He had been away ten days on the trip to Lac Bain, and he brought back to Nepeese the joyous news that M'sieu McTaggart was very sick with pechipoo--the blood poison--news that made the Willow clap her hands and laugh happily.

But he knew that the factor would get well, and that he would come again to their cabin on the Gray Loon.

And when next time he came-- It was while he was thinking of this that his face grew cold and hard, and his eyes burned.

And he was thinking of it on this her birthday, even as her laughter floated to him like a song.

Dieu, in spite of her seventeen years, she was nothing but a child--a baby! She could not guess his horrible visions.