The old man only smiled.
"I will give you a pass."
Batoche took off his glove and produced from his pocket a folded paper.
Cary opened it, and recognizing the signature of Colonel Meigs, returned it with a smile.
"I thankfully accept your offer," said he. "Here is a little message which you will deliver to Mademoiselle Zulma."
Saying which, he wrote a few lines in pencil on a leaf of his pocket book.
"She will receive it at noon," said Batoche, taking the missive, and without the addition of another word, he stalked away on his snow-shoes.
Cary returned to camp just in time to take part in the forward movement of his corps. The main body did not break up its quarters till five days later, but on the 29th November, the day on which the event just narrated took place, Morgan's riflemen were ordered to lead the van towards Quebec. That same afternoon, therefore, Singleton found himself nearly on the same spot which he had occupied in the early morning.