“He who denies the incredible,” came Perrot’s voice, “must then deny God.” Crawford started slightly. “I cannot answer that, Sieur Perrot,” he said simply. “I think you may have the right of it. What, then, do you assign as the reason for our presence in this place?” “Ah, but we are here for France!” Perrot’s voice gathered strength, and a swift flash leaped into his eyes. “I struck axe into earth at Michillimackinac and took all that region for France. I did the same at Saint Anthony’s Falls, in the far west. With your help, I shall do the same here----” “Not with my help,” intervened Crawford coolly. “I take no land for France, and I have no interest in the matter. I shall stop Maclish because he murdered Phelim Burke; I was a fool not to kill the dog when I could have done so, but we all make mistakes. I desire to find the Star Woman--why? Because she is unknown, inaccessible, a mystery! That’s all. So you have come to do the errands of King Louis, eh?” “Not at all,” replied Perrot, studying him. “I came because I was drawn by the spirit; and now I see that work is awaiting me. Maclish--Maclish! This man must be defeated in his aim. The Stone Men and the Dacotah must be restrained from war. You, who know not why you came hither--oh, the mad humour of it! Have you, like Maclish, some dream of marrying the Star Woman?” “Heaven forbid!” Crawford laughed a little. “If you knew her thirty years ago, she’s no slender lass now. Besides, I’ve put the world behind me, Perrot. I’ve rotted in irons, I’ve had my moments of happiness and of tears; now it’s dead. I want to go over the horizon, wander on to the end while there are things to be done and seen. That’s all.” Perrot eyed him with a singular expression, partly cynical, partly sad. Then it seemed as though a veil dropped over the man’s thoughts. There was something deep in his mind, some mystery, which he had been about to explain; he refrained. Instead, he came to one elbow. “Look!” he exclaimed. “Play your own hand; you are a man whom I could love, and you do not interfere with me. As for me, I shall do what is given me to do. Here is my mission--I must turn Maclish’s game back upon him. Maclish, the blind fool, has an awakening ahead of him! He thinks to seize the Star Woman, make peace between Stone Men and Dacotah, and get all the inland trade for the bay. It is an idle dream, but I shall utilize it, you comprehend? Me, I shall prevent the seizure, confirm the peace between these tribes, and draw the trade of the Stone Men to the Lake Superior posts. France shall have a new empire here in the northwest!” “Another idle dream.” Crawford shook his head. “They are too firmly wedded to the English--but play your own game, and I’ll play mine. So the Star Woman is not young, eh?” Perrot veiled his gaze. “How should she be?” he said evasively. “I saw her thirty years ago, and again a few years later. Are many of the Dacotah with her?” “A few lodges only.”