When Valmond Came to Pontiac, Complete

in the presence of the Master Workman, they saw that his seat was empty. The dead Caliban was gone-who should say how, or where? The

nd superstition the shed of death, and the spot in the

Mass was said in the church, all the parish attending;

the custom on this feast-day; and with a curious feeling that came to

ead, I t

ie sud

as a sa

uriously, he also ate the bre

ween, were touched off with a bar of red-hot iron, making a vast noise and drawing applausive crowds to the smithy. On the hill beside the Cure's house was a little old cannon brought from the battle-field of Ticonderoga, and its boisterous salutations were replied to from the Seigneur

rang up on a hill at the other side of the village. Then fire on fire glittered and multiplied, till all the village was in a glow. This was a cu

n robes preceded the devout Cure, and pious believers and youths on horseback, with ribbons flying, carried banners and shrines. Marshals kept the lines steady, and four were in constant attendance on a gorgeous carriage, all gilt and carving (the heirloom of the parish), in which reclined

after no pattern, save the absurd-clowns, satyrs, kings, soldiers, imps, barbarians. Many had hideous false-faces, and a few horribly tall skeletons had heads of pumpkins containing lighted candles. The marshals were pierrots and clowns on

alo, beau

navir' so

navir' so

voin', char

ouis Quinze. The windows of Valmond's chambers were alight, and to one a staff was fastened. Suddenly the Ka

e inventive lime-burner who spoke. "What

are looking for our brother, yo

your brother li

nd eyes like torches, and

is his face like ivo

h for us. He is a grand se

s like torches,

us the

eared upon

. "Brother," said the fantastic leader, "we'

ir own symbols. "There are high hills to climb; there may be

ts, and you have a s

to know if you are true,

ands and cockades in their caps. At that moment also, a flag-the Tricolor-fluttered upon the staff at Valmond's window. The roll of a drum came out of the street somewhere, and presently the people fell

e soldiery had military clothes, old militia uniforms, or the rebel trappings of '37; others, less fortunate, wore their trou

he badge of our love is in your caps. Let us begin our journey home. I will come down among you: I will come down among you, and I will lead you from Pontia

. At that moment De la Riviere appeared on

w what you are doing? T

. Then he rode down in front of Lajeunesse's men, the others sprang from the drays and

ul quest for empire. The people had a phrase, and t

rfume of a coming harvest. He doffed his hat to her, then to the Tricolor, which Lagroin had fastened on a tall staff before the house. Elise did not stir, did not courtesy or bow, but stood silent-entran

He heard again her voice crying in the s

carry it bravely to the end, enjoying every step in it, comedy or tragedy. Yet all da

ead, I t

ie sud

as a sa

No matter: it was a game, in which nothing was sure-nothing save this girl. She wou

as life itself, absolute, true, abiding. His nature swam gloriously in his daring exploit; he believed in it, he sank himself i

me Chalice was his friendly inquisitor, not his enemy; she endured him for some talent he had shown, for the apparent sincerity of his love for the cause; but that was all. Yet she was ever in t

dream in her heart but love fulfilled-she was no part of his adventure, but of that vi