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REDOXEN
OFBONVAL

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IjTsEiTIlJLJI

P ^ g a OCPublished, October, igo8

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

^O it is merely to
these good beasts,
then," said Mad-
emoiselle mock-
ingly, " that I owe the honor
of this visit from the much-occu-
pied Captain denning I And I
had been flattering myself 1
Mais — 'tis ever so with us poor
maids. Monsieur 1 We cannot
be permitted to cherish our
pretty delusions, — .-.o, not even
so long as that 1 " And she
gave a daring little snip of her
little brown thumb and slim
forefinger. It was nothing so
pronounced as a snap, of course ;
yet it was one of those things
which only the right woman can

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

do in the right way, and which
are all wrong if wrong by a
hair's-breadth.

* As she spoke, her small dark
head to one side, she gazed at
me straight in the eyes, laugh-
ingly, wickedly, in a manner
tl'.at was both a challenge and
an inhibition. It was indeed, a
dare to all gallant protestation ;
but, at the same time, there was
something which forbade that
one should ever dream of taking
up the little glove so recklessly
thrown down.

This had ever been Jeanne
c'e Bonval's way, indeed, dur-
ing those two brief weeks of the
preceding winter which she had
spent in Halifax, with half of the
officers of the garrison sighing
vainly at her small, disdainful
feet. Not one of us but had

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

been held always at tantalizing
distance, piqued by a sweet and
dangerous raillery. If there
were one for whom her wit as-
sumed less keen an edge than
was its wont, that one, I thought,
was myself ; and I was not alone
in this suspicion. Yet never,
even with the courage of this
thought in my heart, had I dared
put things to the test, lest raw
haste should bungle my hopes.
Of love or wooing, or of aught
more intimate than the cere-
monious compliment, I had suf-
fered not my lips to say one
word, waiting till that aloof and
imperious spirit which I felt,
rather than saw, lurking behind
her challenging audacity, should
have been lulled to sleep.

Now, therefore, when she
made sport of the business

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

which had brought me to her
home on the St. Croix, where
:he lived a remote yet busy life
with her widowed and ailing
mother, she had me, as of old,
at her mercy. My unready
wits and my most unready
French held me silent, as of
old ; but I took heart to let my
eyes speak, with a plainness
that could need no interpreter.
For just an instant her own eyes
softened and dropped, while a
faint rose tinged the clear brown
of her cheek. The one tiny
foot, in its moccasin of whitened
deerskin and dyed quill-work,
tapped the floor nervously, and
she met my gaze again with a
look that carried the old inhibi-
tion with full force. Evidently
she thought I was going to
speak too boldly, — going to

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

take the dare, and tell the truth
which she knew was burning on
my tongue, — for she spoke
again hastily, yet in the same
mocking, provocative vein.

•' Oh, no truly," she cried,
shaking her head, and flashing
her white teeth between her
scarlet lips, " I would not that
one of you so honest English
should do violence to his hon-
esty by flattering a poor country
maid. Yet our Frenchmen say
nice things to us, and we know
they do not mean them, and we
are pleased all the same. They
would say that they came to lay
their devoted services at my feet
and that the Governor's business
was but an incident. Is it not
so. Monsieur > But you would
not so flatter me. Oh, no ;
though you must know that I

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

have no one here to make me
compliments, except my dear,
dear mother, who is nigh blind
and cannot see me, and old
Tamin, my overseer, who is
equally blind because he loves
me so. But, never mind," —
she went on, suddenly changing
her tone, and speaking with
reminiscence in her voice, " it
is pleasant to have a visitor from
Halifax even if it be but the Gov-
ernor's business that brings him.
Let us then talk of the Gov-
ernor's business, and the cattle."

" Indeed, Mademoiselle," I
began, having had time to fashion
my phrases in the unfamiliar
tongue, "duty has but opened
for me the door of desire, and
now "

"That is very nice!" she
cried, clapping her hands and

RED OXE.N OF BONVAL

wickedly interrupting. "Now
do I begin to believe that tiiert
still are kings and courts in the
wide, far world, and stately
dames, and minuets, and patches.
I had begun to fear that I was,
perhaps, after all, the peasant
girl you seemed to think me,
(she, with the blood of the de la
Tours and the de Razillys in her
veins!) or an Indian maid, in
these moccasins." And she
half thrust out the little foot, and
quickly drew it back beneath the
white homespun petticoat.
" What if all that gay life, the
lights, and the glitter, and the
music, and the dancing, and the
courtly compliments that sound
so pretty and mean so little,
were just a dream, Monsieur 1
Soiiietimes I think it so, here
alone on the farm, with just

and Tamin, and old Annette in

1„H i' '"' '"*^ '^^ ^"'^kens
and the cows to talk to."

