We may explain here once for all that, although he had lived long enough in the colony to understand French, Billie spoke to his friend in English, and that, although La Certe understood English, he preferred to speak in French.
“What have you been doing?” he asked, when the boy had seated himself.
“I’ve been shooting at a mark with my bow and arrow—brother Archie made it for me.”
“Let me see—yes, it is very well made. Where is brother Archie?”
“Gone after the buffalo.”
“What!—on a horse?”
“He could not go very well after them on foot—could he?” replied the boy quietly. “Dan Davidson lent him a horse, but not a gun. He said that Archie was too young to use a gun on horseback, and that he might shoot some of the people instead of the buffalo, or burst his gun, or fall off. But I don’t think so. Archie can do anything. I know, for I’ve seen him do it.”
“And so he has left you in camp all by yourself. What a shame, Billie!”
“No, François, it is not a shame. Would you have me keep him from the fun just because I can’t go? That would indeed be a shame, wouldn’t it?”
“Well, perhaps you’re right, Billie.”