to be left behind tofeed the wolves. Come! come! Attend to thy supper."

  The slim Indian convert was coming up the path. She was one of theAbenaqui tribe, and she had mostly discarded the picturesque attire.

  "The lady Madame Giffard sent me to say the girl is safe with her andwill not be able to return to-night."

  "So much the better," growled Antoine, looking with hungry eyes on thefish browning before the coals.

  "Did she come and take her? I went with my husband to see the traders."

  "She has been very poorly, but is much better now. And miladithought----"

  "Oh, yes, it is all right. Yes, I am glad," nodding definitely, as ifthe matter was settled. She did not want to quarrel with Antoine about achild that was no kin to them, when he was so much like her old lover.He seemed to bring back the hopes of youth and a certain gayety to whichshe had long been a stranger.

  After enjoying his meal he brought out his pipe and stretched himself ina comfortable position, begging her to attend to him and let the slaveboy take the fragments. He went on to describe the settlement of thefur merchants and trappers at Hudson Bay, but toned down much of therudeness of the actual living. A few of the white women, wives of theleaders and the men in command, formed a little community. There wascard-playing and the relating of adventures through the long winterevenings, that sometimes began soon after three. Dances, too, Indianentertainments, and for daylight, flying about on snowshoes, andskating. There was a short summer. The Indian women were expert inmodelling garments--everything was of fur and dressed deerskins
.

  Few knew how to read at that day among the seekers of fortune andadventurers, but they were shrewd at keeping accounts, nevertheless.There were certain regulations skilfully evaded by the knowing ones.

  No, it would never do to take the child. She had no real mother love forit, yet she often wondered whose child it might be, since it was notCatherine Arlac's? Strange stories about foundlings often came to lightin old France.

  The death of the King rather disorganized matters, for no one quite knewwhat the new order of things would be. The Sieur de Champlain sorrowedtruly, for he had ever been a staunch admirer of Henry of Navarre.Demont had not had his concession renewed and to an extent the fur tradehad been thrown open. Several vessels were eagerly competing for storesof Indian peltries, as against those of the company. Indeed it was aregular carnival time. One would think old Quebec a most prosperoussettlement, if judged only by that. But none of the motley crew wereallowed inside the palisades. The Sieur controlled the rough communitywith rare good judgment. He had shown that he could punish as well asgovern; fight, if need be, and then be generous to the foe. Indeed inthe two Indian battles he had won much prestige, and had frowned on thetorture of helpless prisoners.

  Madame Giffard besought her husband that evening to consent to hertaking the care of little Rose, at least while they remained in Canada,the year and perhaps more.

  "And that may unfit her for her after life. You will make a pet andplaything of her, and then it would be cruel to return her to this womanto whom it seems she was given. She may be claimed some day."

  "And if we liked her, might we not take her home with us? There seems nodoubt but what she came from France. Not that I could put any one quitein the place of my lost darling, but it will afford me much interestthrough the winter, which, by all accounts, is dreary. I can teach herto read--she hardly knows a French letter. M. Destournier has taken agreat interest in her. And she needs care now, encouragement to getwell."

  "Let us do nothing rash. The Sieur may be able to advise what is best,"he returned gently. He felt he would rather know more of the case beforehe took the responsibility.

  "She is so sweet, so innocent. She did not really know what love was,"and Madame laughed softly. "This Catherine Arlac must have been a maid,I think. Yes, I am sure she must have come from gentle people. She hasevery indication of it."

  "Well, thou canst play nurse a while and it will interest thee, and fillup thy lonely hours, for I have much to do and must take some journeysquite impossible for a woman. And then we will decide, if this woman isready to part with her. _Ma mie_, thou knowest I would not refuse theeany wish that was possible."

  "That is true, Laurent," and she kissed him fondly.

  Destournier had been busy every moment of the day and had been closetedwith the Sieur until late in the evening. Champlain felt now that hemust give up an exploring expedition, on which his heart was set, andreturn to France, where large interests of the colony were at stake.There was much to be arranged.

  So it was not until the next morning that he found his way to the Dubrayhouse, and then he was surprised at the tidings. Lalotte was almost agirl again in her interest in the new plans. As soon as a sufficientnumber had sold their wares to make a journey safe from marauders theywould start for Hudson's Bay, while the weather was pleasant. Of coursethe child must be left behind. She had no real claim on them; neithercould she stand the journey. She was now with Madame Giffard.

  Thither he hurried. Little Rose had improved wonderfully, though she wasalmost transparently thin, and her eyes seemed larger and softer intheir mysterious darkness. Already love had done much for her.

  He told his story and the plans of the Dubrays.

  "Then I can stay here," she cried with kindling eyes, reaching out hersmall hand as if to sign her right in Madame's.

  Madame's eyes, too, were joyous as she raised them in a sort ofgratitude to her visitor.

  "How strange it comes about," she cried. "And now, M. Destournier, willyou learn all you can about this Catherine Arlac; where she came from inFrance, and if she was any sort of a trustworthy person? It may some daybe of importance to the child."