" The place which is blessed
by your presence, Mademoi-

selle,-the life which has you to
adorn it.-that place and that
■fe, in court or in country, are
the best," I answered fervently,
emboldened by the seriousness
of her concluding words. Then
with hasty return of prudence I
changed my tone. "The fact
's I only reached Fort Piziquid
th.s very noon. Scanting to the
"most such time as waf need!
ful for my toilet, I took a fresh
horse and rode straight hither,
lam sure that the Governor,
elf"^ '" '"'P««i«nt man him^
self, would have thought my
haste much keener than any

RED OXEN OP BONVAL

urgency in my business might
seem to call for I "

"Ah, Monsieur," said she,
wit'i affected seriousness, "be-
lieve me, you do not know what
need there may be of haste in
this matter of the cattle which
your Governor is so solicitous
to possess. You do not know
what peril may threaten these
good beasts, to which I am so
indebted for the pleasure of this
visit from Captain denning 1
But, Monsieur must excuse me
if I leave him for a few mo-
ments, while I go to tell my
mother of his coming, and learn
if she feels strong enough this
afternoon to see him. Then, if
it please you, we will consider
more minutely this business of
the Governor's 1 "

As she moved across the

r;h.te cat which I had nof be-
fore observed dropped from a
shelf and, routed after her like.

"7""'!'"»0"'%.iikeacrea-
";e of the woods, with a mo-

"ad belonged to her in the ball-
-rns of Halifax. She flash 'd
"Pon me one radiant yet half
floufng glance, and disjppea^d

' j'°od staring after her, eyes
«nd heart alike filled witkfhe
delectable vision.

If I had been in love with
Jeanne de Bonval in Hal,7ax

Etc^^^Sed^r^^ ^""''"-
patch ,nT. "^equirement of

£!^!lL!:lP^:r^f|;andprecisi^

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

of ceremony, I was tenfold more
in love with her now. Beauti-
ful indeed had she seemed to me
then, above all other women ;
but she was tenfold more beauti-
ful now, from the dainty white-
moccasined feet and slender
ankles to the black, rebellious
waves of her thick hair, whose
strange iridescences of bronze
and purple should never have
been desecrated by powder, un-
less as a merciful provision that
other women might not die of
envy. One curl, not over long,
came down beside her small,
half-hidden ear, with an air of
having escaped the pins that
should have held it. Her face,
tanned to the clearest and most
velvet brown, had that subtle
modelling which only genera-
tions of fine breeding can con-

I I

i 1

1 il

KHD OXEW OP BO WVAL

fer,-and the like teal of her
ancestors was to be discerned
in her slim fingers with their
rosy oral nails. But the resist-
less enchantment of her face ap-
peared to dwell in her eyes and
in her mouth.-^jyes of alternate
I'ght and shadow, mystery and
revelation,— mouth upon whose
scarlet curves mirth and sadness
came and went, childishness and
womanliness replaced each other
at a thought. She wore the
short skirt of homespun linen
most in use among the country
girls of Acadia, but undyed, and

bleached to a creamy whiteness,
with white sleeves puffed at the
shoulders, and a bodice of some
soft blue stuff marvelously be-
coming. And my whole soul
went out to her, kissing the
places on the floor whe re the
i8

RED OXEN OF BONVa'

little moccasined feet had
stepped. It is permitted, in-
deed, for the soul to do what in
the body, — and especially a
body six feet tall and broad in
proportion, — might look ridicu-
lous. But was it not, forsooth,
almost ridiculous that I should
stand in this way with my eyes
glued to the door through which
My Lady had disappeared >
"Would this fetch her?" 1
asked myself, with a half laugh
under my breath ; and I turned
to speed the moments by gazing
out upon the fair prospect under
the window.

A fair prospect indeed 1 The
old manor house of the de
Bonvals was on the sunward
slope of the uplands, overlooking
the rich dyke-meadows of the
St. Croix stream. On either

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

! , !

ill!

side were apple-orchards, hiding
the barns ind outbuildings ; and
one tal' lombardy poplar,
straight and stiff as a church
steeple, stood guard at each
side of the open space which
led up to the front door. This
open space was a garden, given
over to currant bushes, — beds
of pinks and marigolds, scarlet-
lychnis and love-lies-bleeding,
tangles of red and yellow roses,
and thickets of tall blue lark-
spur. Along the foot of the
garden a hedge of lilac shrubs ;
then the road ; then the wide
dyke-lands, level, golden green,
and dotted with small red cattle
pasturing on the aftermath.
Beyond the winding lines of
the dyke wound the river, now
placid and golden at full tide,
and then, at the other side of

RBD OXEN OF BONVAL

the tawny flood, more meadows,
bordered by dark green hills of
spruce and fir. A strong and
sweet landscape this, I thought ;
tranquil, yet not tame, and
visited by change twice daily,
when the huge tides emptying
themselves down past Piziquid
and forth under the black front
of <^'omidon,.left bare the gaping
channels of copper red. So
lovely a scene, and one set so
deep in her love, — was there
any hope that I should prevail
with her to leave it for a home
in the raw little city of Halifax,
yet noisy with the hammers of
the builders? Well, I was re-
solved, — and here I renewed my
resolution, — that upon this visit
I would put my fate to the test,
if Mademoiselle's eyes would
but for an instant refrain from

I'S! li!

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

routing my courage ; and I
blessed the small red cattle there
at their pasturing, that they had
been the means of procuring to
me this long craved opportunity.
For all her raillery, Mademoi-
selle Jeanne must have well
known how tied to my post I
was at Halifax, how sorely I
had been chafing at my fetters,
and how only the urgent need
of provisions for the garrison
could induce the Governor to
send me on so long a journey
at a time when he had daily
need of my services.

Noiseless, as I have said, were
her feet, like a moth's wing in
the twilight of the honeysuckles ;
but I felt her coming, and turned
with leaping heart to find her at
my shoulder.

