“I’m sorry, Parson Amen, you’ve brought in the deer,” he cried.  “Had you stuck to the Jews, I might have believed all that you fancy, in this business; but the deer have spoiled all.  As for scape-goats, since Margery seems to agree with you, I suppose you are right about them though my notion of such creatures has been to keep clear of them, instead of following them up, as you seem to think these Hebrews have done.  But if you are no nearer right in your doctrine about the Injins than you are about their game, you’ll have to change your religion.”

“Do not think that my religion depends on any thread so slight, Bourdon.  A man may be mistaken in interpreting prophecy, and still be a devout Christian.  There are more reasons than you may at first suppose, for believing in this theory of the gradual change of the goat into the deer, and especially into the antelope.  We do not any of us believe that Noah had with him, in the ark, all the animals that are now to be found, but merely the parent-stems, in each particular case, which would be reducing the number many fold.  If all men came from Adam, Bourdon, why could not all deer come from goats?”

“Why this matter about men has a good deal puzzled me, Parson, and I hardly know what answer to give.  Still, men are men, wherever you find them.  They may be lighter or darker, taller or shorter, with hair or wool, and yet you can see they are men.  Perhaps food, and climate, and manner of living, may have made all the changes we see in them; but Lord, Parson, a goat has a beard!”

“What has become of the thousands of scape-goats that the ancient Hebrews must have turned loose in the wilderness?  Answer me that, Bourdon?”

“You might as well ask me, sir, what has become of the thousands of Hebrews who turned them loose.  I suppose all must be dead a thousand years ago.  Scape-goats are creatures that even Injins would not like.”

“All this is a great mystery, Bourdon—­a much greater mystery than our friend Peter, whom you have so often said was a man so unaccountable.  By the way, he has given me a charge to perform an office between you and Margery, that I had almost forgotten.  From what he said to me, I rather think it may have some connection with our safety.  We have enemies among these savages, I feel very certain; though I believe we have also warm friends.”

“But what have you in charge that has anything to do with Bourdon and me?” asked the wondering Margery, who was quick to observe the connection, though utterly at a loss to comprehend it.

The missionary now called a halt, and finding convenient seats, he gradually opened the subject with which he had been charged by Peter to his companions.  The reader is probably prepared to learn that there was no longer any reserve between le Bourdon and Margery on the subject of their future marriage.  The young man had already pressed an immediate union, as the wisest and safest course to be pursued.