  "Yes, anything I can do to advance her interest you may depend on. Areyou happy, little one?"

  "I could fly like a bird, I am so light with joy. But I would not flyaway from here. Oh, then I shall not have to go back! I was frightenedat M. Dubray."

  "I don't wonder. Yet these are the kind of men New France needs, who arenot afraid of the wilderness and its trials. The real civilizationfollows on after the paths are trodden down. Did you go out yesterday?"to the lady.

  "Only on the gallery."

  "That was safest. Such a crowd was fit only for Indian women, and someof them shrank from it, I noticed. You heard the news about the King?"

  "The sad, sad news. Yes."

  "And the Sieur feels he must go back to France."

  "What is Quebec to do? And if there is an Indian raid? Oh, this new landis full of fears."

  "And think of the strifes and battles of the old world! Ah, if peacecould reign. Yet the bravest of men are in the forefront."

  Then he came over to the child.

  "Who brought you here yesterday?" he asked, with a smile.

  "I was all alone. I had nothing to eat. I wanted to get out in thesunshine. I walked, but presently I shook so, I crawled up on thegallery. And then----"

  She looked wistfully at miladi, who took up the rest of the journey.

  "You were a brave little girl. But what if Madame had not chanced tocome out? Why, you might have died."

  The dark eyes grew humid. "It does not hurt to die," she said slowly."Only if you did not have to be put in the ground."

  "Don't talk of such things," interposed Madame, with a half shudder."You are going to get well now, and run about and show me the places youlove. And we can sail up to the islands and through the St. Charles,that looks so fascinating and mysterious, can we not?" smiling up atDestournier.

  "Oh, yes, a month will finish the trading, for the ships will want tostart with their freight, while the weather is fine. True, the Indiansand many of the _coureurs de bois_ will loiter about until the lastmoment. There is to be a great Indian dance, I hear. They generallybreak up with one that has a good deal of savagery in it, but this earlyone is quite mild, I have understood, and gives one an opportunity tosee them in their fine feathers and war paint."

  "Oh, it must be interesting. Would it be safe to go?" she inquired.

  "With a bodyguard, yes. Your husband and myself, and we might call inthe services of the Dubrays. Madame is a host in herself. And they areglad, it seems, to shift the care of the child on some one else,"lowering his voice.

  "You will not forget to inquire----"

  "Why, there must be a record here. The Sieur has the name and addressesof all the emigrants, I think. There have not been many shiploads ofwomen."

  "She has no indication of peasant parentage. There is a curious delicacyabout her, but _merci!_ what wonderful and delightful ignorance. It islike a fallow field. Mere Dubray seems to have sown nothing in it. Oh, Ipromise myself rare pleasure in teaching her many things."

  "She has a quick and peculiar imagination. I am glad she has fallen intoother hands. Settling a new country is a great undertaking, especiallywhen one has but a handful of people and you have to uproot other habitsof life and thought. I wonder if one can civilize an Indian!" and helaughed doubtfully.

  "But it is to save their souls, I thought!"

  "Yet some of them worship the same God that we do, only He is called theGreat Manitou. And they have an hereafter for the braves at least, ahappy hunting ground. But they are cruel and implacable enemies witheach other. And we have wars at home as well. It is a curious muddle, Ithink. You come from a Huguenot family, I believe."

  "My mother did. But she went with my father. There were no familydissensions. Does it make so much difference if one is upright andhonest and kindly?"

  "Kindly. If that could b
e put in the creed. 'Tis a big question," and hegave a sigh. "At least you are proving that part of the creed," and hecrossed over to the child, chatting with her in a pleasant manner untilhe left them.

  That evening there was a serious discussion in the Sieur's study.Captain Chauvin was to return also, and who was most trustworthy to beput in command of the infant colony was an important matter. There hadbeen quite an acreage of grain sown the year before, maize waspromising, and a variety of vegetables had been cultivated. Meats andfish were dried and salted. They had learned how to protect themselvesfrom serious inroads of the scurvy. The houses in the post were beingmuch improved and made more secure against the rigors of the longwinter.

  An officer who had spent the preceding winter at the fort was put incommand, and the next day the garrison and the workmen were called inand enjoined to render him full obedience.

  Destournier and Gifford were to undertake some adventures in a northerlydirection, following several designated routes that Champlain hadexpected to pursue. Their journeys would not be very long.

  As for Rose, she improved every day and began to chatter delightfully,while her adoration of Madame Giffard was really touching, and filledhours that would otherwise have been very tedious.

  They had brought with them a few books. Madame was an expert atembroidery and lace-making, but was aghast when she realized her slenderstock of materials, and that it would be well-nigh a year before anycould come from France.

  "But there is bead work, and the Indian women make threads out ofgrasses," explained Wanamee. "And feathers of birds are sewed aroundgarments and fringes are cut. Oh, miladi will find some employment forher fingers."