"My mother," said she.

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

"begs that you will stay and
sup with us, Monsieur."

I bowed my glad assent, but
before I could speak she went
on in her quick way

•* And we have now just time
to talk of this business of the
Governor's upon which you are
so zealous. He desires, you say,
to purchase these good beasts of
mine yonder, for the garrison ? ''

" Yes, Mademoiselle I " It
was better I thought to get the
business done with, and clean
set aside, that she might have
one weapon the less wherewith
to put me off from weightier
matters. " He bids me convey
to you his profoundest con-
sideration, and to express the
hope that you will again honor
Halifax with your presence this
coming winter. He bids me

REsD OXEN OF BONVAL v

say, also, that he knows how to
value the friendliness of a de
Bonval, and begs that you will
ask him a price something higher
than the best that you could
hope to obtain elsewhere 1 "

" But you, Monsieur," she
answered, lookingat me gravely,
" you must surely know that it
is not possible for me to sell
provision to your garrison 1 "

Here it was again, the bar-
rier that confronted us at every
turn when dealing with the
Acadians ; and it moved me
deeply to find that even Mad-
emoiselle de Bonval was not an
exception. At once 1 became
the eager advocate of our cause,
identifying it with my own pri-
vate interest. Her refusal
seemed to put her farther off,
out of my reach, behind ambi-

S.ED OXEN OF BONVAL

tions, sympathies, purposes
which were alien and remote.
In arguing the Governor's case
I was indeed pleading my own.
" But, Mademoiselle, we have
hoped so much from your friend-
ship," I urgea, too fervently for
a mere matter of fat cattle.
" Everywhere, the Acadians re-
fuse to sell us the food which
we have a right to purchase,
offering the best prices for what
we might take at our own price ;
and we have reason to know
that all the time, in spite of the
law against it and the risk of
severe punishment, they are
selling these same things which
we so much need to our enemies
at Louisbourg, and for a paltry
price. But you. Mademoi-
selle, — we have hoped and be-
lieved that you were one of

RED OXKN OF BONVAL

ourselves, and would set these
ponr habitants an example. Oh,
surely you are one of us, are you
not, Mademoiselle?"

She had listened with gravity
in her great eyes, but now the
old mockery leaped into them,
and she laughed, with her head
on one side.

" How eloquent you can be,
Monsieur, on a matter of busi-
ness, — you who are wont to be
so silent when I would hear
pretty speeches 1 "

My face fell, as I realized
how much in earnest I had
been, — and seemingly on a mere
question of fat cattle I My
heart [grew hot, and my face
grew red at the thought. Then,
of a sudden I understood my
own fervor. Looking deep
into her eyes I said :

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

ese

" It was because I was jeal-

)h,

ous, — I am mad with jealousy,

^ou

if you have interests and dreams

which I cannot share, if you

rity

have any part in life that sepa-

the

rates you from my love ! " And

forgetting all about Kings and,

;ad

C.vernors, and garrisons, I

seized her hand and pressed it

be.

fiercely to ray lips.

si-

On the instant, however, and

before my lips could half realize

ear

their own ecstasy, the little hand

was dexterously extricated. A

:ed

slight flush crept into Mademoi-

lad

selle's face, and her eyes fell.

ere

She didn't seem offended; but

Vly

there was the faintest tinge of

ice

austerity in her voice — the old

en,

effective inhibition, — as she

said :

" I can honestly commend

your zeal to the Governor, Mon-

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

li^ !

I it

sieur. And as for this friend-
ship of mine, which you would
make so important that the
Governor should give heed to
it, indeed, Monsieur, insignifi-
cant as it is, it is loyal. I am
English at heart. When we
de Bonvals swore allegiance to
the English Throne we did it
with our hearts as well as with
our lips. And most gladly,
now, would I meet the demand
of your Governor. But surely
you must understand that I
cannot— because / dare not I "

"Dare not?" I cried, with
amazed indignation that any one
should have power to coerce or
make her afraid.

" Can you keep a garrison
here at Bonval.>" she asked.
"Shall I show my loyalty by
letting this house of my fathe -j

28 ~

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

be burned down, over the head
of my sick mother?"

I was thunderstruck. I
could not have believed that any
peril was imminent to her from
our enemies; here on the
St. Croix within five miles of the
Piziquid fort. Yet I knew well
enough that these were no idle
words of hers. Her sincerity
was above question ; and she was
not the stuff of which hysterical
alarmists are fashioned. But
before I could make question
of the danger I was favored by
fortune with a most unexpected
enlightening. " But, Mademoi-
selle " — I was beginning to stam-
mer, when old Tamin, her factor,
came in hastily, following upon
his knock before she had time
to biU him enter.

" Your pardon," he cried, hat

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

fii ■•

in hand and bowing low, " but
Fatiier La Game and some of
his red flock are close at hand.
It were well that Monsieur the
Englishman were hidden at
once. I have buried his saddle
in the hay and turned his horse
out to pasture 1 "

So this was the notorious
partisan priest, La Game, con-
demned by his church, feared
by the Acadians, hated Ly us
English with a fiery hate, who
came now so inopportunely to
spoil my wooing I Hide from
him and his crew? My bjood
boiled, as I laid hands on the
pistols in my belt.

