It was impossible for David to repress his astonishment.
"Welcome to Chateau Boulain," greeted Black Roger. "You are
surprised? Well, I beat you out by half a dozen hours--in a canoe,
m'sieu. It is only courtesy that I should be here to give you
welcome!"
Behind him Bateese and Joe Clamart were grinning widely, and then
both came in, and Joe Clamart picked up his dunnage-sack and threw
it over his shoulder.
"If you will come with us, m'sieu--"
David followed, and when he stepped ashore there were Bateese, and
Joe Clamart and one other behind him, and three or four shadowy
figures ahead, with Black Roger walking at his side. There were no
more voices, and the dog had ceased barking. Ahead was a wall of
darkness, which was the deep black forest beyond the clearing, and
into it led a trail which they followed. It was a path worn smooth
by the travel of many feet, and for a mile not a star broke
through the tree-tops overhead, nor did a flash of light break the
utter chaos of the way but once, when Joe Clamart lighted his
pipe. No one spoke. Even Black Roger was silent, and David found
no word to say.
At the end of the mile the trees began to open above their heads,
and they soon came to the edge of the timber.
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