He held out his hand, and silently waited. 334 The priest’s head was raised, and his lips moved slowly in prayer. The maid sat rigid, her hands tightly gripping the edge of the bench. Though he knew that every moment brought nearer the chance of discovery, that the lives of them all hung on a thread as slender as a hair, the Captain stood without the twitching of a muscle, without a sign of fear or haste in his grave, worn face.
The Indian’s eyes wavered. He looked at the fallen chief, at the priest, at Menard; then he took the offered hand. No further word was needed. Menard did not know the thought that lay behind the cunning face; it was enough that the Indian had given his word.
“Quick, we must hide him,” said the Captain, looking swiftly about the hut. “We must disturb you, Mademoiselle––”
In a moment the three men had lifted the body of the Long Arrow and laid it away under the low bench. Teganouan scraped a few handfuls of earth from a corner and spread it over the spot where the chief had been.
“How far is it to the lake, Teganouan?”
“But a few rods.”
“And the forest is thick?”
“We must cross the lake. Is there a canoe here?”
The Indian shook his head. Menard stood thinking for an instant.