" Hide from those vermin?"
I exclaimed. Then I saw that
Mademoiselle's face had gone
white to the lips; and I hesi-
tated. " You must, indeed you

3°

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

must," she cried, seizing
me by the arm and trying
to lead me toward a small
door in a corner of the room.
"They will be too many.
You will be killed— and—
scalped."

I felt|her trembling. But I
refused to obey her.

"I have my weapons 1" I
protested obstinately. " Would
you have me leave you unpro-
tected ? "

She stopped and became sud-
denly calm.

■' I am in no danger, — unless
frolh your presence I " she said
firmly. " Will you do as I
wish ? Or will you force me to
see you murdered before my
eyes ? " Then her c Im forsook

her again "Oh, madness !

Are you mad?" she cried

RED OXEN OP BONVAL

wildly. " Don't you love me?
Come I Come I "

" I love you," said I quietly,
following her to the door. She
opened it. I stepped into the
scented darkness of a closet,
where soft, feminine stuffs hung
on pegs. She closed the door,
and I heard her turn the key.
What did I care whether hiding
was dignified or not ? She had
shown her heart in that swift
and desperate moment, and I
was drunk with happiness. Yes,
indeed, I would hide as stealthily
as a wood-mouse, if she wished
it. That there might be(" no
risk of noise from my heavy
boots, I lay down on a heap of
furs, close to the door, — and
found that I could see out into the
room through a crack in the panel-
ing just on a level with my eyes.

RED OXEN OP BONVAL

Barely had I disposed myself
so as best to use this advantage,
when I heard a man's voice,
strong and hoarse, at the other
side of the room, and then the
low music of Mademoiselle
Jeanne's welcome. But they
were too far off for me to catch
anything that was said. Pres-
ently, however, they drew nearer
to my hiding-place, and their
words reached my ear with a
distinctness almost startling. I
understood this to be a piece of
My Lady's strategy, that I
might be entertained, and in-
formed, in my prison; and I
blessed her for it.

" I am advised, my Daugh-
ter," La Game's harsh voice
was saying, "that your hus-
bandry has greatly prospered
this year."

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

III

"The saints, have, indeed,
favored me far beyond my r>oor
deserts," answered Mademoi-
selle in deferential tones.

" You have grain in garner,
beyond your necessities, I am
told ; and fatted oxen, ready for
market, is it not so } "

" My barley is not yet
threshed. Father," was the re-
spectful reply. (Scarce did I
recognize my imperious mistress
in this attitude of strange hu-
mility.) " And I have ten ar-
pents of buckwheat on the up-
lands, not yet ripe for the sickle.
As for my oxen, they are what
you see yonder on the after-
math, — not large, but well
nourished."

" It is touching them that I
would speak with you, my
Daughter. Beyond admonish-

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

ing you that you hold faithful to
the cause of France, who will
yet return to her own, and rule
once more over all this land of
Acadia now groaning under the
English usurper, — beyond ad-
monishing you thus, which is
doubtless unnecessary, I have
no time for the civilities of my
more fortunate and more courtly
brethren. Yet, it is perhaps
given me to serve the cause of
France in no common manner ! "
(Here there came into his voice
a note of fanatical zeal, and I
felt that the fellow, however
bloody, was sincere.) " Verily,
my Daughter, these weak and
self-seeking people, these Acadi-
ans, had long ago yielded their
heavy necks to the English yoke,
but for me I "

" I have observed, indeed,

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

Father," answered Mademoi-
selle, sweetly humoring this
outburst, "that your power is
very great among our people."

" Not my power, my Daugh-
ter, not mine," he protested, in
<i tone somewhat perfunctory,
" but the power of the Cause I
serve. But enough of myself,
and more of my business here 1
These cattle are much needed
by our garrison at Louisbourg.
I will buy them of you, at a fair
price, and bring or send you the
money in full payment within
one month from to-day."

He paused for a reply, but
Mademoiselle was silent.

" You will have the beasts
driven up to the ford to-morrow,
about this hour," he continued,
"and there I will give your
man a written acknowledgment

RED OXEN OF BONVVL

of receipt. Why do ycu rot
reply, my Daughter ? "

I noticed that a sharpness was
creeping into his voice.

" It is not altogether easy to
reply, Father," answered Mad-
emoiselle very gently. " You
see, there are several points that
have to be considered."

" For instance 1 " His words
were curt and hard.

" Well, Father, for one thing
the English are very anxious to
purchase these same "

But she was cut short. " Let
me tell you, Jeanne de Bonval,"
he interrupted, a sudden cold
fury in his voice, "though the
English were to give you their
weight in silver for the beasts,
you would find it a costly bar-
gain. I warn you, you are
under suspicion of leaning to

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

these usurpers. I know of your
merrymakings last winter, your
ds.ncings and your mummeries
with the enemies of your church
and your king. You are watched,
girl. If you let the flatteries of
vain fools mislead you, and the
greed of gold tempt you to sell
support to the foes of France
and God, then — your fate be
upon your own head 1 "

I ground my teeth with rage,
having to lie silent and let his
insolence go unchastised. But
My Lady was no longer
meek.

