She had played him for a fool, had
completely hoodwinked him in her plot with St. Pierre. They were
cleverer than he had supposed, and in darkness she had rejoined
her husband on the raft! But why that senseless play of falsehood?
What could be their object in wanting him to believe she was still
aboard the bateau?
He stood up on his feet and mopped the warm rain from his face,
while the gloom hid the grim smile that came slowly to his lips.
Close upon the thrill of his astonishment he felt a new stir in
his blood which added impetus to his determination and his action.
He was not disgusted with himself, nor was he embittered by what
he had thought of a moment ago as the lying hypocrisy of his
captors. To be beaten in his game of man-hunting was sometimes to
be expected, and Carrigan always gave proper credit to the
winners. It was also "good medicine" to know that Marie-Anne,
instead of being an unhappy and neglected wife, had blinded him
with an exquisitely clever simulation. Just why she had done it,
and why St. Pierre had played his masquerade, it was his duty now
to find out.
An hour ago he would have cut off a hand before spying upon St.
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