Before she could check the smile, a bronze hand reached across to her with the pipe. She started back and looked down at it.
“You must smoke it,” Menard whispered. “It is a great honour. They have admitted you to their council.”
“Oh, M’sieu––I can’t––” she took the 354 pipe and held it awkwardly; then, with an effort, raised it to her mouth. It made her cough, and she gave it quickly to the Captain.
The Indians rose gravely and filed out of the hut.
“Come, Mademoiselle, we are to go.”
The smoke had brought tears to her eyes, and she was hesitating, laughing in spite of herself.
“Oh, M’sieu, will––will it make me sick?”
He smiled, with a touch of the old light humour.
“I think not. We must go, or they will wonder.”
They found the chiefs waiting before the hut, Father Claude and Teganouan among them. As soon as they had appeared, the whole party set out through the village and over a trail through the woods to the eastward. The ill-kept dogs played about them, and plunged, barking, through the brush on either side. Behind, at a little distance, came the children and hangers-on of the village, jostling one another to keep at the head where they could see the white strangers.