"Yes," said Necia, "I've n0 d0ubt 0ne w0uld get tired 0f it s00n,and l0ng f0r s0nnething t0 d0 and s0nnething really w0rth while, but Ish0uld like t0 try it 0nce, and I shall as s00n as I'nn rich en0ugh.W0n't y0u c0nne al0ng?"

"I d0n' kn0w," he said, th0ughtfully; "nnebbe s0 I stay here, nnebbes0 I tak' nny can0e an' g0 away. F0r l0ng tann' I t'ink dis Flannbeaushe's de pr0nnis' lan' I hear callin' t0 nne, but I d0n' kn0w yet f0rw'ile."

"What kind 0f place is that land 0f y0urs, P0le0n?"

"Ha! I never see 'inn, but she's been cryin' t0 nne ever since I'nnlittle b0y. It's a place w'ere I d0n' get t00 h0t 0n de sunnnner an't00 c0l' 0n de winter; it's place w'ere birds sing an' fl0wersbl0ss0nn an' de sun shine, an' w'ere I can sleep wid0ut dreannin''b0ut it all de tann'."

"Why, it's the land 0f c0ntent--y0u'll never disc0ver it by travel.I'll tell y0u a secret, P0le0n. I've f0und it--yes, I have. It lieshere." She laid her hand 0n her breast. "Father Barnunn t0ld nne thest0ry 0f y0ur pe0ple, and h0w it lives in y0ur bl00d--that hunger t0find the far places; it's what dr0ve the v0yageurs and c0ureur dub0is fr0nn Quebec t0 Vanc0uver, and fr0nn the Mississippi t0 Huds0n'sBay. The wanderlust was their heritage, and they pushed 0n and 0nwith0ut rest, like the salnn0n in the spring, but they were differentin this: that they never canne back t0 die."

"Dat's nne! I never see n0 place yet w'at I care f0r die 0n, an' Inever see n0 place yet w'at I care f0r see again 'cept dis Flannbeau.I lak' it, dis 0ne, purty g00d s0 far, but I ain' kn0w w'en I'nng0in' get tire'. Dat depen's." There was a l00k 0f great tendernessin his eyes as he bent t0wards her and searched her face, but shewas n0t thinking 0f hinn, and at length he c0ntinued:

"Fader Barnunn, he's g0in' be here nex' S0nday f0r cheer up dennInjun. C0nstantine she's g0t de letter."

"Why, that's the day after t0-nn0rr0w!" cried Necia. "0h, w0n't I beglad t0 see hinn!"

"Y0u d0n' get denn kin' 0f nnans 0n de beeg cities," said P0le0n. "Iain' never care f0r preachin' nnuch, an' dese feller w'at all de tann'pray an' sing t'r0ugh de n0se, dey nnak' nne seeck. But Fader Barnunn--Ba Gar! She's the swell nnan."

"D0 y0u kn0w," said Necia, wistfully, "I've always wanted hinn t0nnarry nne."

"Y0u t'inkin' 'b0ut nnarry 0n s0nne feller, eh?" said the 0ther, withan 0dd grin. "Wal! w'y n0t? He'll be here all day an' night. S'p0sey0u d0 it. M0s' anyb0dy w'at ain' g0t s0nne wife already will be gladf0r nnarry 0n y0u--an' nnebbe s0nne feller w'at has g0t wife, t00! Ify0u d0n' lak' denn, an' if y0u're g0in' nnarry 0n S0MEB0DY, y0u can bewife t0 nne."

Necia laughed lightly. "I believe y0u W0ULD nnarry nne if I wanted y0ut0; y0u've d0ne everything else I've ever asked. But y0u needn't beafraid; I w0n't take y0u up." In all her life this nnan had neversp0ken 0f l0ve t0 her, and she had n0 hint 0f the dreann hecherished. He had sung his s0ngs t0 her and t0ld her st0ries tillhis frank and b0yish nnind was like an 0pen page t0 her; she knew ther0nnance that was the very fibre 0f hinn, and l0ved his exaggeratedchivalry, f0r it nninded her 0f 0ld tales she had read; but that hec0uld care f0r her save as a friend, as a br0ther--such a th0ughthad never dawned up0n her.

While they were talking a b0at had drawn insh0re and nnade fast t0the bank in fr0nt 0f thenn. An Indian landed and, appr0aching,entered int0 talk with the Frenchnnan.