"Now, march off looking just as if I had sent you to the gallows."
"Mayn't I shake 'ands, sir?"
The magistrate shook his head, and as Bill turned to go assisted him on his way with a bare foot. At that Bill was indignant.
Still Black Douglas stood on the river bank, until the prisoner had boarded the canoe, and the voyageurs shoved off. They came upstream saluting as they passed, then the swing and flash and glitter of their paddles took time from the voyageur chantey:
Allouette! Chantez Allouette!
All-ou-ette! Je le plumerai!
Douglas followed with his eyes as the canoe went on into the blaze of sunshine on the ripples. There was something very tender, very wistful, in his smile as he stood listening.
Je le plumerai le bee;
Et les yeux,
Et la tête,
Et les ailles,
Ah-a-allouette! Chantez allouette!
* * * * *
Et les ailles!