De Loie started out on the path he had come. It was mid-afternoon. A light snow began to fall, and the wind moaned in the trees. Rose and Wanamee huddled together at the fire, their arms around each other, under the blanket. It was easy to love Wanamee. But then she had begun it as a child—Was it easy to love when one was grown?
The darkness was descending when they heard a shout. Was it friend or foe? Another, and it came nearer. It was not the voice of an Indian.
De Loie rushed in upon them. "You men go and relieve those at the litter. Savignon is a wizard. He has the three men. I could not believe it at first, and I am afraid now it is a trick. You cannot trust an Indian."
Rose drew a long breath. Then her fate was sealed. Or, if they were attacked in the night, it would be some compensation to die together.
They came in at last, with Destournier on an improvised hemlock litter. The fire blazed up brightly, making a striking picture of the eager faces. The men lowered the litter to the ground, and they crowded around it. Destournier was ghostly pale, but full of thankfulness. When there was a little space open he reached out his hand to Rose.
"You two women have been very brave, but you should not have taken the journey. As for Savignon, we all owe him a debt that we can never repay."
"It is repaid already," returned the Indian, glancing over at Rose. "To have rescued you——"
"What arts and incantations you used! I could not have believed it possible to move their stony hearts."
"It was not their hearts." Savignon gave a grim smile. "It was their fears that were worked upon. I was afraid at one time that I would not succeed. But I had a reward before me."
"Quebec will pay you all honor. It is a grand thing to have saved three lives from torture and death. For there was no other escape."