" You presume too far upon
your cloth, Monsieur La Game,"
she said, and I could see that
she drew up her small figure
right haughtily. " And I must
beg you to remember that I have
not expressed any intention of

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

trafficking with the English. As
for my private affairs in Halifax,
they are a matter between my-
self and my own Father Con-
fessor, the Cur6 of Piziquid,
who has, I believe, the respect
of his brother priests and the
confidence of his bishop."

This was a sharp thrust, and
I rubbed my hands over it. It
was well known through all
Acadia that the Bishop of Que-
bec tolerated La Game only
under urgent persuasion of the
Governor of New France.

"I am not here to bandy
words with a woman," said
La Game. "Nor do I care
to resent an insolence toward
myself. I serve France ; and
treason toward her I will pun-
ish. Do you send these cattle
to the upper ford to-morrow ?

RED OX EN OF BONVAL

Or do you sell them to the
English?"

"I was going on to say,"
replied Mademoiselle coldly,
" that you ask what would mean
our ruin. You know the law,
and to what I render myself
liable if I am detected in selling
supplies to the French at Louis-
bourg } "

Now La Game was a true
partisan. He promptly forgot
ail personal consideration in his
zeal to secure an advantage to
his cause.

*' There need be no difficulty,"
he cried. " You will never be
suspected. At this distance
from the fort there is no danger
of your being seen, none what-
ever. You are too timorous,

or your heart as I have said, is
with the English . But! wish
40 ~

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

you no harm, if you obey. I
will judge you by your worics,
and leave your motives to your
own conscience. Send the cat-
tle after nightfall, if you think
that safer. I will wait till one
hour after moonrise."

" I will not so compromise
myself, Monsieur La Game,"
she answered. " If it is so safe,
as you say, then send your own
men for the cattle, at the first
dark and take them. And I
will send my man Tamin into
Piziquid in the afternoon, that
no blame or suspicion may rest
on him. The English are very
bitter on this business of sup-
plies going to Louisbourg, and
they wait to make a conspicuous
example of some one ! "

" Well," assented La Game,
somewhat impatiently, ' ' so that

4^-

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

I get the beasts, I am content.
As well here as at the ford, i/ it
suits you the better so. I shall
come myself. Good-night I "

I could see him from the
girdled waist to the feet. He
turned on his heel and strode
toward the door.

But, boor though he was,
Mademoiselle did not forget
her courtesy toward his calling.

" I pray you. Father, stay
and rest, and sup with us 1 "
she said, as gently as if this
interview had been all sunshine.

" No," he snapped. " I have
a duty to perform this night at
the Forks of Piziquid."

•' Is it, then, as urgent ?" she
asked, knowing she might safely
press, he being obstinate.

" I have to give these kabitants
a cons picuous example," he an-

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

swered grimly. " There is one
fellow over there who holds that
the English are the true lords of
Acadia, and entitled to his al-
legiance. He has been selling
barley and flax to the Governor
at Halifax 1 "

"Oh I" cried Mademoiselle,
with a nicely modulated reproba-
tion in her voice. I could im-
agine the subtle play of eyes and
mouth that accompanied it.
" And what will you do to the
poor wretch?"

"Before the rising of to-
morrow's sun, my Daughter,"
answered the priest, with slow
significance, " his house will be
ashes, and his children home-
less, — but not fatherless, I trust,
though my wild red flock are
sometimes over impetuous in
their zeal, and apt to go beyond

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

my exact instructions. Fare-
well, Jeanne de Bonval ; and
that you may fare well, remem-
ber 1 "

The door closed smartly be-
hind him, and Mademoiselle
stood silent for a long time,
watching from the window to be
sure of his departure. At last
she gave a little exclamation of
relief. She came to the closet ;
I heard the key turn ; the door
opened. I caught the hem of
her skirt and pressed it to my
lips.

She drew back instantly be-
yond my reach. There was
that in her small, determined
face which forbade my wooing.
" You heard what he said.
Monsieur?" she asked.

" Every word, I think,"
said I.

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

" And, of course, that is suf-
ficient answer to the request of
your Governor 1 You will ac-
quit me of disloyalty, I think, if
my good beasts find their way
to Louisbourg instead of Hali-
fax 1 "

•' I will answer for your loy-
alty with my life, whatever
happens," I cried fervently.
Then, with a violent effort, I
remembered my duty to the
Governor. " But — oh, this
business I — why cannot I come
to-morrow and take the cattle
by force, paying you after-
ward?"

She laughed as if she really
enjoyed my predicament.

" That would be oppression,
sheer tyranny I " she retorted.
" You know you dare not do
it, — because you dare not ex-

RED O XEN OF BONVAL

plain to the Acadians 1 It would
undo the forbearance of all these
yea.s, and drive them by thou-
sands back into the arms of
France I Think what the amia-
ble La Game would make of
it I"

"Biut if you sell them to
Loiiiibourg, I have the right to
connscate them, have I not?
None could complain of that,"
I persisted.

" And how are you supposed
to know? And after, how es-
cape confiscating all my pos-
sessions? It seems, I am be-
tween the upper and the nether
millstone, Monsieur," she an-
swered mockingly.

"Stay, I have a plan,— one
that will fully protect you," said
I, thinking as swiftly and lucidly
as I could w ith those bewilder-

^46 ■

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

ing eyes searching my face.
" And I can make it all right
with the Governor."

