“They seem to sleep often.”
“You could not do it. We shall hope to get away safely; but it will not be like that.”
Danton was not convinced. He said nothing further, but late on that first night he made 148 the attempt alone. The others were asleep, and suspected nothing until the morning. Then Father Claude, who came and went freely among the Indians, brought word that he had been caught a league to the north. The Indians bound him, and tied him to stakes in a strongly guarded hut. This much the priest learned from Tegakwita, the warrior who had guarded them on the night of their capture. After Menard’s appeal to his gratitude he had shown a willingness to be friendly, and, though he dared do little openly, he had given the captives many a comfort on the hard journey southward.
Later in the morning Menard and Mademoiselle St. Denis were sitting at the door of their hut. The irregular street was quiet, excepting for here and there a group of naked children playing, or a squaw passing with a load of firewood on her back. An Indian girl came in from the woods toward them. She was of light, strong figure, with a full face and long hair, which was held back from her face by bright ribbons. Her dress showed more than one sign of Mission life. She was cleaner than most of the Indians, and was not unattractive. She came to them without hesitation. 149
“I am Tegakwita’s sister. My name is Mary; the Fathers at the Mission gave it to me.”
Menard hardly gave her a glance, but Mademoiselle was interested.
“That is not your Indian name?” she asked.
“Yes,––Mary.”
“Did you never have another?”
“My other name is forgotten.”