It was Fairing himself who saw this deed which saved Kathleen’s life. Awaking, and not finding her, he had glanced towards the window, and had seen her on the lawn. He had rushed down to her, in time to see her saved by a strange bearded man in habitant dress. His one glance at the man’s face, as it turned towards him, produced an extraordinary effect upon his mind, not soon to be dispelled—a haunting, ghostlike apparition, which kept reminding him of something or somebody, he could not tell what or whom. The whispering voice and the breathless words, “Hush—she is asleep!” repeated themselves over and over again in his brain, as, taking Kathleen’s hand, he led her, unresisting, and still sleeping, back to her room. In agitated thankfulness he resolved not to speak of the event to Kathleen, or to any one else, lest it should come to her ears and frighten her.
He would, however, keep a sharp lookout for the man who had saved her life, and would reward him duly. The face of the bearded habitant came between him and his sleep.
Meanwhile this disturber of a woman’s dreams and a man’s sleep was hurrying to an inn in the town by the waterside, where he met another habitant with a team of dogs—Jo Portugais. Jo had not been able to bear the misery of suspense and anxiety, and had come seeking him. There was little speech between them.
“You have not been found out, M’sieu’?” was Jo’s anxious question.
“No, no, but I have had a bad night, Jo. Get the dogs together.”
A little later, as Charley made ready to go back to Chaudiere, Jo said:
“You look as if you’d had a black dream, M’sieu’.” With the river rustling by, and the trees stirring in the first breath of dawn, Charley told Jo what had happened.
For a moment the murderer did not speak or stir, for a struggle was going on in his breast also; then he stooped quickly, caught his companion’s hand, and kissed it.
“I could not have done it, M’sieu’,” he said hoarsely. They parted, Jo to remain behind as they had agreed, to be near Rosalie if needed; Charley to return to the valley of the Chaudiere.