Her face grew grave ; and I
realized with a very inward
storm of love and wonder, the
weight of the responsibilities
which this lonely girl was carry-
ing under so brave and gay a
guise.

" You appreciate the ruin that
hangs over us, Monsieur-'" she
asked. " You are sure, beyond
a doubt, that it will not lay us
open to the fate you know of ? "

" It is perfectly safe," I an-
swered triumphantly. " Not a
soul can even suspect except
the Governor, and he will know
all about it I Just at dark to-
morrow night, was it not, that
scoundrel said he would come
and get the cattle ? "

RED OXBN OF BONVAL

"Just at dark. And heTs^
man of his word," she added,
significantly.

"It is the simplest thing in
the world," I exclaimed. " But
—perhaps I had better not tell
it to you I "

"The priest must not be
harmed, Monsieur," she said in
a low voice. "And he must
not be captured. You must
not touch me with any taint of
treachery 1 "

" You can trust me surely for
that I " said I. " Your honor
is more dear to me than life."
And then it came over me, just
how deeply and fully she was
trusting me,— trusting me
blindly, when everything she
had, and her mother's life, and
her own, were at stake. She
must have seen in my eyes the

RED OXEN OP BONVAL

irresistible flood of love and
longing that surged up in my
heart, for she took two or three
steps toward the door.

" Oh, Jeanne," I cried out,
" beloved one, you know how
long I have loved you. You
know how I worship you. Let
me protect you. Give me the
right to protect you, to protect
and care for your mother, to
shelter you from all these fears
and perils."

But she was merciless I She
was rightly sure of me, so,
womanlike, she could not but
play with me! There was no
severity, but the old mockery,
in her eyes, as she withdrew to
a yet safer distance.

" But why should I need pro-
tection. Monsieur," she asked,
wilfully. " Ha ve you not as-

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

sured me that your plan is per-
fect, — and have I not believed
you?"

I was at her side before she
could reach the door. But

" Here is Annette coming,"
she exclaimed, with timely
strategy, " to tell us that supper
is served and that my mother
awaits you I " And she laughed
into my eyes, with daring little
face upturned. It was, indeed,
an inauspicious moment for my
wooing,— for the door opened.
I could have killed Annette, —
yet as I followed My Lady to
the supper room I was not
really vexed at any one in the
whole wide world, not even at
La Game.

At supper and after, I had no
word more alone with Mad-
emoiselle. I devoted myself

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

to the not uncongenial duty of
making myself persona grata to
Madame de Bonval, a wizened
little invalid who leaned like a
child upon her daughter's judg-
ment in all things. The old lady
was very gracious to me, — but
she was present, and obviously
for the evening ; and though half
blind, she was very far from deaf.
When I could not in decency
prolong my stay by so much as
another minute, I made my
adieux, — and My Lady met my
adoring look with laughter in
the green deeps of her eyes.
Her lips, — very subtly both
allured and denied, by the
smile on their distracting
curves ; and I went away in a
madness that made that ride
back to Piziquid in the moon-
light, beside the gleaming cur-

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

rent of the St. Croix, seem
swifter and more elusive than
music heard in dreams.

Being arrived at the fort, on
its fair green hill overlooking
the junction of the Piziquid and
the St. Croix, I pulled myself
out of my dreams and sought an
interview with the Commandant.
Armed as I was with the Gov-
ernor's authority to levy upon
the garrison for such help as I
should need, it was not incum-
bent upon me to lay bare the
whole matter ; but I told the
Commandant enough to satisfy
him, and he entered into the
business with right good will.
Of Mademoiselle's very delicate
and dangerous part in it I told
him not at all. Being a coarse-
grained fellow, his attempted
civilities had met with a some-

RED OXEN OF BONVAI.

what chilly reception at the
de Bonval manor ; and I fancied
that he was not ill-pleased to
think that the matter promised
some danger to the haughty
little lady who had so effectually
discouraged him.

Early the following morning,
when the tide was at flood, I
took twenty men, and had some
fishermen of the village row us
over to the east shore of the
St. Croix. This made it toler-
ably safe that none should guess
our destination. I marched
them up the river, but far back
from the valley, out of sight and
ear-shot ; and we lay some hours
about midday in the thick woods
surrounding the Upper Ford.
In the afternoon we crossed the
stream, and moved cautiously
down till we were within view

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

of the manor-house, taking ad-
vantage of every grove and
thicket, and crawling on our
bellies through the grass when-
ever obliged to cross the open.
This method of travel was most
exceeding irksome to my men,
a fact which I noted with satis-
faction. I had, indeed, been at
pains to choose men but lately
out from England, men not yet
experienced in the subtleties of
border warfare, who would not
think the matter had been
bungled if there chanced to be
no shooting. I was resolved
that Mademoiselle should have
nothing on her conscience
through any heedlessness of
mine ; but had I brought with
me certain border veterans
whom I had noted at the fort, —
Indian fighters, Indian haters, —

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

I should have been hard put to
it to keep the de Bonval thresh-
old clean of blood.

A little back from the road,
and commanding ? clear view of
all approaches to the manor-
house, there was a thicket of
blackberry canes and tangled
clematis in the centre of a slop-
ing buckwheat field. Into the
heart of this thicket, slowly,
stealthily as lizards, we wormed
our way, and, at length, lay
hidden beyond suspicion of
friend or foe.

