“The wish of the lady is sufficient,” he said quietly, and then stood again erect, facing Cassion. “Yet,” he added slowly, “I would remind Monsieur that while I serve him as a guide, it is as a volunteer, and I am also an officer of France.”
“Of France? Pah! of the renegade La Salle.”
“France has no more loyal servant, Monsieur Cassion in all this western land––nor is he renegade, for he holds the Illinois at the King’s command.”
“Held it––yes; under Frontenac, but not now.”
“We will not quarrel over words, yet not even in 110 Quebec was it claimed that higher authority than La Barre’s had led to recall. Louis had never interfered, and it is De Tonty, and not De Baugis who is in command at St. Louis by royal order. My right to respect of rank is clearer than your own, Monsieur, so I beg you curb your temper.”
“You threaten me?”
“No; we who live in the wilderness do not talk, we act. I obey your orders, do your will, on this expedition, but as a man, not a slave. In all else we stand equal, and I accept insult from no living man. ’Tis well that you know this, Monsieur.”
The hat was back upon his head, and he had turned away before Cassion found answering speech. It was a jaunty, careless figure, disappearing amid the trees, the very swing of his shoulders a challenge, nor did he so much as glance about to mark the effect of his insolent words. For the instant I believed Cassion’s first thought was murder, for he gripped a pistol in his hand, and flung one foot forward, an oath sputtering between his lips. Yet the arrant coward in him conquered even that mad outburst of passion, and before I could grasp his arm in restraint, the impulse had passed, and he was staring after the slowly receding figure of De Artigny, his fingers nerveless.
“Mon Dieu––no! I’ll show the pup who is the master,” he muttered. “Let him disobey once, and 111 I’ll stretch his dainty form as I would an Indian cur.”
“Monsieur,” I said, drawing his attention to my presence. “’Tis of no interest to me your silly quarrel with Sieur de Artigny. I am weary with the boat journey, and would rest until food is served.”