  Mere Dubray made no objection to accompanying them to the Indian dance.She had been to several of them, but they were wild things that onecould not well understand; nothing like the village dances at home. "Butwhat would you? These were savages!"

  "I wish I could go, too," the child said wistfully. "But I could notclimb about nor stand up as I used. When will I be able to run aroundagain?"

  She was gaining every day and went out on the gallery for exercise. Shewas a very cheerful invalid; indeed miladi was so entertaining she wasnever weary when with her, and if her husband needed her, Wanamee cameto sit with the child. Rose knew many words in the language, as well asthat of the unfortunate Iroquois.

  All they had been able to learn about Catherine Arlac was that she hadcome from Paris to Honfleur, a widow, with a little girl. And Paris wassuch a great and puzzling place for a search.

  "But she is a sweet human rose with no thorns, and I must keep her,"declared miladi.

  Laurent Giffard made no demur. He was really glad for his wife to havean interest while he was away.

  The party threaded their way through the narrow winding paths that wereto be so famous afterward and witness the heroic struggle, when thelilies of France went down for the last time, and the heritage that hadcost so much in valiant endeavor and blood and treasure was signed away.

  There were flaming torches and swinging lanterns and throngs wending tothe part beyond the tents. The dance was not to pass a certain radius,where guards were stationed. Already there was a central fire of logs,around which the braves sat with their knees drawn up and their chinsresting upon them, looking as if they were asleep.

  "A fire this warm night," said miladi, in irony.

  "We could hardly see them without it," returned her husband.

  At the summons of a rude drum that made a startling noise, the bravesrose, threw down their blankets and displayed their holiday attire ofpaint, fringes, beads, and dressed deerskins with great headdresses offeathers. Another ring formed round them. One brave, an old man, cameforward, and gesticulating wildly, went through a series of antics. Oneafter another fell in, and the slow tread began to increase. Then shrillsongs, with a kind of musical rhythm, low at first, but growing louderand louder, the two or three circles joining in, the speed increasinguntil they went whirling around like madmen, shouting, thrusting at eachother with their brawny arms, until all seemed like a sudden frenzy.

  "Oh, they will kill each other!" almost shrieked Madame.

  "_Non, non_, but small loss if they did," commented Madame Dubray.

  They paused suddenly. It seemed like disentangling a chain. Theconfusion was heightened by the cries and the dancing featherheaddresses that might have been a flock of giant birds. But presentlythey resolved into a circle again, and began to march to a slow chant.One young fellow seized a brand from the fire and began a wild gyration,pointing the end to the circle, at random, it seemed. Then another andanother until the lights flashed about madly and there was a scent ofburning feathers. The circle stood its ground bravely, but there wereshrieks and mocking laughter as they danced around, sometimes making alunge out at the spectators, who would draw back in affright, a signalfor roars of mirth.

  "They will burn each other up," cried Madame. "Oh, let us go. The noiseis more than I can bear. And if they should attack us. Do you rememberwhat M. du Parc was telling us?"

  "I think we have had enough of it," began M. Giffard. "They are said tobe very treacherous. What is to hinder them from attacking the whites?"

  "The knowledge that they have not yet received any pay, and theirremaining stock would be confiscated. They are not totally devoid ofself-interest, and most of them have a respect for the fighting powersof the Sieur and his punishing capacity, as well."

  As they left the place the noise seemed to subside, though it was likethe roar of wild animals.

  "Am I to remain here all winter with these savages? Can I not returnwith M. de Champlain?" pleaded Madame Giffard.

  "Such a time would be almost a Godsend in the winter," declaredDestournier. "But they will be hundreds of miles away, and the nearIndians are sometimes too friendly, when driven by hunger to seek thefort. Oh, you will find no cause for alarm, I think."

  "And how long will they keep this up?" she asked, as they were ascendingthe parapet from which they could still see the moving mass and theflashing lights, weird amid the surrounding darkness.

  "They will sit in a ring presently and smoke the pipe of peace andenjoyment, and drop off to sleep. And for your satisfaction, not a fewamong those were fur-hunters and traders, white men, who have given upthe customs of civilized life and enjoy the hardships of the wilderness,but who will fight like tigers for their brethren when the issue comes.They are seldom recreant to their own blood."

  "I do not want to see it again, ever," she cried passionately. "I shallhardly sleep for thinking of it and some horrible things a sailor toldon shipboard. I can believe them all true now."

  "And we have had horrible battles, cruelty to prisoners," declared herhusband. "These poor savages have never been taught anything better, andare always at war with each other. But for us, who have a higher stateof civilization, it seems incredible that we should take a delight indestroying our brethren."

  It was quiet and peaceful enough inside the fort. The Sieur was stillengrossed with his papers, marking out routes and places where lakes andrivers might be found and where trading posts might be profitably set,and colonies established. It was a daring ambition to plant the liliesof France up northward, to take in the mighty lakes they had alreadydiscovered and to cross the continent and find the sure route to India.There were heroes in those days and afterwards.