It was pleasant waiting in the
blackberry thicket, the golden
sun of late summer sifting
through the leaves, sweet with
wholesome country smells. A
few late-flowering weeds amid
ihe tangle drew about us the
music of foraging bees. The

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

men were highly content, some
dozing, some smoking, some
dreaming of far-oif sweethearts.
I lay and peered through the
stems, looking down upon the
house that held my love. I saw
old Tamin go and gather all the
red cattle, from end to end of
the meadows. Some half
score, — cows and young heifers
I guessed, — he drove to another
pasture, back of the barns. The
rest he herded into a small en-
closure near the house, handy
for purchase or for pillage.
Then he bent his steps toward
Piziquid, and disappeared be-
yond the furthest winding of the
way. At last, just before sun-
down, my eyes were greatly
favored. I saw My Lady, — so
slight and precious a figure in
her little cream-white go wn and

56 "

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

blue bodice, — come forth inio
the barnyard with a basket on
her arm and the white cat fol-
lowing at her skirt. With noisy
cacklings the fowls scurried from
every side to throng about her.
The sounds came to us very
clearly. Four white doves, also
flew down from a gable, circled,
and alighted on her shoulders.
She threw grain in handfuls
among the fowls, and gave some
special dainty from her pocket
to the doves, who crowded
each other for the privilege of
getting close against her face.
At length she shook out the
last grains from the basket, and
moved slowly back to the house.
As she neared the door the
doves suddenly flew away, and
dropped among the fowls to se-
cure their portion of the grain.

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

As the dusk began to gather, —
first TOSj golden, then lilac, then
brown-purple,— I set watches
at each corner of our thicket.
When it was as dark as it was
like to be, — the sky clear, moon-
rise not far off, and no mist ob-
scuring the crisp air,— the sus-
pense began to grow keen.

Presently I saw a line of
skulking shadows stealing down
the road, a tall straight figure
marching fearlessly at their head.
As they neared the house their
leader, — La Game, plain
enough,— left them and went
up to the door, while his follow-
ers glided toward the enclosure
holding the cattle. Soon there
was a commotion in the herd.
Then some bars were let down,
clattering sharply. Then the
door of the manor-house closed

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

with a bang, and lights appeared
in the windows of the big re-
ception-room. The time for
action had come.

"Remember, men," said I,
"there's to be no shooting.
In the dusk some innocent folk
of the household might be hit.
The cold steel's the medicine
for these red rascals. Now,
silence."

The men were delighted.
They knew right well that
marksmanship especially when
the target was a drifting shadow
among shadows, was not their
forte. But the steel they could
handle, — and in their innocence
thely expected to get close
enough to an Indian to try its
effect upon him !

Noiselessly I led them down
to the road, that it might seem

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

to La Game we had been fol-
lowing on his trail. As we
gained it, the cattle came push-
ing out of the enclosure. Still
crouching low, and stepping
softly, we ran along the soft
grass by the roadside, and I be-
gan to fear lest we should actu-
ally come hand to hand with the
savages, so busy and so carele-s
did they seem. But just as I vai
thinking how best to give the
alarm there was a flash from the
lilac hedge, a musket shot rang
out, and a ball sang low over my
head. That was all right, but it
would not do to wait for more
such messages. " Charge 1 "
I shouted, and we bore down
upon thci at full run.

But the gliding figures melted
away before us . N o more shots
were fired. No one st ood to

■ 60

RED OXEN OP BONVAL

test my men's cold steel. The
men were amazed. Then a pale
light began to spread over the
landscape. The

over
moon

was

rising.

" Post sentries, Cunliffe," I
said to my sergeant, " and keep
a sharp lookout. You never
know what these devils are up
to 1 " Then with an orderly at
my heels, 1 went up to the door
of the manor-house and knocked
imperatively. The door was
opened promptly by Annette,
who was doubtless much aston-
ished when I pushed past her
and presented myself unan-
nounced in the reception-room.

Mademoiselle stood in the

middle of the floor, awaiting

me. How beautiful she looked.

Her eyes were like stars, and

the old mocking smile curved
—

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

her lips,— but her cheeks were
flushed, and behind the play I
felt a terrible anxiety. It was
hard to remember my part. I
longed to throw myself at her
feet. But I held my head high,
and eyed her austerely.

" You are welcome, Mon-
sieur," she said,— and at the
same time she cast a meaning
glance at the door of the closet
which yesterday had been my
hiding-place. Instantly I real-
ized that La Game was there.
The situation was absolutely
theatrical, and for one brief
second my thought flashed back
to London nights and the foot-
lights of Drury Lane. Then I
took my cue.

