"Where? What?"
"Why, Billy, don't you see? There is Antoine LeBrinn down on the beach with Samone in his arms, and I know the poor little thing hasn't on half enough clothes to keep her warm. I don't care how soon they take her away from him, so there!"
"Why, Betty!"
"I don't care, Billy. I'm beginning to feel just the way the rest of the folks do about that old Antoine. Papa says he don't stick to any kind of work, and his family are too poor for anything!"
"I'm going to tell him," Billy threatened; "you see if I don't."
Late in the morning half the village gathered to watch the tug from Cheboygan release the Wallula and tow her into safe water. Then Billy saw more than one man frown, as he noticed the thinly clad child shivering in the Frenchman's arms. From that time he determined to compel Betty to tell Antoine he must stop drinking. At first Betty refused, but finally a new idea came into her mind.
"Tell you what we might do, Billy," she said, "we might get up a pledge for him to sign his name to."
"What's a pledge?"
