“And how come you to this wild spot in the heart of these forests, and with warfare all around?”

“I will tell you that, too.  My father has always been a man of action, who has loved travel and adventure.  Since the outbreak of this war in the west he has longed to be in the midst of it.  He is something of a soldier, and something of a statesman, and he is the friend of many great ones at Court, and has been entrusted before now with missions requiring skill and tact.  He is also the kinsman of the Marquis of Montcalm, whose name no doubt you know by this time.”

“He is the new military commander sent out by the King of France, to take the lead in the war now commenced in Canada and along the border between France and England,” answered Stark promptly.

“Yes; and my father and uncle came out with him, and my brother and I also.  My uncle is the good Abbe Messonnier; but you will not have heard of him, though he is well known and well beloved in France.  My father has certain work to do here the nature of which I do not fully know, nor could I divulge if I did.  We arrived at Quebec a short time ago, and thence we moved on to Montreal.  But it was needful for my father and uncle to visit some of these outposts, and we begged, Colin and I, not to be left behind.  We burned with curiosity to see the strange sights of which we had heard—­the Indians in their war paint, the great forests and lakes, the forts and their garrisons, and all the wonders of the west.

“So they brought us in their company.  My father takes me everywhere with him that he can.  Since my mother’s death he seems unable to lose sight of me.  We have been hard upon a month at the fort now.  We are learning all we can of the condition of affairs, to report to the Marquis when we return to Montreal or to Quebec.  He himself talks of coming to command here when the time comes for the attack to be made upon your fort; but that will scarcely be yet, for there is so much he has to set in order in Canada.  Oh, the way things are managed there—­it is a disgrace!”

“Is Canada weak then?” asked Stark, burning with curiosity for information on the subject.

The girl slowly shook her head.

“Perhaps I ought not to talk with you, since you are the enemies of my countrymen.  And, in sooth, I know little enough to tell.  I hear one say this and one the other, and I cannot know where the truth lies.  But of one thing they are very certain and confident—­that they will drive out the English from all these western outposts, and will keep them shut in between the mountains and the sea; and that France alone shall rule this mighty continent of giant forests and rivers, undisturbed by any foreign foe.  Of that all men are confident.”

The Rangers exchanged glances, and the girl saw it.