" I fear I must seem uncivil,
Mademoiselle de Bonval," said
I, bowing low but ignoring her

;l i

RED OXEN OF RONVAL

outstretched hand. " But per-
haps you can explain 1 "

"What do you mean, Mon-
sieur?" she asked in surprise.
'* Is it not rather I who need
an explanation ? I hear muskets
at this quiet place, — and English
cheers, — and a great trampling
of feet. And then you rush in
upon me, and look — so strange I "

"Mademoiselle," said J
firmly, " believe me, nothing i:
further from my wish than that
you should be found a trespasser
against our very necessary laws.
But the case looks bad. Yester-
day you refused to sell me your
cattle, which are much needed
by our soldiers at Halifax,
though I offered a handsome
price for them. And I cannot
say your reasons quite contented
me. To-night, while following

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

the trail of some of those pesti-
lent savages who, under that
frocked scoundrel La Game,
make so much trouble for us in
Acadia, I find that their destina-
tion is the manor-house of Bon-
val. I catch them in the act of
driving off, openly, the very
cattle which you so inexplicably
refused to sell to me. Of course,
I understand quite well that
La Game and his red minions
are but the tools of Louisbourg.
You know the penalty, Mad-
emoiselle, for selling supplies to
Louisbourg ?"

Such words to her ! I felt as
if they blistered my mouth.
But she gave me a swift com-
mending glance, then drew her-
self up with fine scorn.

" And so. Monsieur," she
exclaimed witheringly, " you

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

would impeach me for treason,
because I am robbed of my
goods. Because the Indians
come by night and steal my
cattle, you would confiscate my
estate, and exile me from my
native land. Is this English jus-
tice? If so, it will no doubt
commend itself to the people of
Acadia 1"

'• But yesterday," I replied,
in the voice of a judge, " these
cattle were roaming the marshes.
To-night I find them shut up in
a paddock by the house, most
convenient for a purchaser."

" As for that, it is the busi-
ness of my overseer," she an-
swered carelessly. " How
should I know why at times he
leaves them loose, and at times
drives them at night into the
paddock. Perhaps he is going

RED OXEN OP BONVAL

to mark them, who knows. He
is to-night at Piziquid ; but
when he returns he will be able
to satisfy you."

" I am most glad, Mademoi-
selle, that you have a defense so
plausible," said I gravely. " It
is not for me, however, to say
whether the Governor will hold
it sufficient, or not. I earnestly
hope he may. My own present
duty is clear. I will take these
cattle, which were about to go
to our enemies. They are con-
traband of war, fairly. But I
will give you a receipt for them ;
and if they are unlawfully taken,
without doubt you will be more
than compensated for the injury.
The Acadians shall have no
ciuse to complain of English
justice ; but they must not be
allowed to think that English

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

forbearance is mere childish
credulity, to be imposed upon at
every turn."

To my surprise, Mademoi-
selle's tone became suddenly
quite gracious.

" I owe you a debt of grati-
tude, Monsieur," she cried gaily,
" even though you have been so
rude and suspicious. There are
paper and pens. Please write
out the receipt." And she
motioned me to an open
escritoire.

"Gratitude?" I asked. "And
for what, pray?" Mindful of
her anxiety, I kept my voice
stern and unrelenting.

"You have saved my cattle
from the thieving Indians," she
exclaimed. " I know the Gov-
ernor will compensate me, will

pay me my full price for them,
_

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

when I explain the circum-
stances to him."

"You are sanguine," said I,
handing her the paper. " I
trust you may not be disap-
pointed. And now, I have the
honor to wish you good-night,
and to hope that I have not in-
commoded you by this abrupt
incursion I "

As I bent low over her hand
I turned her so that she stood
exactly between me and the
cupboard door, where I knew
that a pair of lynx eyes watched
us piercingly. Then I pressed
my lips passionately to the
dngers, and whispered, "To-
morrow, my love, my Heart, I
shall come again, and implore
an answer of thee."

But to my surprise she fol-
lowed me to the door, a nd into

~ 6S

I ill!

RED OXEN OP BONVAL

the hallway, beyond scope of
the lynx eyes in the cupboard.
I saw that her face was white
now, the gaiety, the mockery,
all gone. Her lips trembled
like a child's. I would have
snatched her to my heart, — but
Annette stood there, watching
me with disapproval, waiting to
open the door.

"Till to-morrow, then," I
murmured, again lifting her hand
to my lips. But this time her
little fingers clung. My heart
thrilled and leaped wildly.

" Don't go," she panted, al-
most, with'a sob. " I am afraid.
After you go, they will come
back. He suspects. He sees
through it all,— I know he does.
He is so cunning. Oh— I think
I do need your protection. You
max protect— my mother ! "

RED OXEN OF BONVAL

And she lifted her face to me
suddenly, tears were in her eyes,
but a smile upon her mouth.

••Belovedl" said I, and
gathered her to my heart. "My
Ladyt My Beautiful Qwnl"
And as I kissed her, I had a
vision of Annette, silently and
discreetly removing herself from
the scene. A moment more and
My Lady untwined my arms,
and placed them ..rmly, de-
cisively, at my sides. She put
both her hands behind my neck,
pulled down my head, and kissed
me on both eyes. Then she
sprang back beyond my reach,
and laughed as if she had not a
care in the world. How bright,
indeed, did this same old worn
world look 1 I laughed too, in
sheer joy. Then I thought of
the prisoner in the closet.

RED OXEN OF BOKVAL

" What wilt thou do with him,
My Lady?" I whispered.

She came back, into my arms,
that she might the more con-
veniently reply.

" I will get him away safe in
the night," she whispered, " if
you will remove the sentry from
the kitchen entrance." I nodded
my head. " But first, as the
price of his freedom, I will make
him swear that de Bonval shall
not be harmed. He lays so
many traps for others, it is time
he felt a little pinch himself.
And he will keep his oath."